In Passing

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Walter Moe

Walter Moe, age 85, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away on Jan. 18, 2026.

Walt was born on Nov. 6, 1940, in Duluth, Minn., the first and only child to Gordon and Mabel (Johnson) Moe. He grew up in Duluth and moved to the Twin Cities after high school.

Walt married the love of his life, Joyce (Jordre) Moe, on June 21, 1969, and together they lived in Burnsville, Minn., for many years, where they raised their son, Michael.

Walt worked for ThermoKing for many years prior to his retirement. He was an avid sports fan and known to many for his kindness, quick smile, energy, and love of his family.

Walt and Joyce retired to the Phoenix metro area in 2004. In retirement, Walt enjoyed traveling, reading, following his favorite sports teams (especially the Philadelphia Phillies), and spending time with friends and family.

Walt is survived by wife of 56 years, Joyce; their son Michael and his wife Sharon; their beloved grandsons Alex Moe and Mason Moe; and his cousins Dick and Nancy Stevens, Ralph Stevens, and Bob Stevens. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Mae.

A private memorial service will be held at Walt’s request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the World Wildlife Fund or Feeding America.

Robbi Lowe

Robbi Jensen (Ryan) Lowe passed away on Jan. 5, 2026, in Goodyear, Ariz., after a short illness. She was born in Atkinson, Neb., on Dec. 7, 1952, and lived in Nebraska most of her life. She is survived by her husband, Charles Lowe; stepdaughter Becky Lowe-Weyand (Foster); sisters: Linda Jensen, Helen Teeters (Bill), Milissa Jensen, Tina Holmes, Mary Price (Jerry); brother John Jensen; step-grandchildren Hugh and Simon Lowe-Weyand; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and a large extended family. She is preceded in death by parents Bob and Helen Jensen, sister Trudy Jensen-Pablonis, and nephew Bobby Pittack.

She retired from the phone company and went on to work in software project management and quality assurance for several large corporations. After her last retirement she started a genealogy company. She met Charlie in August 2014 and they married in August 2017.

Robbi and Charlie snowbirded to Goodyear, Ariz., starting in 2020 and moved there full time in 2024. She loved to do many different types of crafts, to travel, and was a voracious reader and popcorn addict! At PebbleCreek she learned to carve wood and play mahjong and was active with the genealogy club.

She was a lovely lady who will be deeply missed. To honor Robbi’s legacy, a donation may be made to Hope’s Closet in Goodyear, Ariz., or to Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

Cheryl Gertrude Looney

Cheryl Gertrude Looney peacefully passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, at the age of 79 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cheryl was born on May 9, 1946, in the state of Minnesota, the third of seven children born to Alonzo and Vera Elder. The family moved to Buckeye, Ariz., in 1959. After graduating from Buckeye Union High in 1964 she married Leon Looney, remaining so until his passing in 2023. While raising two sons, she worked in the finance offices at Buckeye Union High and Ruth Fisher Elementary. She also put herself through college to get a degree in accounting, then worked as an accountant for several schools and government agencies. During her lifelong passion for sewing, she made her own and her children’s clothing, curtains, other home decor, doll and doll clothing restoration, and more.

Moving to PebbleCreek, Goodyear, in 2000 and retiring a few years later, she involved herself in the crafting community there. She dabbled in many crafts and hobbies including quilting, ceramics, wood carving, wood burning, water color painting, stained glass, knitting, crochet, and tatting. (I found a new gourd carving tool in her craft room!) She will be remembered for her faith in God and the many quilts she made for family along with those made with the quilting club.

Cheryl is survived by her husband Steve, sons Carter and Brian, their wives Christina and Karen respectively, granddaughters Helen and Annabelle, grandsons John and Samuel, sister Sandy (Fred) Weiss, sister Dorothy, brother Marc (Gail) Elder, sister Terri Elder, and several nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Leon, sister Cindy, and brother Larry.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 11, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 Litchfield Rd., Goodyear, AZ 85338.

Graveside service will be on Monday, Jan. 12, at the Hazelton Memorial Cemetery, 23100 W. Broadway Rd., Buckeye, AZ 85326.

Dr. Frederick Lee Barlow

Dr. Frederick Lee Barlow, of Torrance, Calif., and later Goodyear, Ariz., passed away of heart failure on Dec. 14, 2025. He was born in Berkeley, Calif., on Nov. 15, 1948. He earned a D.D.S. in 1974 and an M.S in 1976. He married Christine Fitzgerald in 1977, practiced dentistry for more than 30 years, and served faithfully in many church callings, including as Bishop of the Torrance First Ward.

He is survived by his wife, Christine; his children, Jared, Jeffrey, Julie, and Janet; and 11 grandchildren.

Fred was a member of the PebbleCreek community. He was involved with the PebbleCreek Singers, Stock Club, Tennis Club, Ballroom Dance Club, and started the What’s Up Club.

A Celebration of Life was held Dec. 20, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was loved and will be deeply missed.

Constance “Connie” Marie Peterson

Connie Marie Peterson, age 76, passed away peacefully on Dec. 13, 2025, in Goodyear, Ariz., in the arms of her husband of 57 years, Tom Peterson.

Connie was born Dec. 12, 1949, in New Ulm, Minn., to Walter and Florence Arbes and raised on a farm in Courtland Township, Nicollet County. She attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and graduated from New Ulm High School in 1967. Connie went on to earn her registered nursing degree from Abbott Northwestern Nursing School and later completed her BSN at Southwest State University.

Connie married Tom Peterson in New Ulm in 1969. Together they raised two daughters, Karie and Kimberly. Connie dedicated 36 years to nursing at New Ulm Medical Center, serving in roles including floor nurse, intensive care, cardiac rehab, infection control, clinic manager, and Director of Patient Care. Connie loved nursing and her job and made the hard decision to retire in 2005. Known for her humility and dedication, Connie was honored with the NUMC Legends Award for her exceptional service to patients and the community.

Family was Connie’s greatest joy, and time spent together was always her top priority. She cherished the many fun years at the cabin and holidays filled with food, games, and laughter. After retirement, Connie and Tom enjoyed life in the Brainerd Lakes Area, Minnesota, and spent winters in Goodyear, Ariz. Connie especially loved visits with family, attending and hearing about the many activities her grandchildren were involved in. She also enjoyed golfing with friends, reading, playing cribbage and marbles with Tom each evening.

She is survived by her husband, Tom; daughters Karie (Brian) Bruder of Buffalo, Minn., and Kimberly (Jon) Mueller of Mankato, Minn.; four grandchildren, Tyler Bruder (friend Morgan Matanich), Morgan Bruder, Emily (Mueller) Knepprath (Brian), and Jacob (Tatyana) Mueller; two great-grandchildren, Winry Knepprath and George Mueller; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A private family funeral will be held in Minnesota, with celebrations of life planned at later dates in Minnesota and Arizona.

Cards can be mailed to: Nelson-Doran Funeral Home, 202 8th Avenue N.E., Brainerd, MN 56401.

Betty Jane Chambers

Betty Jane Chambers, 94, of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, 2025.

She was born in Brooklyn Township, Ill., on May 12, 1931, to Wayne and Audrey (Cordell) Hillyer. Raised by her aunt and uncle, Beulah and Odie Ballard, in Plymouth, Ill., Betty grew up surrounded by family and community. On June 17, 1950, she married Donald Clarence Chambers in Quincy, Ill. Together they built a loving home, first in Illinois and later in Rapid City, S.D., where they moved in December 1963.

Betty and Don were blessed with six children, who were fondly referred to as “the older three and the younger three”: Barbara (Larry) Richbourg of Waukee, Iowa; Michael of Rapid City, S.D.; David (Becky) of Rapid City, S.D.; Jeffrey (Jan) of Rapid City, S.D. and Goodyear, Ariz.; Gayle of Goodyear, Ariz.; and Scott (Debie) of Goodyear, Ariz. They were further blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought joy to their lives.

After her youngest children entered school, Betty began working at McKie–Johnson Ford in Rapid City, where she served as warranty administrator for many years. In 1988, she and Don relocated to Phoenix, Ariz., where they lived until Don’s passing in 2001.

Betty and Don shared a love of travel, enjoying cruises around the world, RV trips across the United States, and visits to Rocky Point, Mexico. In 2004, Betty moved with her daughter Gayle to the PebbleCreek community in Goodyear. There she embraced a vibrant social life and formed cherished friendships that became like family. Her dearest friends included Barb Dildine, Maryann Norcott, Kit Murray, Georgia Weinstein, and Barbie Heck. Betty loved playing cards and, in her 80s, courageously took up water volleyball despite her lifelong fear of water—an activity she came to adore and rarely missed.

Betty is survived by her children; grandchildren Christopher, Katelyn, Kelsie, Jacob, Jessica, Gabrielle, and Braeden; great-grandchildren Savannah, Jackson, Colton, Keaton, Harper, Vance, Sterling, and Everly; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Don, her granddaughter Jacquelyn (J.J.), her daughter-in-law Becky, and her siblings.

A memorial service will be held at PebbleCreek in the Chianti Room at the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse in Goodyear, Ariz., on Dec. 29, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. Interment will take place in Rapid City, S.D., at a later date.

Ronald Silkey

Major Ronald David Silkey, USAF, Ret., a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, took his final flight on Dec. 4, 2025. The son of Irven and Eleanor (née Krughoff) Silkey, Ron was born in Peoria, Ill., in 1942 and graduated from the University of Illinois, where he was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. It was there he met his college sweetheart and wife of 61 years, Fran (née Naughton). Together they raised three exceptional children—Colonel Brian Silkey, USAF, Ret. (Dr. Jacqueline), Susan Silkey (William White), and Katherine Benton (Joshua)—and were blessed with nine wonderful grandchildren: Taylor Myers (Jordan), Kacie, Joey, and Kyler Silkey, Ethan and Eli White, and Stella, Asher, and Caleb Benton.

Major Silkey served two tours in Vietnam, beginning his Air Force career as a Navigator-Bombardier in the 8th Bomb Squadron, one of the service’s oldest and most storied flying units. Flying the B-57 Canberra on demanding night interdiction and close-air-support missions, he earned a reputation for precision and courage. Among the great honors of his career, he served as Chuck Yeager’s bombardier, reflecting his exceptional skill and the trust placed in him by a legendary aviator.

Committed to advancing his flying career, he completed pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., and transitioned to the cockpit. He returned to Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom pilot with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, “The Nite Owls,” an elite unit known for its dangerous night strike missions. Across his two tours, he flew more than 260 missions, demonstrating extraordinary bravery, resilience, and devotion to his fellow airmen.

Ron later served as a test pilot at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., contributing to critical advancements in military aviation. His distinguished career earned him two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 17 Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, and other honors. He ultimately retired as a Major from the Texas Air National Guard.

An accomplished scratch golfer and enthusiastic traveler, Ron lived retirement with the same passion that defined his service. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marcia Hazelwood, and is survived by his devoted family, including siblings Rick Silkey and Carolyn Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, or a charity of your choice.

John Reuland

John Reuland passed away on Dec. 4, 2025, surrounded by his family. John is survived by his wife, Karen, and the true joys of his life, daughter Brittany Wayne (Tim Wayne) and grandsons Justin, Ryan, and Dylan Brown.

John was born and raised in Washington, graduating from the University of Washington (UW) in 1969 and will forever be an avid Husky fan. John and Karen married in 1970 and would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in February. John served in the U.S. Army for four years, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. After getting his MBA from the UW, John worked for Boeing in marketing/sales for 30+ years and got to enjoy an overseas assignment selling airplanes in Europe. The family moved to Rome, Italy, in 1986 for almost five years. Even though he still traveled most of the time, it is still remembered as one of the most fabulous experiences of their lives. John loved golf, bridge, and traveling, especially with his grandsons. John and Karen built a home in PebbleCreek almost 20 years ago and continue to enjoy the many friendships they have made.

A reception honoring John will be held in the Chianti Room, Feb. 6, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. Private burial services will be held at Phoenix National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Homeless Youth.

Kenneth Alan Schmitz

Ken Schmitz, who lived in Unit 6-179 of PebbleCreek, passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2025, surrounded by many of his family members after battling Parkinson’s disease for many years. He was born on Aug. 8, 1940, and grew up in Portland, Ore.

Ken and Sharon were married for 25 years and began their married life together in Seattle. They were a blended family raising their four kids by previous marriages. Wendy lives in Arizona; David lives in Mt. Hood, Oregon; Christopher lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and Daniel lives in Goodyear, Ariz. Their six fabulous grandchildren are: Joe, Kelly, Kyle, Ethan, Christopher, and Daniel. Ken’s sister, Brenda (and husband Ron) live in Roseburg, Ore. Ken’s parents and his brother, Charles, have predeceased Ken in death.

Ken went to College at Oregon State and became a die-hard Beaver fan! He received a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. He went on to become a top-notch pilot serving in the Air Force for 6 years and left the military with the rank of Captain. After his service, he became a pilot for Northwest Airlines for 32 years living mainly in Minneapolis, Spokane, Hawaii, and Seattle. He flew 727s, 707s, DC10s, 757s, and 747s. He had an illustrious career as a pilot continuing to travel all over the world, retiring as a NW Airlines 747 Captain.

After retiring from Northwest Airlines, Ken and Sharon moved to PebbleCreek and became very much involved in PebbleCreek life. Both were avid golfers until health issues took over. They were very social and loved all their friends and neighbors, as well as connecting with old college buddies from Oregon State. Ken was one of the past presidents of the Men’s 18-Hole Golf Association many years ago. One of his favorite social groups here in PebbleCreek was a group called “The Sandbaggers,” a group of about 30 men who enjoy golf, coffee, beer, holidays, and enjoy getting together for any reason, or no reason, at all!

Ken will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery in Cave Creek, Ariz. A private family memorial and full military taps will be held on Dec. 23, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations go to Kare Bears of PebbleCreek or to the Hospice of the Valley. A legacy of strength, adventure, and patriotism encompasses the life of Ken Schmitz!

Kare Bears extends our deepest sympathy to Sharon and her family.

Margaret Jane (Walter) Eyres

Peggy was born in Sheboygan, Wis., on Feb. 2, 1941, and passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, 2025, in Goodyear, Ariz. Her passing was as she lived; surrounded by devoted family and friends. Her three daughters, granddaughter, four grandsons, and her loving sister, Jackie (Tom) Walter-MacKenzie were with her to love and comfort her in her last days. Peg is also survived by four great-grandchildren and a nephew.

Peggy attended the University of Colorado in Boulder where she met her first husband, Donald Valentine. While at CU she became a lifelong CU Buffalo fan. Her daughters were born in Boulder. Upon her graduation they moved to Steamboat Springs when the ski area had but one lift and a tiny warming hut at the base of the mountain. Over the 30 years she spent in Steamboat, she was known as a gracious host and superb cook. Her house in Strawberry Park was always filled with kids, friends, dogs, and cats. She was a substitute teacher at the elementary school, a concierge at Torian Plum Condominium and volunteered at the hospital. Still, she felt she had enough time to open a much-needed restaurant at the base of the ski area, so “The Soup Kitchen”/branch post office came into being.

With her daughters out of college and starting their own families, a now-single Peggy returned to Boulder where she met and married the love of her life, Bob Eyres. When not at their beautiful home in the Foothills, they enjoyed traveling the world and collecting art. She loved gardening, penny slots, a good card game, and watching all sports. She also volunteered at Boulder Community Hospital. The couple spent their winters in Cocoa Beach, Fla. When Peg lost her husband of 32 years, she decided to move to PebbleCreek to be near her sister and escape the cold for good. Once again, the two sisters were together to live out their creed: “My sister is just like me, only better.”

She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, humor, resilience, and love of friends and family.

A Celebration of Life is planned in Steamboat at a later date.

Phyllis Lee (Nelson) Stacklie

Phyllis Lee Stacklie took her final walk and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 5, 2025. She was born on March 20,1926, in Ravenna, Neb., and was the oldest of two children predeceased by her husband Robert L. Stacklie and brother Robert D. Nelson. She was raised in Grand Island, Neb., and moved to Longview, Wash., graduating from R.A. Long High School in Longview.

She married the love of her life and high school sweetheart Lt. Robert L. Stacklie on New Year’s Day 1946 in Vancouver, Wash. She was the consummate officer’s wife and supported her husband’s Air Force career throughout their married life.

She maintained a strong Lutheran faith and a committed religious life that guided her decisions and daily life. She was a devoted spouse and felt raising her children was the most important role she played in her marriage.

She was a talented and very creative artist utilizing many different media from ceramics to painting with oils and watercolors, always pursuing new techniques and approaches. She never saw a paintbrush she did not like! While in Syracuse she was certified as an instructor to teach in ceramic and porcelain media. She later taught ceramics at the Arts and Craft Center at the Air Force Academy.

Phyllis loved her golf and played at every opportunity. She especially loved playing with her friends at PebbleCreek after retirement. The highlight of her golfing career was the time she achieved a hole-in-one during a tournament in Colorado Springs.

To say that Phyllis was the life of the party at any gathering she attended would be an understatement. Her outgoing personality and social grace was always an inspiration to others. She enjoyed a long and fulfilling life full of excitement, motor home travel, and additional overseas trips along with the joy of being surrounded by her loving family. She will be missed beyond measure by her extended family, which includes children: son and daughter-in-law Robert and Patty Stacklie, daughter and son-in-law Cynthia and Bruce Richards, son and daughter-in-law Tim and Karen Stacklie. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Services will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield Park, Ariz., or charity of your choice.