In Loving Memory

JOSIE PACHECO ALONZO, December 27, 1953 – August 31, 2021, age 67, of Superior, passed away at her home. (BM) ANDREW BREAD, June 24, 1971 – August 31, 2021, age 50, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. Andrew was a self-employed heavy duty equipment mechanic. (LM) LELANI ROSE ROMERO, August 20, 1985 – August 29, 2021, age 36, of San Carlos, passed away in San Carlos. Lelani worked at Apache Gold Casino, San Carlos Marketplace, Basha’s Deli, McDonald’s, San Carlos High School, and Motel 6. (LM) MICHELLE “PINK” HODSON, August 3, 1974 – August 28, 2021, age 47, of Globe, passed away at her home. Michelle was a secretary for Resolution Copper and Fresenius Dialysis Center. (LM) INGABORD MCINTOSH, September 1, 1955 – August 27, 2021, age 65, of, passed away at Honor Health John Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix. (LM) ANTHONY NOSIE, August 21, 1965 – August 27, 2021, age 56, of Phoenix, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital in Phoenix. Anthony worked in construction as a window glazer. (LM) GARY LYNN ANDRESS, September 17, 1946 – August 26, 2021, age 74, passed away. Gary worked at Inspiration Copper as a heavy duty mechanic and safety coordinator for 37 years. (BM) EMMA LEE PEARCE, January 21, 1940 – August 24, 2021, age 81, of Globe, passed away at her home. Emma operated an accounting business. (BM) DENISE MARIE CRAM, December 10, 1961 – August 23, 2021, age 59, of Globe, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Denise was a special ed teacher for Miami Unified School District. (LM) JOSEPH L. JAMES, January 8, 1976 – August 23, 2021, age 45, of Globe, passed away in San Manuel. Joseph was born in Miami and worked as a safety construction foreman for Dalmolin in Globe. (LM) VAUGHN DEON HORLACHER, January 2, 1934 – August 22, 2021, age 87, of Globe, passed away. Vaughn enjoyed baking, hosting parties, and traveling. (BM) KAY WARE, August 16, 1937 – August 22, 2021, age 84, of Dudleyville, passed away. Kay was originally from New Mexico. (BM) BARBARA ANN IRVING, May 12, 1954 – August 22, 2021, age 67, of San Carlos, passed away at her home. Barbara was a housekeeper and nursing assistant. (LM) TERRY DON HOOKE, October 12, 1996 – August 21, 2021, age 24, of San Carlos, passed away. Terry Don worked at Oddonetto Construction and was about to start a new job at Freeport McMoRan. (LM) LANFORD ALLEN, September 12, 1954 – August 19, 2021, age 66, of San Carlos, passed away at Heritage Healthcare Center in Globe. Lanford was a security guard and a laborer at the Whiteriver Sawmill. (LM) ROBERT CHARLES PORTO, August 19, 1969 – August 19, 2021, age 52, of Claypool, passed away in Columbia, South Carolina. (LM) STEPHEN THOMPSON, December 12, 1992 – August 19, 2021, age 28, of San Carlos, passed away at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa. (LM) JAX ETHAN FORMO, April 17, 2020 – August 18, 2021, passed away at 16 months. (BM) MICHAEL GRANT NALTAZAN, October 12, 1932 – August 17, 2021, age 88, of San Carlos, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Michael was an assistant manager at the San Carlos Tribal Store and was on the pageant committee. (LM) KESA SIREN, July 21, 1954 – August 17, 2021, age 67, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. Kesa was a logger in the timber industry and managed the convenience store at San Carlos Lake. (LM) LETICIA ANN BLACK, October 22, 1974 – August 17, 2021, age 46, of Glendale, passed away at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. Leticia was born in San Carlos and worked as a housekeeper. (LM) MELVIN LEROY PRICE, April 8, 1941 – August 16, 2021, age 80, passed away at his home. LeRoy was a locomotive mechanic. (BM) MADOLINA FLORES PORTO, August 15, 1938 – August 15, 2021, age 83, passed away. Madolina was originally from Chihuahua and was a seamstress and cook. (LM) FRED EDWARD RUIZ, April 23, 1937 – August 14, 2021, age 84, of Mesa, passed away at his home. Fred was born in Miami and lived in Globe until 2012. He worked in mining for over 50 years. (BM) MISTY LYNN ALLINSON, March 28, 1972 – August 14, 2021, age 49, of Globe, passed away at her home. Misty worked in several departments at the County, including the recorder’s office and the Sheriff’s Department. (LM) GABRIEL ANTHONY ACOSTA, August 1, 1965 – August 13, 2021, age 56, of Globe, passed away in Globe. Gabriel was originally from Phoenix and worked on helicopters. (LM) VERA JUANITA SCHUTT, April 16, 1946 – August 12, 2021, age 75, of Roosevelt, passed away at her home. Vera was a homemaker. (LM) JIMMY A. BEJARANO, February 13, 1948 – August 12, 2021, age 73, of Miami, passed away. Jimmy worked for Inspiration Copper Company for 42 years. (BM) JESUS NAZAREO RIVAS SR., June 12, 1959 – August 10, 2021, age 62, of Globe, passed away. Jesus worked in construction and mining, then became a case manager for DES and later worked at Horizon. (LM) STEPHANIE DILLON, November 22, 1982 – August 10, 2021, age 38, of San Carlos, passed away at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa. Stephanie was a nurse’s assistant. (LM) ROBERT DUBER, March 1, 1929 – August 8, 2021, age 92, of Globe, passed away at his home. (LM) MARY MARGARET BUTTERWORTH, June 28, 1944 – August 8, 2021, age 77, of Globe, passed away at her home. Mary was a customer service rep for several restaurants in the Globe-Miami area. (LM) DAVID BROWN, August 3, 1964 – August 8, 2021, age 57, of Globe, passed away in Globe. (LM) SANDRA SUE MILLET MELLOR, November 28, 1942 – August 7, 2021, age 78, passed away at her home. Sandra was originally from Bell, California, and was a primary teacher. (LM) JAMES PAUL OVERBY, August 20, 1956 – August 7, 2021, age 64, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. James was originally from Oak Park, Illinois, and worked for Avnet. (LM) SONYA SHAW, October 17, 1972 – August 7, 2021, age 48, of Mesa, passed away at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa. (LM) ALBERT M. WADE, December 10, 1936 – August 6, 2021, age 84, of Kearny, passed away at his home. Albert was an accomplished musician and talented craftsman. (BM) DALE CURTIS MILES, August 21, 1949 – August 6, 2021, age 71, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. Dale was the first San Carlos Apache Tribe Cultural Center Administrator and Apache Historian. (LM) AMANDA RENEE MEZA, April 13, 1982 – August 6, 2021, age 39, passed away at her home. Mandy was originally from Tucson. (LM) RANKIN NOSIE, April 2, 1949 – August 5, 2021, age 72, of San Carlos, passed away in San Carlos. He was an operator at BHP Magma and later custodian at San Carlos Prevention and San Carlos Apache Healthcare. (LM) HAROLD HOPKINS JR., March 27, 1973 – August 5, 2021, age 48, of Stilwell, OK, passed away at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. He was a ranch hand. (LM) ESAI DALE BENDLE, June 8, 1990 – August 5, 2021, age 31, of San Carlos, passed away at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa. He was a maintenance worker at Apache Gold Casino. (LM) CLIFF WAYNE BELARDE, October 27, 1958 – August 4, 2021, age 62, of Globe, passed away at his home. Cliff was a senior sales rep for AutoZone and a member of Gila County Search and Rescue. (LM) THOMAS VANEK, March 17, 1944 – August 3, 2021, age 77, of Miami, passed away at his home. (LM) JOSE JESUS ARBIZO, August 27, 1949 – August 3, 2021, age 71, of Aravaipa, passed away at his ranch. Joe was a rancher, horse trainer, roper, singer, and Vietnam vet. (BM) ROBERT ANTHONY ASANOVICH, June 17, 1952 – August 3, 2021, age 69, of Chandler, passed away at his home. Bob was born in Miami and worked for the Christmas and Inspiration Copper mines. (LM) MARY J. SIMMONS, March 7, 1946 – August 2, 2021, age 75, of Buckeye, passed away at Abrazo West Hospital in Goodyear. Mary worked as a branch manager in banking. (LM) SABRINA EASTRIDGE, December 15, 1957 – August 2, 2021, age 63, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)

LM–Lamont Mortuary / BM–Bulman Miles

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Courtney and Douglas at home in Miami. Photo by LCGross

Douglas Berry: “Living here, this is our dream. I’m still working on it, but it’s all in my trade. The craftsmanship in this building is incredible!” Photo by Thea Wilshire BERRY BANJOS, Continued from page 1

“I didn’t realize I was developing all the skills I needed to finish the project that I started so many years ago,” he marvels.

Thirty years after he’d given up banjo making, he found himself back at it.

He recalls finishing his first instrument in 2019. “It was the best instrument I had ever owned,” he says. “I realized that all the mistakes I had made over the years on a $6 piece of marble rather than a $60 piece of ebony had helped me.”

“I wasn’t expecting that level of quality when I finished my first build.” All his mundane construction work had prepared him to be a luthier.

Douglas says, “I was hooked! I thought, ‘I want to do it again.’”

He made another banjo and posted videos on the Internet. People started paying attention. And some of them wanted to buy their own. Douglas was still doing construction work, but now he unexpectedly found himself in the banjo-making business.

Then COVID-19 hit.

“Right about then comes the lockdown and I’ve got people who want instruments. I thought, ‘It looks like I’m not going to be setting tiles, but I’m going to be building banjos.’ So I started leaning into it like crazy. I built the first six in my laundry room and then realized that this is a viable source of income.”

That wasn’t the only surprise 2020 brought.

At the time, Douglas and his wife, Courtney, were living in Mesa.

“Everything’s locked down, but the real estate market started going crazy. Our home value in Mesa started creeping up.” He asked Courtney, “I’m not in love with this house, are you?” Fortunately, she wasn’t.

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They had long thought of moving to Miami, but the time had never been right. They had six kids, and Douglas and Courtney didn’t want to uproot them. Plus, he depended on construction work in the Valley for his income.

Yet Douglas had fond childhood memories of visiting the Dairy Queen in Miami whenever his family came up to see his grandfather, who had worked in the mines in Morenci and Clifton. He and Courtney had talked about retiring to Globe or Miami eventually.

“I always thought this was the place I wanted to be,” Douglas says.

So with their house increasing in value, the construction industry on hold and their older children more independent, Douglas and Courtney started looking at buildings in Miami. At first they were discouraged by all the boarded-up structures, but one building caught Douglas’s attention.

“I took a picture through a tiny crack in the wood,” he recalls. In the photo, he saw a wood floor, a mezzanine, a tin ceiling… “This one picture was enough. I fell in love with it!”

Douglas and Courtney purchased the 1924 Popular building on Sullivan Street, along with a few houses on the hill behind the building that needed renovation.

They now live in the back of the Popular building. They’ve turned the middle section into work space. The front has become a showroom for Douglas’s instruments, as well as a gathering space for musicians.

The Internet makes it possible for Douglas to make a living from a specialty craft while living in a small rural town. And his customers come from all around the world. His last delivery went to a person who had ordered the instrument from Ukraine.

A bespoke banjo is not cheap. Douglas explains that much of the cost results from the time involved in making the instruments - 40 to 60 hours per banjo, depending on their features. Douglas’s banjos sell for between about $1,000 and $2,000. He says he tries to undercut his competition by a few hundred dollars while using better materials.

BERRY BANJOS, Continued on page 27

Berry often works on several instruments at a time in various stages. His workbench is the first thing you see when you enter the building. Photo by Thea Wilshire

Douglas and daughter Emilee strike a pose with his vintage car parked in front of the building. Photo by LCGross

Courtney Odom writes music, sings, plays instruments, and programs electronic music. She recently wrote and performed the music for the soundtrack for the just-released Travis Mills movie about Pearl Hart, The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach. You can find it now on Spotify! Courtesy Photo.

Berry doesn’t give away his secret to how he achieves the sound in his banjos, but says “how you transfer vibration from the neck to the body (of the instrument) and vice versa is huge.” Photo by Thea Wilshire

BERRY BANJOS, Continued from page 26

Douglas’s banjos are all hand tooled. “I really enjoy putting my hands on the instrument,” he says. “I do all this by hand based on how it feels and how it looks.”

He’s interested in the science behind the sound. “Resonance is a whole body vibration,” he explains. “You have to think about the mass of the instrument in total. How you transfer vibration from the neck to the body and vice versa is huge.”

“I’m kind of guarded about some of my secrets,” Douglas says. “I have had a lot of people ask me how I achieve the sound I do, and sometimes I will tell them a little bit of it, but not go into detail.”

But for both Douglas and Courtney, the Popular building is about more than an occupation - it’s also their home, a place of creativity and inspiration, and a gathering space.

“This is my art studio,” Douglas says. “It’s where I create and you can come meet me.”

“We could never go back to living in a regular house. Not only is it an open concept, but it’s an integrated life. I get up while I’m still achy and drink some coffee and look down on the space and see what I have to work on. Courtney gets up earlier than me and is usually working already, and I’ll come talk with her, then head to my banjos. Seriously, it’s an integrated life and there’s nothing better than that.”

Courtney writes music, sings, plays instruments, and programs electronic music. Recently, with connections made in the Miami area, she tried something new: she wrote and performed the music for the just released Travis Mills movie about Pearl Hart, The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach.

Douglas hopes his passion for Miami will inspire other people to purchase and restore some of the classic buildings in town. “I’m hoping to see other people have some faith and take a leap.”

“It breaks my heart to see so many places going downhill. I understand that the community has gone through a lot with busts and boom, and people did what they had to do, but it’s worth taking care of it. There’s got to be a move for some preservation. You’ve got to take care of these old places. There is history here. You can’t rebuild history. When it’s gone, it’s gone.”

Douglas believes downtown Miami can be a draw for tourists, and he hopes the Popular building will be part of that.

“That’s what we have to offer: we have a place that makes people want to stop. Even if they aren’t interested in instruments, it’s a place they want to see. The boards are off the windows and there’s something to look at.”

To enhance the draw, Douglas and Courtney purchased a 1927 Ford Model-T and keep it parked in front of the building. He says, “Every day, there’s people who stop in the middle of the street with a tripod and do photo shoots.”

“The idea is if we can get them to just stop, then they might use the bathroom or get something to eat or check out the other shops. Instead of just driving in and driving on, we want anything that can slow the traffic down and get people to interact.”

Douglas also believes music will be a magnet that brings people to town.

“It’s going to happen organically,” he says. “A lot of my competition builds in their home shops in remote locations, but I have a historic backdrop.”

“Now there’s a lot of people saying, ‘I want to come see your shop.’”

Douglas says musicians from Tucson and the Valley are interested in coming to Miami to gather and play together.

“That’s the reason we have this front space with chairs. It’s a jam space and we can get people in here playing. If we start to have gatherings that are too much for our front room, then we can ask about moving over to the park. I think it’s going to happen.”

In the meantime, Douglas will keep making banjos and getting to know his new home town.

“We’ve been welcomed into this community,” he says. Even Sammy Gonzales, Miami’s mayor, dropped by to say hello.

“Everyone has been so awesome. It’s like a red carpet and they’re greeting us with open arms.” u