|
Ellsworth Willard, (E.W.) Zimmerman, 91, also known as"Zim" to friends and relatives, a resident of Albuquerque since 1981, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 15, 2000. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Pauline Kelley Zimmerman in 1998; two brothers, Orville and Oakley, and a sister, Marie. He is survived by a son, Roger and wife, Betty of Albuquerque; grandsons, Paul of Seattle, WA and Michael and wife, Anita of Elephant Butte, NM; two great-grandchildren, Matthew and Jacqueline. Zim was born in a farmhouse near Waldron, MI on November 11, 1908 to Willard and Minnie Graham Zimmerman. He attended schools in Waldron and business college in Ft. Wayne, IN. In 1929 he came to McGaffey, NM to serve as a bookkeeper at the general store, where his brother, Orville was already employed. He was joined months later by his fiancee, Pauline, and they were married at the Congregational Church in Gallup, NM on January 7, 1930. Later that year they moved in Zuni, NM where he was employed at the Kelsey Trading Company. He learned the trading business under the tutorship of Mr. Charles Kelsey, and at the same learned to speak Zuni. In 1936, Zim and Pauline purchased the Mariano Lake Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation and remained there until 1943. He learned to speak Navajo with the help of Clarence Warner, a Navajo who lived nearby and was his main employee. The memoirs of their early lives in New Mexico are title"Our Story on Trials and Tribulations of Adjusting to the Wild West" and can be found in the Gallup Public Library. Zim served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during the latter stages of WWII. After the war, Zim was cited by President Truman for his help in recruiting Navajos to work on the construction of the Fort Wingate Ordinance Depot. In April of 1946, Zim and Pauline moved to Gallup, NM where they purchased the Popular Dry Goods. This later became Zimmerman's and, after retirement, was purchased by long term employee Arnold Hudgeons. During his years in Gallup, he served as President of the Gallup Rotary Club and the Gallup Chamber of Commerce. He was active on the Board of Directors of the Intertribal Indian Ceremonial for many years. He belonged to the Ballut Abyad Temple and continually supported the Shriner's Children's Projects. In 1967, Zim and Pauline moved to Scottsdale, AZ for semi-retirement. Summers were spent near Osseo, MI, where they had a cottage on Bird Lake. He was a devoted dad and grandfather. He enjoyed golf, fishing, and hunting and relished the time that he could spend with family and friends in these activities. He enjoyed music, having learned to play the trombone in school and, in his early years, he played in dance bands. He taught himself to play the piano while at Mariano Lake and later learned to play the organ. Zim was a businessman throughout his adult life and lamented on the dramatic loss in the stock market the day before his passing. Services will be held Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE, with Dr. Charles Crutchfield officiating. Pallbearers will be Matthew Zimmerman, Arnold Hudgeons, Jay Christensen, Jerry Hall, Roger Cox, and Paul McCollum. Honorary pallbearer will be longtime friend and fellow trader, Dan Christensen. In lieu of flowers, Zim had pre-requested that contributions be made to Futures for Children, 9600 Tennyson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park. French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE.
|
