Obituaries for June, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Christopher Luis Solis on June 14, 2023 at the age of 47. Chris fought hard for 2.5 months after a massive heart attack. He was born in Winnemucca, NV to Debbie and Luis Solis. His childhood was spent playing all sports, however he excelled in baseball throughout his high school years but his favorite sport was basketball. Chris graduated high school in 1994 where he met the love of his life, Silvia. Soon they were blessed with 3 children whom he loved with all his heart. Chris continued his passion for sports by coaching his children’s basketball games. Chris’ pride and joy were his grandchildren. His most endearing moments were spent at the bench lines rooting for them at their games. His warm smile, soft wink and heartwarming nod truly welcomed anyone. He was witty, full-spirited and always had …

P. Michael Marfisi passed away peacefully on June 12, 2023. He truly loved life, literally whistled everywhere he went, and loved his family, friends, and community with all his heart. He was born on December 18, 1935, in Reno to Edward and Ann Marfisi. After living all over Nevada, they moved to Battle Mountain while he was in high school and he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Patricia King. Mike and Pat always considered themselves to be from Battle Mountain. A lifelong Nevadan, he graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, and by a stroke of luck, he was sponsored by Sen. Alan Bible to attend law school in Washington D.C. and worked as a US Capitol Police officer. After graduating from George Washington University Law School, Mike and Pat settled in Elko in 1960. He spent his life raising his family, practicing law, and …

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Irl “Leon” Franklin who passed away on June 11th, 2023 at his longtime home in Winnemucca NV. Leon, as he liked to be called, was 88 years old and was born in Hutchinson Kansas to Carol and Clifford Franklin. Leon graduated from Kansas State University and later received his Master’s Degree in Education from University of Southern California (USC). He lived an exciting and fulfilling life. After finishing ROTC at Kansas State he entered the Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1979 at the rank of Lt. Col. He served in the Vietnam War as a pilot of C123’s and later C130’s. Leon’s claim to fame was the historic Son Tay raid where we tried to get our POW’s back. Although the raid was unsuccessful it did prove to influence the end of the conflict. The C130 plane …

March 24, 1934-December 30, 2022 Graveside services for Mary Ann and Wayne Smith will be on June 24, 2023 at 11:00 am, Battle Mountain Cemetary.

Leon Franklin passed away on June 11, 2023. Services will be held on June 16, 2023 at 9 am at the Winnemucca Cemetery. Formal obituary to follow.

Dusty Weber, 50, passed away on June 5, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Winnemucca, Nevada. She was born on September 27, 1972, in Deadwood, South Dakota to Terry Allerdings and Edna Sneesby. She lived in Lead-Deadwood, South Dakota for most of her life. She graduated from Lead-Deadwood High School. She spent a few years in Thornton, Colorado but ended up back in Lead-Deadwood. She then moved to Winnemucca after she fell ill to be with her daughter. Dusty was a loving homemaker. She loved surrounding herself with all the kids in the family. She took pride in her garden and was an amazing cook. She loved Yahtzee!, board games, cards and being surrounded by her loved ones. She was never scared to be herself and was an extremely strong individual. Some of her children’s fondest memories with her included water fights throughout the house, staying home from school to …

Thomas Anthony Moura, 77, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, May 19, 2023, after losing a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. Tom was born on October 9, 1945, to Azorean (Portuguese) immigrants, Manuel Moura and Virginia Moreira Moura in Lovelock, Nevada. Tommy, as he was affectionately known by so many of his childhood friends, grew up in “Upper Valley,” attending Fairview School, a country schoolhouse a short distance from his family’s farm. When he was in sixth grade, the old country school closed and Tom rode the bus into the “town school,” graduating from Pershing County High School in 1963. He continued his education at the University of Nevada, Reno, graduating with a degree in Agriculture Education in 1967. Tom completed his student teaching in Moapa, Nevada and returned full circle to his alma mater, Pershing County High School, where he was a …

August 30, 1955 – May 6,2023 Sandra Lee (Gongaware) Smith, affectionately known as Sandi, of Battle Mountain, NV, passed away on May 6, 2023, at the age of 67 years old. She was born in Pasadena, CA, and the youngest daughter of Florence and Emanuel Gongaware. She had three sisters (Florene, Lydia, and Viola Jean) and one brother (Emanuel Jr. or “Butch”). She grew up with several nieces (Florene’s oldest daughters) that were the same age as her. She was a very smart little girl, who loved to dress up and dance around on video, around the time that the first handheld home video systems came out. She was creative with macrame and loved to do crafts. The entire Gongaware family was close and well known for large reunion gatherings. Sandi was a fabulous cook and loved entertaining large groups. Sandi’s favorite pass time was going shopping with friends and …

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John William Etcheverry on May 29th, 2023. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 56. John was a beloved husband to Caroline and a cherished father to Hana. As a family they enjoyed a lifetime of adventures filled with love and lots of laughter. They shared a passion for the outdoors, especially camping, hunting and fishing. John loved following Hana’s sporting activities. His proudest moment as a parent was watching Hana graduate from nursing school. John and Caroline spent 36 years together traveling around the country, always exploring new places, and creating cherished memories. Their love was endless, and you never saw one without the other. John was well known for his outgoing personality. He made friends with young and old alike. His infectious sense of humor endeared him to everyone. John enjoyed shooting …

Michelle Pardee Garcia passed away June 1, 2023, with her beloved husband Rey Garcia by her side after a brief illness in Winnemucca, Nevada. Michelle, the youngest of four children, was born in Tucson, Arizona to Lloyd and Helen Pardee on September 30, 1956. She loved the desert. Michelle lived in California when she was a child. She loved the sandy beaches and ocean. She wanted to go everywhere with her sister, Cindy. “Me too” she would say. Her father named his boat ‘Me Too’. Her sister, Nancy, pushed her in a stroller on Belmont Shore. Many people stopped to look at the beautiful baby with blonde curly hair. Michelle’s brother, John, built her a doll house one Christmas that she adored. Santa left her a Siamese kitten who grew up with, too. Michelle was a free spirit, fun, beautiful and witty. She saw humor in everyday life. She loved …

Larry Darby passed away on May 26, 2023, in Winnemucca, Nevada. He was born on June 1, 1943, in Moab, Utah. Larry grew up in Monticello, Utah. He lived for some time in Murray, Utah; Salina, Utah; Beatty, Nevada and finally settled in Winnemucca, Nevada. Larry married Barbara Lynch on April 5, 1966. The two were married for 57 years before Barbara’s passing in 2020. They shared many fond memories and 2 sons, Darin and David. Larry and Barbara started saying for the family “I love you more and said it first.” Barbara and Larry enjoyed many evenings of music, dancing and dinner together. He served in the United States Navy for a period of time. Larry was a Christian and read his bible every day and cared about our individual relationship with God. He was the #1 Dad! He loved visiting family, fishing, playing guitar and would teach anyone …

We are very sad to announce the passing of Susan Stiff Mills on May 27, 2023, in Lovelock, NV. Sue was born on April 7, 1947 in Reno. Sue graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a nursing degree, and practiced nursing for nearly 40 years. Sue had many passions, from traveling and collecting souvenir spoons, to cooking and hosting dinner parties, but the one we all remember most and was such a big part of her life, was her love for boating and water skiing. From her early years at Pyramid Lake, to the many years boating the SF Bay Delta, to Rollins Lake in Colfax CA, where she lived for nearly 15 years and raised her 2 boys who she is survived by — Justin Mills (41) and Ryan Mills (37 )— who both have profound loving memories as do many of their closest friends of her …

James Daniel Choate passed away on May 29, 2023, at his home in Winnemucca, Nevada. He was born on April 17, 1957, in Las Vegas, Nevada to John and Jean Choate. Jim spent his first 5 years in Las Vegas, Nevada and then moved to Winnemucca, where he would spend the rest of his life. He graduated from Lowry High School. He worked for the Shell Station, Humboldt Drilling and Hycroft Mine and 20 years at Min-Ad. He married Debbie on November 4, 1994. The two shared two children, Jimmy and Everett Choate and 28 and half years. Jim enjoyed Fishing and hunting and picking on his loved ones. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, his son, Everett, his grandchildren, Waylon Garfield, TaKayla Choate-Antonio, Joe Choate, and Jimmy Choate. His great-grandchildren, Liam and Kayden Garfield, and he was looking forward to another great-grand in October. He is also survived …