Gilbert Canizalez Gonzales

Devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, Gilbert Canizalez Gonzales died Sunday, January 11, 2009 in the Salt River Canyon as the result of a single car accident. He was 62. The former Navajo County Administrator, where he served for 12 years, was born on August 14, 1946 in Miami, Arizona to the late Gilbert Mendez and Lola (Canizalez) Gonzales. Gilbert graduated from Miami High School in 1964, and later, in 1968, he graduated, from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. In his younger years, Gilbert was a school teacher teaching English and history. He also thoroughly enjoyed sports and coached boys baseball and basketball as well as girls softball for many years. He was an avid golfer throughout his life and was known as "The Godfather" to his golfing companions and buddies. Gilbert devoted his life to serving others and was a key figure in organizing the Navajo Chapter of The United Way. Gilbert is survived by: his wife, Johnnie Gonzales of Snowflake, AZ; 2 sons: Aarron Gonzales (Chalyce) of Syracuse, Utah, Paul Gonzales (Stacy) of Chandler, Arizona; 3 daughters: Tara Press (Andrew) of Tempe, AZ, Dorina Gonzales of Cottonwood, AZ, Tricia Gonzales of Tempe, AZ, 1 brother: Richard "Dickie" Gonzales of Las Vegas, NV; 1 sister: Carmen VanNote (Russ) of Phoenix, AZ; 6 grandchildren and 4 foster grandchildren. He is also survived by several of his cousins, affectionately known as the "Mod Squad." Gilbert was preceded in death by 2 foster children: Chico Cole and Mark Weston. The funeral service will be held 11:00 A.M., Friday, January 16, 2009 at the Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 175 W. 9th Street in Snowflake, Arizona where the visitation will begin 1 hour prior. Interment will follow at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake. Memorial Contributions, his name, to The United Way, 1515 E. Cedar Avenue, suite #D-1, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004 have been suggested by his family.