Jimmy Benally Obituary

BARSTOW, CALIF.
Jimmy L. Benally
Dec. 21, 1925 - Sept. 21, 2011

Jimmy L. Benally of Barstow, Calif. passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family. Born Dec. 21, 1925, in Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.
Jimmy lived and worked most of his life in Barstow. The eldest of ten children; Jimmy took pride in being an example and a leader in his family. Prior to leaving his family home; Jimmy spent many years helping his father and mother. In order to help the family and bring income, Jimmy left the reservation and went off to enlist in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Lying about his age, he enlisted at the age of 17 and was inducted into the USMC as a Navajo Code Talker. During his time of service from 1943-1945, Jimmy served proudly overseas while still working to support his family back home.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Jimmy and his brother, Harrison, went to Barstow. Jimmy met his wife Inez in Barstow, where he would then spend the rest of his life, working and raising his family.
For more than forty years, Jimmy worked two jobs from which he later retired: Labor Foreman for the Santa Fe Railroad and a Lumber Yard Forklift Operator at Hayward Lumber Yard. Holding true to his strong work ethic, Jimmy didn't last long in being fully retired. He would later return to Valley Lumber where he worked part-time for several years.
Jimmy loved his grandchildren and took great pride in every opportunity he had to spend with them. He often attended their sporting events, whether it was soccer, softball or baseball. An original Dodger fan, Jimmy loved baseball. Occasionally you could catch him watching a Dodger's or Angel's game. Coming from a large family, Jimmy enjoyed every family reunion he was able to attend in Farmington.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his beloved, wife, Inez R. Benally; parents, Capitan and Eloise Benally; brothers, Harrison and Harry Benally.
Jimmy is survived by his daughters, Ann Benally of Tustin, Calif., Veronica (Pat) Dunham of Barstow; sons Edward D. (Deborah) Benally, Myron Benally, both of Barstow, and Bernard Benally of Fort Mojave, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth (Stella) Benally of Farmington; sisters, Bessie Lee of Red Mesa, Ariz., Geneva Laughter of Farmington, Lillie Tso of Page, Ariz., Esther Benally of Gallup, and Carol (Tom) Fleming of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, at the Christian Reformed Church in Teec Nos Pos, Ariz. Pastor Andrew Begay will officiate.
Interment will be Teec Nos Pos Community Cemetery.
Jimmy is in the care of Desert View Funeral Home of Shiprock, North U.S. Hwy. 491, (505) 368-4607.