Thamer & Leonard Stone

SWEETWATER - Thamer Patricia "Patsy" Stone, 80, died on Nov. 29, 2013, at home. Her husband, Leonard Porter Stone, 85, died at home on Nov. 30, 2013.
The wake for both will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday at the Stone home in Sweetwater, with Pastor Fernald Gonzales officiating. The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Vah-Ki Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Josephine Dickson officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery.
Mrs. Stone was born on March 18, 1933, in Phoenix, the only child of Blanche and Alonzo Enos. As a youngster she lived in Salt River, Apache country, San Miguel and Tucson before settling on the Gila River Indian Community. She was a homemaker and strong family supporter for more than 60 years. She enjoyed being with her family and most of all hearing the voices and laughter of her husband and children, helping family and friends, and working on fill-in puzzles.
Her skills entailed every aspect of keeping a home, raising children and tending to grandchildren. She worked briefly at Casa Blanca School as an aide and was self-employed in clothing and household item resales. Her skills included embroidery, tatting, crocheting and knitting, among many others. Her family called her a "professional mother."
Mr. Stone was born on June 3, 1928, in Stotonic to Clara Pablo and Frank Enos and was raised by his grandfather Andrew Pablo until he was 13. He then lived with his mother and stepfather, Benjamin Porter Stone, and began his lifelong work in agriculture. As a young man he enjoyed being a saddle bronc competitor at local rodeos and played baseball as a catcher.
He and his wife met and married in 1948 and began a love story of 65 years. They attended various sports competitions of their children and traveled together throughout Arizona, Mexico, Utah, California and New Mexico. He farmed family lands in the Vah-Ki and Sweetwater areas, worked for Neely Ranches in Chandler as a young man and later for Whitey Cates Custom Farming in Casa Grande, among other jobs. He was on the work crew of University of Arizona archaeologists during the 1964-65 Snaketown excavation on the Gila River Community. He later worked for Gila River Farms and retired as a division foreman. He played violin most of his life and was instrumental in forming Gila River Old Time Fiddlers.
Survivors of the couple include five sons, William, Robert and Roger, all of Vah-Ki, Edward L. of Sacate and Donald L. of Stotonic; eight daughters, Leonora and Colleen of Chandler, Phyllis Yesk of Lower Santan, Carol L. James-Vallecillo and Louise P. of Sacate, Rebecca J. and Lila B. of Sweetwater and Leah Jackson of Sacaton; 42 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by a son, Gregory Stone; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Mr. Stone also is survived by a sister, Permelia Marrietta of Stotonic, and was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.