Henderson deaths

By The Home News

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 5:35 p.m.

Julie Coca

Julie Jackson Coca, a Henderson native, died May 24.

Born Feb. 5, 1969, at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals to Nile L. and Dolores G. Jackson, she spent most of her life in the Henderson and Las Vegas area.

Julie worked for Marie Callender's for many years as a food server.

She met Antonio (Bryan) Coca in May 1997 and they were married on May 5, 2005. They enjoyed traveling and camping with Julie's son, Julian Favela.

In June 2008 Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer while carrying her daughter Sophia.

She is survived by her husband, Antonio Coca, son Julian and daughter Sophia, father Nile L. Jackson.

Services were held May 27 at New Community Church, 6360 S. Pecos Road, Las Vegas.

Palm Mortuary handled the arrangements.

Margaret Graham

Margaret V. Graham, 77, of Henderson died May 14, after a battle with ovarian cancer at the Odyssey Harbor House Hospice, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born Dec. 28, 1931, in Yuma, Ariz., to Ralph Valencia and Mary Redondo Lorona. A few years later, she moved to San Diego with her mother and stepfather, Joe Lorona, where she finished her schooling and met and married William "Bill" Graham, the love of her life, June 21, 1952, in a double ceremony with her sister Irene and her husband, Joseph Turskey.

In 1960, the family moved to Henderson, where they remained. Margaret was a stay-at-home mother to their 10 children until the youngest was in school full time. In 1969, she went to work for the Henderson Home News, then owned by Morry Zenoff. She started as a part-time reporter and became office manager.

In 1974, she worked for the Office of Veterans Affairs clinic as a purchasing agent. In 1990, she was hired as a purchasing administrator in the Bureau of Reclamation in Boulder City, one of the first women to hold the position.

After her retirement in 1994, she worked for the Henderson Boys & Girls Club Worm Catcher program, then worked as a preschool teacher at Marsh Jeffries Preschool.

She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church and participated in various community projects. She enjoyed traveling, especially cruising, and being with her family.

She is survived by her children, Valerie Compton, Terry Lee and her husband, Dave, Debby Brownell and her husband, John, Carol Watson and her husband, Terrill, David, Billy and his wife, Caren, Margie, Alicia Wollburg and her husband, Joe, Chris and his wife, Amy, Vicki Archibeque and her husband, Fred; mother, Mary; sisters Irene and her husband, Joseph, and Lenore Stuart and her husband, Jerry; as well as 36 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, who died April 13, 2008, grandson Aaron Graham and great-granddaughter Audrey Clyde.

The family requests memorial gifts go to Odyssey Hospice, 4011 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Services were held May 23 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Henderson.

Palm Mortuary handled the arrangements.

Chris Griffin

Frances C. "Chris" Griffin, 78, a former Henderson resident, died May 23 in Toney, Ala.

Born July 22, 1930, she most recently lived in Toney.

She is survived by her daughter Ann Parlato and husband Joseph of Toney, Ala.; sons Guy Griffin and wife Pattie of Swannanoa, N.C., Lee Griffin and wife Judy of Durham, N.C., and Bill Griffin and wife Ursel of Kitzingen, Germany; brother Paul Benton and wife Lola of Milton, Fla.; sister Agnes Donahoo and husband George of Albany, Ga.

Services will be held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Toney, Ala.

Burial will be held at a later date at Palm Mortuary, Henderson.

Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Toney, Ala., handled the arrangements.

Marlene Keep

Marlene A. Keep, 73, a 37-year resident of Las Vegas, died May 20.

She was born May 26, 1935, in Highland Park, Mich., and was a retired hairdresser.

She is survived by sons James Kalbfleisch of Henderson and Jay Kalbfleisch of Las Vegas; stepdaughters Kim M. Keep of Las Vegas and Kristina L. McComas of Oakview, Calif.; sisters Barb McCormick and Cheryl Nielsen, both of Las Vegas; stepdaughter-in-law Janice Pirie of Las Vegas; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held May 26 at Shadow Hills Baptist Church, where Keep was a member of the choir.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or Nathan Adelson Hospice.

Palm Mortuary handled the arrangements.

Marion Oteri

Marion Louise Oteri, 82, a retired saleswoman, of Boulder City, died May 20.

She was born Feb. 23, 1927, in Boston, and was a 20-year resident of Nevada.

Marion was an active member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church Altar Society, the Community Club of Boulder City, the Senior Citizens Center of Boulder City, and the Dennis Bono Young At Heart Club.

Marion is survived by her sister, Mary Veltman of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Donna Oteri of Henderson; son, John A. Oteri of Boulder City; granddaughter, January Falcone and her husband, Daniel, of Henderson; great-grandson, Giovanni Falcone of Henderson; best friend Nadine Johanson of Boulder City and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Oteri; and sister, Helen Dodson.

A sharing vigil will be at 7 p.m. May 28 at St. Andrews Catholic Community, 1399 San Felipe Drive, Boulder City. Service will be at 10 a.m. May 29, also at St. Andrews.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Free To Live Inc. P.O. Box 5884, Edmond, OK 73083.

Palm Mortuary handled the arrangements.

Raymond Rhees

Raymond H. Rhees, 36, a lifetime resident, died May 18.

He was born April 8, 1973, in Las Vegas to Kent and Catherine Rhees of Henderson.

He is survived by his parents, sisters Diane VanEtten of Hayden, Idaho, Sharon King of Wilmington, N.C.; brothers Dr. Brian Rhees of Tracy, Calif., Steven Rhees of Henderson, and Michael Rhees of Las Vegas; and grandmother Elaine Langford of Brigham City, Utah.

Services were held May 26 at the Arrowhead Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Henderson. He was buried in Palm Memorial Park in Henderson.

Palm Mortuary-Henderson handled the arrangements.