Velma Baha Alchesay

Velma Baha Alchesay died on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at the Haven of Show Low in Show Low, Arizona from causes due to her age.  She was 85 years old.  Velma was born on a Sunday, December 13, 1931, to the late Hendley and Mabel (Mosby) Hawkins at East Fork, Arizona.Velma attended school at the Theodore Roosevelt School.  While attending school, Velma met Sidney Baha Alchesay and later the couple were married.She was a loving and caring person.  She fell in love with the Lord and served Him throughout her long life.  She was a member of the North Fork Miracle Church.  Never one to be idle, Velma held many positions with different departments.  She worked as head cook at the following places:  The Whiteriver Elementary School, The Whiteriver Restaurant, at Limestone  for the BIA Forestry, at Youth Camp and Sunrise.  She also worked for the police department as a Suicide Prevention Team Member.  All in all, she worked for the White Mountain Apache Tribe for 42 years. Following her retirement, Velma worked in food sales. Velma loved to cook.  She loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping at camp meetings.  A natural born nurturer, Velma found a great deal of joy by encouraging others in helping them be better people and always had a heart-felt prayer for other people.  Velma continued to do God's work until she passed and served the Lord throughout her nearly 9 decades of life.  Many will find comfort in knowing that Velma's life could be echoed through the Bible's New Testament passage of  II Timothy 4:7-8 which reads:  " I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing."   Velma raised all her nieces and nephews;  all the children raised include:  Rebecca (Ethelbah) Mosley, Francine Hawkins, Janice (Ethelbah) Rico, Berlita (Quintero) Lupe, Edmund Quintero, Harold Ethelbah, Delphine Quintero, Lela Rose (Quintero) Alchesay, Dewayne Quintero, Pearlena (Ethelbah) Paxson and Heather (Hawkins) Tortice.  Velma was blessed to have 44 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.  Velma will be brought back to her residence at 10:00 A.M., on Friday, May 12, 2017, for a 2 day/night wake.  Her funeral service will begin 1:00 P.M., on Mother's Day Sunday, May 14, 2017, at the East Fork Miracle Church in East Fork, Arizona where Pastor Lex Baha will be officiating. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Baha Family Plot in Northfork.