Holy Rosary for Barbara McLaws will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 4, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, located at 220 W. Second St. in Winslow. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, also at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Celebrant Father Tom Talentino. Interment will follow at Desert View Cemetery. Barbara was born in Holbrook on June 9, 1931, to Perfecto and Rose (Garcia) Nuanez. She entered into rest on April 26, 2018, in Scottsdale. She was raised in Holbrook, attending school there where she was a member of the Holbrook High School Drum and Bugle Corps. Barbara graduated from high school in 1949. On Aug. 11, 1950, she was united in marriage to Phil McLaws in Holbrook. To this marriage they were blessed with six children, Charles, Cydney, Joi, Katherine, Susan and Dominique. Barbara was a devoted homemaker until 1981, when Dominique graduated then she went to work for Babbitt’s Department Store in Winslow. There she enjoyed helping others in the clothing sales. When Babbitt’s closed she continued to work as the secretary for the Winslow Housing Authority and worked at Jefferson Elementary School as their librarian until she retired. Barbara was also very active and involved in the Cursillo and Al-Anon. She enjoyed her trip to the Holy Land with friends and other members of her church. Barbara loved and always looked forward to her regular Thursday get together with her lady friends for great food and dominoes. One of her fond memories was of attending game seven of the World Series when the D-backs won. On Aug. 11, 2000, Barbara and Phil renewed their wedding vows at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married for 59 years. Survivors include her son, Charles (Liz) McLaws; daughters Cydney (Randy) Yount, Joi (Gary) Garner, Katherine (Greg) Beeler, Susan (Kevin) Duke and Dominique (Jack) Allen; sister Joann Bitner; and her brother Jim (Carolyn) Nuanez. Barbara was blessed with 12 grandchildren, Jeannie (John) Jacobs, Carleen (Doug) Walton, Andy Brown, Maggie Brown, Geoff (Melanie) Garner, Jennifer Garner, Rachel (Zach) McGinn, Holly (Cash) Armstrong, Trace (Sadie) Beeler, Judson (Kristen) Duke, Jessica (Taylor) Scaggs, Travis Allen; 23 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and with many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, Perfecto and Rose Nuanez; her husband and life-long companion, Phil McLaws; brothers Ralph and Buddy Nuanez; her sister Vina Lopez; and great-grandson Hayden Walton. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
