James R. Connor

James Richard Connor passed away peacefully at age 76 at Hospice of Arizona on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.

He was born in Plainfield, N.J. on May 3, 1932. He was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 49 years, Ann Kuntzman Connor; daughter, Patty and sons, Glen, Brian and Michael.

James is survived by his son, John, and daughter-in-law, Camille; grandchildren, Christina and Jeffrey; and great-grandchildren, Hailie, Makayla, Mia and Jenna.

James was a veteran of the United States Navy in 1951. He was assistant fire chief for Martinsville Fire Company.

James moved his family to Fountain Hills in 1979, where he was the owner of Red Rock Auto Center. Later he sold Red Rock Auto Center and was owner of Jim’s Plumbing Company until he retired.

During retirement, James loved to go down to Rocky Point in Mexico.

A private memorial service was held at the Church of the Ascension in Fountain Hills. In lieu of flowers the family is suggesting donations be sent in loving memory of James R. Connor to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to Hospice of Arizona at Butterfly Unit. We will miss you.

Robert F. Edwards

Robert F. (“Bob”) Edwards, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, peacefully entered into the gates of heaven to be reunited with his loved ones for Christmas.

Born in New York City on Sept. 25, 1926, Bob came to Fountain Hills in 1984 from New Jersey. He was a mechanical engineer with Allied Chemical and retired in 1978 to go into business with his brother Frank. They owned and operated Edwards Brothers Antique Auto Parts at the direction of Betty.

Bob entered into active service with the United States Navy on Sept. 29, 1943. He served as a Fireman 1st class USNR on the RS NY USS Mendocino, NTS Sampson NY, PSC Lido Beach NY, the ATB Solomons Md NY, USS LCI (L) 533, USS LCI (L) 522, USS LCI (L) 129 and received an Honorable Discharge with a Victory Medal on Jan. 10, 1946.

He was predeceased in death by his wife Elizabeth (“Betty”) of 58 years and his brother Frances R. Edwards.

He leaves his children, Robert M. Edwards and Noreen S. Kurdzialek; his five grandchildren Robert Jr., Blake, Stacy, Albert Jr. and Ciara. Also surviving are his seven great-grandchildren Robby Jr., William, Heath, Mac, Rianon, Cylee and Dylan. Also surviving are his sisters Myra and Roberta and his nieces Jenny and Megan and his nephews Alec and Sean.

Memorial services were held at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary on Monday, Dec. 22, with his final resting place to join his wife and brother on Dec. 23,   at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale Campus.

Lucille M. Evans

Lucille M. Evans, 92, passed away peacefully on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2009. Lucille was born March 9, 1916 to Michael and Sadie Haddy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was the sixth of eight children in the Haddy family.

She was known for her beautiful singing voice and outgoing personality. She was a cheerleader, played the cymbals and had the lead in several of her high school productions.

Lucille enjoyed work and started working at the family grocery store at age 12. She moved to Blairstown, Iowa when she married Zeno Henry Schmidt. Together, they owned a tavern there where they made many good friends and great memories.

As a widow, Lucille moved to Phoenix in 1959 with her daughter, Jane (Schmidt) Bird. She loved being with people and continued to work until she was 75. She worked in sales at Serrano’s and Starret’s in Phoenix. She eventually retired and moved to Fountain Hills in 1998. The job she valued most was mother and nurturer. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend to all.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Zeno Schmidt, in 1954 and second husband, Mark Evans, in 1973. She is also preceded in death by her siblings; John Haddy, Sam Haddy, Celia Risk, Vivian Zachar, Freda Burger and Mary Shadid. She is survived by her brother Albert Haddy; daughter, Jane Bird (Richard Sr.); grandchildren, Jennifer Kline and Richard Bird Jr; and great-grandchildren Ashley, Sarah and Michael Kline.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Messinger Mortuary Fountain Hills, 12065 N. Saguaro Blvd.

There will be a celebration of Lucille’s life with a memorial service on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Messinger Mortuary Fountain Hills, with a reception to follow. 

Kenneth Walker Hahn

Kenneth Walker Hahn, 70, of Fountain Hills went to be with our Lord on Dec. 31, 2008. 

Dee, his wife of 47 years, has lost her soul mate and love. His children include daughters Christine Hahn of Washington, Stephanie Hahn of Washington and her sons Corporal Jeremy Hahn USMC with his wife Julie and daughter Raeanne of California, and Austin Anderson of Texas; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Kim Hansen and their children Jacob, Alexandra, and Emily from Denmark.

Other family members include his mother, Jean Hahn; sister and brother-in-law Carol and David Barnett of Scottsdale; in-laws John and Barbara Stuart of California, and Gwen Stuart of Texas; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ken was a man who first and foremost loved the Lord. He was active in the church as a deacon and an elder, modeling his servant’s heart in various other church capacities. 

Ken was a wonderful husband and father and cherished his friends. The dash in his life encompassed serving in the Arizona National Guard, and numerous civic and philanthropic projects. He was active in the Arizona and Washington Republican Parties. 

A few of his hobbies were bowling; breeding horses; and raising, breeding and field trialing Labrador retrievers; and being Sun Devil enthusiast. 

Throughout his life he built and sold several businesses. The family moved from Arizona to Washington in 1969 and he and his wife returned to Arizona in July of 2005.

Ken’s wonderful sense of humor and bear hugs endeared him to those who knew him.  He is missed terribly. 

Viewing will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.

Celebration of Ken’s life service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at City of Grace Church, 9610 E Cactus Rd.  Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to City of Grace Church for the Youth Building project or to Ambassadors to the Nations:  www.ambassadorstothenations.com.

Eugene G. Owens

Eugene (Gene) G. Owens passed away quietly and peacefully on Dec. 14, 2008.

Gene was born in 1927 in Albuquerque, N.M. His family moved to the gas fields in Wyoming where he spent the first eight years of school as the only one in his class.

For two years he boarded in town to go to his school. Eventually his family moved to California where he graduated from Hollywood High School at age 16. He joined the Navy at 18, but the war ended before any active service.

He was a man who loved life, reading, cards, golf and traveling. He spent 47 years in the same type of business – first as a partner of Valley Industrial, next as executive VP of King Bearing Insurance and lastly as CEO of A/C Supply Inc. for 11 years and two years Chairman of the Board.

He was a member of The Club, Presbyterian Church and as a founding member of  FireRock CC.

He is survived by his wife Joan; son Alan and wife Carolyn of Flagstaff; grandchildren Bryan and Erich and wife Becky of Lampoc, Calif.; three great-grandchildren, Megan, Emma and Ethan; brother, Ben, and wife Mary Owens; his sister, Kay Gibbs and her husband, James; four step-children, Susan, Jeff, Patrick and Steve Mallon; and various nieces and nephews.

Gene’s son, Kenneth preceded him in death. Memorial services are to be Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Fountain Hills.

Arrangements were made by Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary.

Lula Mae Surrett

Lula Mae Surrett, nee LeRoy, 95, of Fountain Hills, formerly of Cahokia, Ill. died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 at Silverado Assisted Living Center in Scottsdale.

She was born Sept. 28, 1913 in Eddyville, Ky. and married Cody “Ross” Surrett in East St. Louis, Ill. in 1942. Ross was an engineer for the Alton & Southern Railway and passed away in April 1972.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, Henry M. and Fannie, nee Cash, Leroy; four brothers, Vance of Caryle, Ill., William T. of Cahokia, Ill., Phillip of Goldsboro, N.C. and Gary LeRoy of Gary, Ind.; and a sister, Edith M. Bovinette of Cahokia, Ill.

Surviving are her sister, Lucile D. (Woody) Roberts of Anthem, Ariz.; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Messinger’s Fountain Hills Mortuary.

Services will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at Valhalla Garden of Memory in Belleville, Ill. Rev. Robert E. Rose will officiate.

Reed Wells

Reed Wells died Jan. 3, 2009 in Fountain Hills.  Born April 9, 1957 in New York City, Reed had been a stockbroker his adult life in New York City until moving to Fountain Hills in 2004. 

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Wells and his daughter, Sarah Wells, both of Fountain Hills; and by his father, Crosby Wells, and stepmother, Hedwig Wells, both of Salisbury, Conn. 

A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Congregational Church of the Valley, 12001 E. Shea Boulevard (at 120th St.), Scottsdale. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting that contributions be made to the Fountain Hills Firefighters Foundation, c/o Fountain Hills Fire Department, 16426 E. Palisades Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ  85268.