James Upshaw Sr.

James Upshaw Sr. Funeral services for James F. Upshaw Sr., 71, were 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 4, at Mary Mother of Mankind Catholic Church, St. Michaels. Burial was in Veterans Cemetery, Fort Defiance. Visitation was 9 a.m., one hour prior to services. A rosary was recited 7 a.m., at St. Michaels Catholic Church. Upshaw died Sept. 1, 2010, in Albuquerque. He was born Jan. 20, 1939, in Hunters Point, into the Black Sheep People Clan for the Tobacco People/Red Running Into the Water People Clan. Upshaw attended St. Michaels Indian School, Albuquerque Indian School and later enlisted to the armed services. He was honorably discharged in 1959. He served overseas in Italy and during the Korean conflict era. Upshaw worked many years with Navajo Nation in various jobs with NTUA, NECA, Window Rock Unified Schools, P&M mine as a dragline operator and retired from the mines after 32 years. He received many honors and awards. His hobbies included master welding, silversmithing and gambling. Survivors include his wife, Ella Mae Yazzie Upshaw; sons, Danny C. Upshaw Sr. of Phoenix, James Upshaw Jr. of Albuquerque, Fritzgerald Upshaw of Hunters Point; brother, Larry Upshaw Sr., Mary A. Upshaw; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Upshaw was preceded in death by his parents, Ferdinand C. Upshaw, Mary Ellen Yazhe Upshaw; daughter, Adeline Upshaw Bob, sister Marjorie A. Upshaw; grandparents, Mose and Isabell Yazza, Charley and Susie Upshaw. Pallbearers were Kristopher Upshaw, Brian Upshaw, Gerald M. Upshaw, Rodney Berry, Jeromy Nelson, Adam Sanchez, Carlos D. Yazzie Jr. The family received relatives and friends at St. Michaels Mission Recreational Hall, following services Arrangements are entrusted to: Tse Bonito Mortuary 16 Alma Dr. Tse Bonito, New Mexico 505-371-5565