Henry Begay

After fighting a long hard battle against colon cancer for the past four years, Henry Begay, aka "Hawk" and "Papa Bear", passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on October 30, 2009. Henry was born on October 10th, 1945 in Red Rock, New Mexico. Henry attended the Rehoboth Christensen School in Gallup New Mexico and graduated from Haskell Indian College in Lawrence Kansas. While at Haskell he met his wife of 45 years. Henry served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Henry was a pillar of strength for his family and continued to work until one week before his passing. Henry was active in the Murray Utah community over the years by volunteering as youth baseball coach of five years and basketball coach of four years. His true passion was softball as a player and as a coach for men's softball teams EJ Bartells and Bearclaws. Henry travelled extensively for softball teams throughout the Western states and played in the Huntsman Seniors Games. Henry supported his family by travelling with his sons to their softball games though out the country. Henry is survived by his wife, Sharon Wadsworth Begay, his sons Mike (Tracy), Chad (Raynel), Larry (Heather), and Eric (Sandy), his seven brothers, Felix T. Begay (MaryAnn), Ernest T. Begay (Marilyn), David T. Begay (Jolene), Calvin T. Begay, Andrew T. Begay (Pauline), Alvin T. Begay (Charlene), and Alex T. Begay (Maria), and one sister, Virginia B. Belone. Henry also leaves behind his eight grandchildren, Makahla, Bethine, Tayha, Eric, Alec, Titus "Squatch", Alyssa, and Tyce Wick; three uncles, Dennis Morgan, Curtis Morgan, and Johnny Morgan, and 3 aunts aunt, Esther Skeets, Sarah Long, and Maria Yazza. Henry was proceeded in death by his parents, Colidge T. and Alice Begay, and his brother Anderson T. Begay. A memorial service will be held in Fort Hall, Idaho on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at the northwest corner of Eagle and East Agency Road at 2:00pm. Funeral services will be held in Gallup New Mexico on Thursday November 5, 2009, time and place pending.