George Begay Jr.

GEORGE BEGAY JR. Funeral services for Grand Junction resident George Begay Jr. will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 14 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the Towaoc Cemetery. Mr. Terry Knight Sr. will officiate. George was born on June 13, 1960, the son of George Begay Sr. and Louise Talk. He passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at the Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 47. George was a graduate of Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1979. After graduation he was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, first in Cortez and from 1982 to present in Grand Junction. George loved to be outdoors. He enjoyed ice fishing, barbequing, hiking, and cross country skiing. When he was younger George ran marathons. He was also a softball and baseball coach for young children. George took great pride in his livestock and ranch work. Surviving George are his wife, Valentina Whyte-Begay of Grand Junction; his mother, Louise Talk of Mancos Creek, Colo.; and his children, Stacie Lynn Begay-Archuleta and husband, Danny of Grand Junction, and Adam Marshall Begay also of Grand Junction. He also leaves behind his siblings, Irma Begay of Towaoc, Andy Begay Sr. and wife Trina of Cortez, Lorraine Begay and husband, Eric Whyte of Mancos Creek, Colo., Bonnie Begay of Towaoc, Edward Begay of Towaoc, Leonard Begay and wife, Sarah Vega of Bishop, Calif., Tina Begay of Mancos Creek, Colo.; and Dolly Jim and husband, Ramon of Shiprock, N.M.; and his grandson, Benjamin Alexander Archuleta of Grand Junction.