Wedding
Marcek and Crabtree
Louis and Karen Crabtree of Payson are proud to announce the marriage of their daughter Alison to Geoff Marcek. The two were married Feb. 23, 2013 in Houston, Texas. Parents of the groom are Diana and Glenn Woodward and Dan Marcek and Judy Quigley, all of Brookline, N.H. The newlyweds have recently relocated to Austin, Texas.
Anniversary
Smith
Longtime Strawberry residents Walt and Willene Smith celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day, Feb.14, 2013 with friends and family at their home in Strawberry.
Anniversary
Merlin and Nelson
John Merlin and Frances Ruth Nelson were married on March 15, 1963 in Lynwood, Calif. Blessing the couple were there children: Debra Ann Rusovick (Kuhn), Roberta Jean Kuhn, James Steven Kuhn (deceased) and Brian Merlin Nelson They have 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Granddaughter, Brooke (Nelson) Weinland hosted a family barbecue for them at Brian Nelson’s home on Feb. 24 and made them a video of their lives, which she showed and then gave copies to the family. John is retired and is an Army veteran of the Korean War and a member of VFW. Ruth works as a volunteer for the Mogollon Health Alliance and is the assistant manager of the Payson Hospital Gift Shop.
Wedding
Hockensmith and Thompson
Destiny Thompson and Travis Hockensmith, both of Star Valley, were married Saturday, Nov. 17. The bride is the daughter of Gary and Hollie Higgins of Star Valley. The groom is the son of Virdie Tracy and Catherine Anderson of Stillwater, Okla. The bride is a student at Everest University and the groom is employed by All Terrain Landscaping of Forest Lakes.
Anniversary
Brooks
Donald (Don) and Claudia (Candy) Brooks will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary Sunday, Nov. 25 and will commemorate the occasion with a cruise to Cancun in February. The couple built a home in the Rim Country in 1980 and has lived here fulltime since 1985. Don has an architectural drafting business and Candy is employed by Gila County.
Wedding
Kelsay and Gerard
Felicia Gerard and Jeremiah Kelsay were united in marriage Oct. 13, 2012. The ceremony was preformed by Kevin Kelley on a perfect sunny afternoon at the home of the bride’s grandmother and mother Deanne and Traci Stewart in Payson, Ariz. Attending the couple were Jessica Morales, Misty Novak, Jason Porter and Jeremy Hammer. Flower girls were Raven Kelsay and Brianna Morales and ring bearer was Haden Morales. The groom is the son of Kevin Kelsay and Nancy Blaney and the bride is the daughter of John Gerard and Traci Stewart. Guests were in attendance from Oklahoma, Oregon and Arizona. The reception was also held at the bride’s family home with the food catered by Kevin Kelsay, the groom’s father. Jon Gerard, the bride’s brother, provided music, and photography was by Life & Rain. The couple is making their home in Apache Junction, Ariz. The bride is a student at Everest University studying crime scene investigation and forensics and the groom is a garage door installer for an independent company in the Valley area
Wedding
Wattleworth and Hegenderfer
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Hegenderfer announce the marriage of their granddaughter Chandra Hegenderfer to Jeremy Wattleworth on Oct. 20, 2012 at Chaparral Pines in Payson.
Wedding
Jamerson and Gange
Renee L. Gange and Chase R. Jamerson were united in marriage Oct. 8, 2011, at the home of the bride’s parents, Rocky and Gini Gange, in Tonto Basin, Ariz. in a sunset ceremony performed by Nancy Wulff. Attending the couple were Kim Sacramone, Brandi Copeland, April Gange, Kristin Butler, Andrew Vasquez, Donovan Janz, Hank Miel and George Janz. Flower girl was Bella Sacramone and ring bearer was Damian Hilton. The groom is the son of Charles Jamerson, deceased, and Robin Tripp. Guests were in attendance from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri and Arizona. The master and mistress of the reception were Dan and Jeannine Cheek. The reception was also held at the bride’s parents’ home. Following a honeymoon to Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the couple are making their home in Apache Junction, Ariz. The bride is a stylist with MUGS at Superstition Springs mall and the groom is a correctional officer at Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Ariz.
Anniversary
Weichel
Ed and Joan Weichel will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Sept. 6, 2012. They were married Sept. 6, in Pleasant Valley, Conn. They have two sons, Wayne (Stacie) and Dean; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. They were both educators in San Diego, Calif. and retired to Payson in 1989. They are active members of Mountain Bible Church and have been involved in several civic organizations.
Anniversary
Eskew
Jim and Claudia Eskew met through a mutual friend in 1960 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and married two years later. They have four children — Teresa, Lori, Elizabeth and James — and six grandchildren, all of whom will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with them. They moved to Payson from Phoenix and have resided here for the last 25 years.
Anniversary
Grubbs and (Eufemi) Grubbs
Michael and Mary (Eufemi) Grubbs celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Aug. 16. The couple was married Aug. 16, 1952 at the Our Lady of Hungary Church in Southbend, Ind. by Father Urbine. They have 6 children — 5 sons and 1 daughter: Marc (Diane), Mesa, Ariz.; Michael (Tami), Ashland, Ore.; Pat (Lilly), Mesa, Ariz.; Jon (Brad), Chino Valley, Ariz.; Chris (Minnie), Phoenix, Ariz. and Lisa (Gregg), Payson, Ariz. They also have 22 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren with one on the way.
Wedding
Armstrong and Barker
Bill Armstrong and Corky Barker were married Saturday, June 16, 2012 at their home in Star Valley. The ceremony was performed by Judge Dorothy Little. The best man was Ronnie McDaniel and Best Woman was Stephanie Creasy, daughter of Corky Barker. Corky’s sons, Jack and Tony Denney, gave their mom away. They were also joined by many family and friends to celebrate their union.
Wedding
Borkowski and O’Haver
Morgan O’Haver and Thomas Borkowski (center) were married May 12, 2012 at Chaparral Pines Golf Club. They are pictured with the groom’s parents, John and Deborah Borkowski, and the bride’s parents, Raymond and Lori O’Haver. The wedding was officiated by Will Dunman, and the couple honeymooned in Newport Beach, Calif. Morgan and Thomas grew up in Payson and both are graduates of Northern Arizona University. The couple currently resides in Buckeye, Ariz. where Thomas is an electrical engineer at APS Palo Verde Nuclear Plant and Morgan is a fifth-grade teacher at Legacy Traditional School.
Wedding
Olszewski and Johnson
Trevir Johnson, the daughter of Larry Johnson and Duffy and Tracy Treat-Becher of Payson, will marry Christopher Olszewski, the son of Brad and Lynn Waters July 21, 2012 at the home of Don Treat. Both the bride-elect and prospective groom graduated from Payson High School in 2008. They plan to make their home in Arizona.
Wedding
Merritt and Crabtree
Louis and Karen Crabtree are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Laura Beth, a 2003 graduate of PHS, to Jonathon Merritt, son of Michael and Marian Merritt of Beasley, Texas. The newlyweds are recent graduates of Explosive Ordinance Disposal School, receiving their training at Elgin Air Force Base, Fla. They are currently residing in Lawton, Okla. near Fort Sill awaiting further training and mission assignments.
