Obituaries for November, 2024

Gary Lee Phillips “Boomer” passed away at his home in Winnemucca, Nevada on November 18, 2024. He was born on September 22, 1958 to Shirley Phillips in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was the second of 5 children, Diana, Jamie, Lori and Tina. He grew up in Iowa. And then moved around to find job opportunities wherever they presented. He met his wife in Louisiana and they shared three children together, Chris, Rose and William. The family spent many years following his work opportunities, which took them to Colorado, Utah, Washington and then finally settling in Nevada. He was a heavy equipment operator and truck driver for the local mines. He retired in 2019. He enjoyed movies, especially James Bond movies and Star Trek. One of his all time favorite movies was “Tombstone” and he often would be heard quoting his favorite character Doc Holliday with that famous line “ I’m …

We are saddened to announce the passing of Remigio “Junior” Vargas. A resident of Fallon, NV for the last 40 years. He took his final breath in his home at 11 pm on November 14, 2024. The 7th of 13 children, born on September 26, 1949 in the small railroading town of Battle Mountain, NV. He would spend his childhood there where he would graduate as a longhorn. As a trade worker involved in the mining and processing of metals he spent a few years in El Paso, TX. He would later return to Nevada to live out the duration of his life. He is survived by his four children, Vincent, Crystal, Candice and Pasqual. His grandchildren Mariah, Adrian, Cameron, Jayden, Carter, Bryce, Jaxtin, Logan and Emma and his remaining brothers and sisters and numerous extended relatives. A viewing will be held at Smith Family Funeral Home on Monday November …

1938-2024 Kay left this world on November 7th, 2024, to go riding with Bob. Kay was born in Redwood City, California to Velma and Charles Kearns, April 1938. Her father, Charles, was in the Navy Sea Bees and was away during World War II. In letters home, he referred to Kay as his ‘Kay Doll’, the youngest of their, then, three children. As a child, Kay was quite fond of visiting her maternal grandparents at their farm and orchard in what is now Livermore, California. Kay went to Catholic boarding school, then her last year switched to public high school in Madera, California. Kay had her own horse by age nine and was responsible for pigs and chickens on the family’s ranch. It was always said that when her mother wanted a chicken for dinner Kay would shoot one in the head with her trusty 22 rifle. While Kay has …

1937-2024 Darrell Blake Jones, Sr., 87, peacefully passed away at his home in Mona, Utah with his wife, son-in-law, and dog by his side on the morning of November 14, 2024. Darrell was born June 25, 1937 in Long Beach, California to Kenneth William Jones and Mildred Ethel Redding. Darrell spent his childhood and early adult life in southern California, but later moved to Winnemucca, Nevada after a friend told him how great it was. Darrell loved Winnemucca and lived there for over 50 years. Darrell met and married Dorothy Sawyer, the “most beautiful woman” he’d ever seen, on July 13, 1985. Darrell was independent and hard-working his entire life and did lots of things including; working for Hughes Aircraft, managing a grocery store, owning a gas station, and working for Sierra Pacific (NV Energy) for 20 years from which he retired. After his “retirement”, he worked another 17 years …

Life-long Humboldt County resident, Will DeLong, age 50, passed away on November 13, 2024 in Reno, Nevada. Will DeLong was born January 16, 1974 in Winnemucca, Nevada, to John and Judy DeLong. He joined sisters Christy and Jhona on Trout Creek Ranch, becoming part of the fifth generation of family ranchers on the Jackson Mountains. Along with his sisters and cousins, Will’s younger years were filled with the adventures of ranch kids. Will started school at home at Trout Creek, attended the one-room Jackson Mountain School, and graduated from Albert M. Lowry High School with the Class of 1992. Will wrestled in Jr. High and High School and was a member of the Humboldt County High School Rodeo Club, competing in steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping and cutting where he won the Nevada State HS Rodeo Championship in Steer Wresting in 1992. After high school, he attended the …

July 21 1947 to October 30 2024 After a long battle with kidney failure Dennis passed away and left a hole in the hearts of many. Dennis was preceded in death by his wife Ginger, two of his sisters Marilyn and Vi two of his sons Kelly and Leon and his parents Dean and Marie. Dennis leaves behind another sister Rosie, two sons John and Ian and four grandchildren along with a long list of other family and close friends. Dennis was born in Elko Nevada, joined the Marines in 1968 Married Ginger on July 17th 1969. Dennis worked 40 years for the Union Pasific Rail Road. Dennis was a foster parent, a father of four boys, a Square Dance caller, and a Decon at First Baptist church. Dennis loved playing guitar with his friends and speaking Spanish French and Italian. We will all miss you Grampa.

1962-2024 It is with great sadness that the family of Mark Anthony Plants announced his passing on October 21, 2024. He was born to Wilma and Herbert Plants on March 24, 1962. He grew up in Fallon Nevada, where he attended and graduated from Churchill County High School in 1980. Mark loved the life of rodeo in his early years right after high school and then proceeded a Career in Mining for over 34 years, where he worked at various mines around Battle Mountain Nevada. He loved hunting and fishing and very compassionate about the outdoors. He was a great father to his boys (Larry, Dusty, and Dillon) and to all the kids he helped raised throughout his life, (Dennis, Tim, Courtney, and Krystal). He was a kind Grandpa to all his grandchildren. He was a loyal friend and a great mentor to all who knew and worked with him. …

Alfonso Gonzalez passed away on November 1, 2024, in Reno, Nevada at the age of 74. He was born on April 3, 1950, in Rockaforte, Spain to Julio and Christina Gonzalez. At the age of 5, Alfonso’s parents moved the family to the United States, seeking a better life. He graduated from Lowry High School and then went on to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. He was a member of ATO at the university. After he graduated from UNR, he enlisted in the National Guard. He then came back to Winnemucca to spend his life. He married Vicki Clarno on November 27, 1988. The two were married for 11 years before divorcing in 1998. They had 2 children, Alexandra and Madison. He worked in construction for most of his life. He owned the Artic Circle and worked hard his whole life. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic …

10/10/48 - 10/18/24 Colleen was born in Reno, NV at St. Mary’s Hospital to Jack and Bernie Sharkey October 10, 1948. She was the fifth of six children and welcomed by her brothers and me. Colleen left us on October 18, 2024 at the same hospital where she was born, 76 years and 1 week earlier. She had spent many weeks in the hospital. Growing up in a large family made for a chaotic, adventurous, loud, fun, wonderful, and memorable time in early Reno days. We have so many family memories and no end of stories that we will share about Colleen and our growing up. She attended schools in Reno, including receiving her degree in Accounting at University of Nevada, Reno and worked her way through school. She has many life-long friends from her college days. During this time, she also met her future husband, Peter Riehm in Reno …

Terry Michael Morton sadly passed away on October 19, 2024 after suffering a series of strokes. He was born on June 28, 1964 in Winnemucca, Nevada to Beverly J. Upshaw and Robert C. Morton. He grew up in Winnemucca, Nevada and graduated from Albert M. Lowry High School in 1982. He spent some time drilling oil in Wyoming and then joined the United States Navy for four years. While enlisted he married Tina Straton. They had two children, Jessica and Daniel. After his service in the Navy, Terry moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and went back to school to become a licensed electrician. During that time, Terry married Julie Wood. He worked for SnowBird Ski Resort in Utah for sixteen years. Terry eventually moved back to Winnemucca when his health started to decline to be closer to his family and friends. Terry enjoyed golf, pool and skiing. He also …

Darrell (Cliff) Smith passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69 on September 17, 2024, in the Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Room in Winnemucca, NV. Cliff was born in Wenatchee, WA on February 6, 1955, the eldest of eight children to Harry and Evelyn Smith. He and his family relocated to Osburn, ID in the late 1960s. He was a third generation underground miner, who started working with his father in his teens. He had a career in underground mining that spanned over thirty years, as a miner and then as a leadman, working at most of the major mines in the western U.S. and Alaska. He knew most everything there was to know about underground mining. He used to say that he had a sixth sense when underground, that he could feel and hear the ground, or a cave-in before it would happen. His mining knowledge and experience was …