LCpl Richard Scott Bailey (Scotty), 18 of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on April 21, 2008. He was born on July 10, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Shadow Mountain High School from 2003 thru 2007 and graduated from ALC on May 23, 2007. Scotty will be forever in the hearts and minds of family and friends. He is survived by his mother and stepfather; Kimberly and Nicholas Langley, father and stepmother; Thomas and Stefanie Bailey, brother; Josh Bailey, sisters; Stormie, Destinee and Shaye. Grandparents; Dick and Margi Jones, Christine and Scott Etchison, Steve and Pam Ellis, Dennis and Ruth Langley and Laura Martinez. Stepsisters; Ashlee and Zoe. Stepbrother; Gionni. Aunts; Traci Jones, Kelli Jones, Donna Jones, Tonya King, Lisa Masch, Tammy Carugno, Marliena Ellis and Stacey Lozano. Uncles Chris Langley, David Masch, P.J. Martinez, Joe Dunham and Chris (Gus) Christiansen, 14 cousins, the love of his life girlfriend Amber Vajda, all of his brothers in the Marine Corps and his life long friends. WE LOVE YOU; YOU WILL TRULY BE MISSED IN ALL OUR HEARTS. He joined the Marine Corps on June 11, 2007. He was so proud to join and his family supported him 100% as that was something he has always wanted to do. He graduated boot camp on October 5, 2007 with Delta Company Platoon 1062 at the MCRD in San Diego, CA then moved on to his School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton in CA where he was trained as an 0311 Rifleman. He graduated with his brothers of Bravo Company on Dec. 21, 2007. He then received orders to MCAGCCT Twentynine Palms, CA and joined his brothers with the 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment in India Company 1st Platoon. He was in training to be a Radio operator for his squad. Services for family and friends will be Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 11:00A.M. at Shadow Mountain Mortuary, 2350 E Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ. Proceeded by full Military Honors at the National Memorial Veterans Cemetery of Arizona on Cave Creek Rd. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in honor of LCpl Richard Scott Bailey to: Packages from Home, 1201 S. 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007. www.packagesfromhome.org

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Corey L. Hicks, 22, an Army private from Glendale, had been in the service for less than a year before he was killed last week in Iraq.

The 2004 graduate of Cortez High School in north Phoenix was remembered Tuesday by his stepfather, Timothy Settle, as somebody who always wanted to be with the military. "He actually loved what he was doing," Settle said. "I'd want him to be remembered as a hero. It took a lot of guts to go over there and sign up for the military in a time of war." Settle said he was advised by a commanding officer that Hicks was proficient in finding and destroying improvised explosive devices. The officer explained that several lives probably were saved with the destruction of each device, he said. Hicks joined the Army on Aug. 31and was killed Friday in Baghdad when an IED hit his vehicle, according to an announcement issued Monday by the Defense Department. He served in the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, officials said.

"Iraq at last!" were the words used by Hicks to describe his excitement in being sent to serve in a war-torn nation. However, the same page in his myspace.com account also contains these words, "Corey is in the pits of Hell!" Hicks, a 2004 graduate of Cortez High School in north Phoenix, went into the Army "on a mission" and "never faltered," Michaelson said. Karen Kattau, a social worker at Cortez, said she knew Hicks when he attended school there and remembers him as "an awesome young man." "He was very outgoing and very friendly, a very fun kid," Kattau said. "He was a good kid. When he went after something, Corey really went after it." Settle said that on Thursday, the last time he spoke with his stepson, Hicks asked him to look for a truck that they could fix up with he got back home from Iraq in November. Settle and Hicks' mother, Dawn, had planned to send a package Saturday filled with items he had requested, including Twizzlers, sunflower seeds and his favorite CDs. A cousin, Krystal Michaelson of Glendale, said Hicks has "certainly made this family proud."

His survivors, in addition to his stepfather and mother, include his father, Russel Hicks Sr., of Casper, Wyo.; a brother, Russel Hicks of Casper, Wyo., a sister, Kerri Brunmeier of Maricopa, a stepbrother, Tim Settle, and stepsister, Tina Settle, both of Glendale. The stepfather said services are pending, but will be in Glendale.

Viewing will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 N 59th Ave., Glendale. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the same location.

Following funeral services, a motorcade will go Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery for burial.

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Joseph Michael Cefus, survived by his mother and stepfather, Susan and Mark Harr of Surprise, Father and stepmother, Michael and Linda Cerfus of Marysville, Sisters Sarah and Amanda of Surprise, Kaylin of Marysville, and a niece Angelica of Surprise. Graduated from Dysart High School in 2001 and enlisted in the Navy the same year. Served with distinction for 5 years, including two tours of duty overseas. He then joined the army reserves and in 2007 became a custody officer for Snohomish county department of corrections. While in the Navy, Joseph was a Gunner’s Mate on the USS Fitzgerald (DDG62) and qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, serving as Minor Caliber Flex Member from March 2003 to October 2003 when deployed to the Arabian Gulf in operation Enduring Freedom. Another tour in assisting relief following the Tsunami in Southeast Asia. When Joseph transferred from San Diego Naval Base to Washington State, he was then on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier until he finished his enlistment with the Navyin 2006. Shortly after, he enlisted with the Army Reserves A Company 5-159 Aviation Regiment,based at Gray Army Airfield, Fort Lewis.

While in the reserves, Joseph’s life was tragically cut short during a training mission in Alberta,Canada participating in heavy equipment exercise. Our hearts go out to those working along side of him, and to all those who have suffered the loss of our brave soldiers. Joseph had plans of continuing training for helicopter repair on Chinook, and eventually learning to fly one. He had further plans of schooling in the field of Criminal Investigation, as well. Joseph was deeply loved by his family and many friends. He was very out-going, loyal,loved to joke around and would help anyone. He will be missed dearly. He had an infectious laugh and a great smile. He will forever be in our hearts.

Visitation will be held at Menke Funeral Home,12420 N. 103rd Ave. Sun City 85351, 11:AM Tuesday, May 15, 2008. Services start at Noon following with procession to graveside service at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, located at 23029 N. Cavecreek Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85024 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to charity of your choice in Joseph’s name. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and kindness. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ara Tyler Deysie talked about joining the military when he was just 4 years old, his mother said Sunday.

At 18, Deysie became the fourth soldier from the 101st Airborne to be killed in Afghanistan in a week. The Parker, Ariz. teen and member of the Colorado River Indian Tribe was killed Friday in the Paktia Province when his patrol encountered rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Deysie’s mother, Lori Deysie, 40, said her son was a jokester and a handful.

“Once he decided what he wanted to do, he made sure he got his way and got to do it, and that was to go into the military,” she told The Associated Press on Mother’s Day from her home in Parker, 130 miles west of Phoenix on the Arizona-California line.

Deysie said she signed up Tyler, or T-Man as he was known at home, for the Army in February after he continually pestered her about it.

“Since he signed up for the military, I’ve just been sick,” she said. “But he did get to do what he wanted to do in his life.”

She said she last spoke to Tyler last Sunday, and had to cut him short because she was at work, and last received a message from him on Tuesday.

In that message, she said Tyler said “it wasn’t bothering him anymore” and that he had found peace.

She said she had just put Tyler’s dog to sleep on May 1 and doesn’t know whether he was writing about that or possibly his mission in Afghanistan. “But he had found peace, and that’s all I know,” she said.

Tyler is survived by his mother, four sisters, and six nieces and nephews. Tyler’s father died of accidental causes nearly six years ago.

Arrangements for Tyler’s funeral had not been made Sunday. Deysie said her son’s body was in Dover, Del. and was to be returned to Arizona.

Messages from friends and family were posted on Tyler’s MySpace.com page, where he had posted dozens of pictures of himself in uniform and with guns. Tyler described himself in just one sentence on his profile: “It was like watching a dream but before I knew it the dream was over.”

Deysie was a member of the 101st Airborne Division’s Fourth Brigade Combat Team, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Squadron at Fort Campbell, an Army post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.