Howard F. Watson

Howard F. Watson, 78, passed away Jan. 4, 2009, in Pahrump.

He was born Oct. 11, 1930, and was a resident of Pahrump for 16 years, having come from Soldotna, Alaska.

He was a machinist, retired in 1992, and a veteran of the Air Force.

He was a member of the Elks for 40 years, a member of the Moose Lodge, an AmVet lifetime member, a Mason, a member of the Lion's Club and a member of the American Legion.

He was a hard-working man of few words, a loving father, husband and grandfather and he loved life and his family dearly.

His wife DonnaSue of Nevada; sons Ryan (Tiffanee) of Nevada, James of California, Danny of Washington, Stan of Pennsylvania and Tim of Alaska; daughter Aubrey of California; grandson Frank (Mary) of California; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren survive him.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Jr.

No services are planned. (01/04/2009)

Charlyne G. Taylor

Charlyne G. Taylor, 80, passed away suddenly Jan. 2, 2009, in Las Vegas.

She was born Dec. 1, 1928, in Los Angeles, Calif., the daughter of Gladys and Kenneth Christy.

Charlyne was a resident of Pahrump for 19 years and there was where she met her husband Richard L. Taylor. They were married in Mazatlan, Mexico with her sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Walt Wegner in attendance. They enjoyed 14 wonderful years together.

Charlyne lived a full, loving, happy and humorous life filed with travel, entertaining, collecting and taking in stray animals.

She retired in 1991 from Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., where she had worked in administration.

Charlyne will be greatly missed by her loving husband Dick; his children Richard and Tamara; his grandchildren; her sister Maxine and brother-in-law Walt; many nieces and nephews and all her many friends.

No services are planned.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Southern Nye County Friends of Animals Inc. (01/02/2009)

Valentyna Kram

Valentyna Kram, 54, passed away Dec. 28, 2008, in Pahrump.

She was born June 10, 1954, in the Ukraine, and was a resident of Pahrump for one-and-a-half years. She is survived by her husband Bo Nilsson of Pahrump; children Anton and Anna Volkov; parents Michail and Maria Moskalets and one grandchild.

"My dearest Valentyna,

You considered every day as if it were a gift. You were always happy and content with what you had, never complained.

You were the light of my life and you touched many people's hearts along the way. How you treated your loved ones truly demonstrated you knew what love was.

You were taken from us way too soon, but I am now going to take you home, where you will rest in peace with your family. Bo"

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 11 in the Pahrump Community Library. (12/28/2008)

Byron M. Graham Jr.

Byron M. Graham Jr., 85, passed away Dec. 18, 2008, in Harbor House Hospice in Las Vegas.

He was born Feb. 5, 1923, in Brawley, Calif., and was a resident of Pahrump for four years.

He was a retired custom builder in Hermosa, Calif., and a veteran of the Royal Air Force-Army Air Corps.

His children, Marsha Graham of Pahrump, Wendell Graham of Port Orchard, Wash., and Terry Graham of Phelan, Calif.; two grandchildren, Brian Graham of Las Vegas and Tammi Biondi of Port Orchard and seven great-grandchildren survive him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marcelyn Graham, parents, Byron M. Graham Sr. and Gladys (Bible) Graham; brothers Robert and Charles Graham and sister Gladys Graham.

He was cremated and will be buried with his wife of 61 years in Shelton, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. (12/18/2008)

Penny Lynn Strickland

Penny Lynn Strickland passed away Dec. 30, 2008, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

She was born Jan. 25, 1959, in Chicago, Ill., and spent time living in Oregon, Idaho, Pioche and Las Vegas before settling in Tonopah in 1988.

She worked for Amerigas before starting her own companies with bail bonds, selling advertising for the Pahrump Valley Times and more recently, foreclosure sales and postings.

Penny was very active in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, serving seven times as president of the Tonopah chapter and being honored once as president of the year. She also served the ladies auxiliary as the District 4 chaplain and chairman of the District 4 cancer aid and research.

Penny loved not only her veterans but also she work the did to assist them.

She loved life, loved her family, loved Tonopah and loved the chukars on her little hill.

She is survived by her husband Bill Strickland of Tonopah; daughter Jaimie Evanoff of Tonopah; son Michael J. Evanoff Jr. of Monroe, Ore.; brother Robert (Deb "Cookie") Brown of Tonopah; sisters Patty and Cindy of Reno and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Marylynn Morris.

Memorial services were held at 1 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Tonopah Convention Center. (12/30/2008)