The Rev. Ernie “Waimea Cowboy” Cruz Sr., 76, of Glendale, Ariz., formerly of Hawaii Island, died May 14 at home. Born in Modesto, Calif., he was a musician, patriarch of one of Hawaii’s greatest music families, former pastor at New Hope Puna and Pahoa Assembly of God churches and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. Visitation from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at New Hope Hilo, 840 Kupulau Road. Memorial service at 6 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Maggie Cruz; daughters, Ernelle “Doodie” (Bill) Downs, Desiree M. (James O’Connor) Cruz, Stephanie (Bruce) Tyrin, Sarah Cruz, Marissa Meredith, Tiffany “Tiffa” (Imua) Garza, Connie (Eddie) Rincon; sons, Ernie (Kahelelani) Cruz Jr., David (Kelli Heath) Cruz, John Cruz, Tony (Tricia) Cruz, Guy (Jon Lawrence) Cruz; sisters, Linda (Bettincourt) Cruz, Rita Cruz, Dorothy Cruz; 13 grandsons, seven granddaughters and a great-granddaughter. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
The Rev. Ernie “Waimea Cowboy” Cruz Sr., 76, of Glendale, Ariz., formerly of Hawaii Island, died May 14 at home. Born in Modesto, Calif., he was a musician, patriarch of one of Hawaii’s greatest music families, former pastor at New Hope Puna and Pahoa Assembly of God churches and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. Visitation from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at New Hope Hilo, 840 Kupulau Road. Memorial service at 6 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Maggie Cruz; daughters, Ernelle “Doodie” (Bill) Downs, Desiree M. (James O’Connor) Cruz, Stephanie (Bruce) Tyrin, Sarah Cruz, Marissa Meredith, Tiffany “Tiffa” (Imua) Garza, Connie (Eddie) Rincon; sons, Ernie (Kahelelani) Cruz Jr., David (Kelli Heath) Cruz, John Cruz, Tony (Tricia) Cruz, Guy (Jon Lawrence) Cruz; sisters, Linda (Bettincourt) Cruz, Rita Cruz, Dorothy Cruz; 13 grandsons, seven granddaughters and a great-granddaughter. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joseph “Uncle Joe” Luahine Huddy, 78, of Waimea died May 7 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kilauea, Kauai, he was a Honolulu firefighter, former Honolulu police officer U.S. Air Force veteran, member of Waimea Paniolo softball team, Imiola Congregational Church and 1955 Kamehameha High School graduate. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Imiola Congregational Church, Waimea. Celebration of life 10:30 a.m.-noon. Ashes to be scattered at a later date. Casual attire. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Charlotte Huddy of Waimea; daughter, Desiree (Logan) Huddy-Akau of Waimea; sister, Margaret (Ronald) Brack of Ewa Beach, Oahu; two grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Joyce “Aunty Lani” Leilani Kelekolio, 79, of Hilo died June 3 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a Wal-Mart associate and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Keaukaha Ward, and Panaewa Farmers Association. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Friday (June 17) at Hilo Stake Center, 1373 Kilauea Ave. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Aloha or casual attire. Survived by sons, Louis (Ilka) Kelekolio of Hilo, Stanley Kelekolio of Panaewa and David (Chelle Miller) Kelekolio of Keaukaha; daughter, Dawnaree (Bob) Arnold of Paauilo; son-in-law, Lawrence (Angela) Fong of Panaewa; daughter-in-law, Denise Kelekolio of Keaukaha; brothers, Merney (Lyn) Baysa of Puna, Ernesto Abaya of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Nemecio (Anne) Abaya Jr. of Honolulu and Daniel (Maija) Abaya of Captain Cook; sisters, Marylyn Soaladaop of Honolulu, Dixie Lee Kingsolver of St. Louis, Elisa Myra (William) Louia of Kailua-Kona and Mary Abaya of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Lorna Baysa of Hilo and Helene Baysa of Glendale, Ariz.; 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Abraham Kaulukou Keliipio Sr., 71, of Hilo died May 26 in Las Vegas. Born in Hilo, he was a heavy equipment mechanic, U.S. Air Force veteran and member of Haili Congregational Church. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday (June 18) at Haili Congregational Church. Celebration of life at 11 a.m. Refreshments to follow. Aloha attire. Survived by daughter, Arlene Keliipio; son, Abraham (Starr Anastasio) Keliipio Jr.; brother-in-law, Ronald Hatsu Iwaoka; sisters-in-law, Maureen Thibadeau, Dianne Caviglia and Marie Lucas; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gary Kilikiano “Gary Boy” Marks, 16, of Hilo died June 1 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a student at Waiakea High School and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship-Hamakua and Waiakea H.S. Interact Club. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday (June 18) at New Hope Hilo, 840 Kupulau Road. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by parents, Christian and Naomi Marks of Hilo; brother, Goozers “Bear” Marks of Hilo; maternal grandparents, Mervin and Wilma Kuahiwinui of Hilo; paternal grandmother, Charlene Marks of Hilo; aunts, uncles, cousins and hanai family. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Raymond Santiago, 72, of Kohala died March 11 at his daughter’s home in Hilo. Born in Kohala, he was a retired truck driver and office manager for Union 76 in Kawaihae, office dispatcher for Cypriano Trucking in Waimea, and U.S. Navy veteran. Visitation 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday (June 18) at Hawi Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Private urn committal at a later date. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by daughter, Rayette Dee “Dee Dee” (Robert) Abraham of Hilo; son, Raymond “Kanani” (Anna Lee) Santiago Jr. of Hilo; sisters, Patricia Blonde of Michigan, Vivian (Joe) Maria of Kohala and Millie (Francis) Saiki of Hilo; brother, Richard Santiago of Kohala; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Carrie Mari Yonemori, 53, of Hilo died June 1 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was an attorney and founding member and instructor of Hilo Seishikan Aikido Club. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Saturday (June 18) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by mother, Kay S. Yonemori of Hilo; sister, Joni (Cary) Ebesugawa of Hilo; brother, Gregg (Michele) Yonemori of Hilo; uncles, aunts, nephews, a niece cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alan “Mr. T” “Sexy” Lloyd Tavares Sr., 68, of Keaau, died May 17 at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired system and control operator for Hawaii Elecric Light Co., U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and numerous motorcycle clubs. Visitation 5:30-7 p.m. Friday (June 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 7 p.m. Aloha attire. Survived by wife, Sharon L. “Mrs. T” “Sexy” Tavares; sons, JR Tavares, Shane (Olivia) Tavares, Trin Endo, Wesley (Mae) Tavares, Preston (Ku’ulei) Endo, Dereck Huddy and Ikaika (Sharnell) Huddy; daughters, Serena (Tray) Nasau, Crystal (Tim) Agliam and Shalan Marie “Girly” Ku‘uipo Tavares; brother, Alfred (Maile) Tavares; sister, Patsey (Danny) Ongais; 25 grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.