Richard Phoenix

Bloomfield
Richard Phoenix
November 14, 1946 - June 8, 2016

Richard was born to Lee and Isabelle Phoenix Singer on November 14, 1946 in Grey Mountain, Arizona. His maternal clan Is Nakai dine (Mexican clan), born for Kiyaa anii, maternal grandfather is Too di chiini (Bitter Water) and paternal grandfather is Taa Bahii (Edge Water). Richard as a child was a considered a mischievous youngster while herding sheep and riding horses. He had the open range to enjoy as his playground, the canyons, the mountains, singing at the top of his lungs throughout the land. While he was out watching the sheep, he spent nights under the stars with his moms' bread for food and a rock for his pillow. He said that when he would wake up, the sheep and his dog would be close around him keeping him warm, which gave him comfort on those nights. This gave him a lifelong affinity for loyal dogs.
Richard decided early in life to be loving, kind and generous. He loved to laugh and enjoyed making others laugh too. He said that his Tooh di chiini side was more outgoing with laughter, joking, and teasing. Richard's mother commented that he inherited his father's kind disposition and mannerism. He attended elementary school at Tuba City Boarding School in Tuba City. Arizona.
He was also a very good storyteller, so we'll tell a story about him. When he was 13 years old he was sent on an errand to his Grandmother Hannah's mountain-top sheep camp. Along the trail, he came upon a porcupine, which he decided to kill and then skinned it. He proceeded to stretch it out with fresh twigs, in order to dry out the pelt. He then placed the pelt up in the rafters to keep it out of the way. Which left it in a scary position. He came home down the valley about three to four miles and got distracted. Like a typical kid, he forgot all about his taxidermy project. Several days later, Grandma Hannah hiked up to the Hogan to clean it and get it ready for occupancy. She described her terrifying encounter as she had poor vision as well as this thing stretched out sitting in the Hogan. She said she fell onto the bedding and she came back down the valley back home absolutely certain this thing was planted there by some witchcraft practitioner. She began to start preparing for a cleansing ceremony when his brother, Donald overheard what was going on. Donald then told Richard to fess up to his project. What ensued was a flurry of taboo violations and the possible consequences that could ensue from what Richard had done.
While Richard was in High School his personable nature helped him become Student Body President, President of the Student Counsel, and Class President. He graduated from Intermountain Indian School, Brigham City, Utah, he then attended Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma where he earned his Associate in Arts degree. Then to Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ where he majored in Mathematics. The first year at ASU, Loyce decided they should buy a bike to ride to their classes since the distance between the dorm and class rooms were so far. He didn't tell her that he didn't know how to ride a bike but went along. He then said he had some work to do so he could get rid of Loyce and then he went to learn how to ride his bike in one afternoon. The next time Loyce saw his bike she asked, "What happened to your bike?" After numerous wrecks he just said '"oh it's nothing".
He married his college sweetheart Loyce Domingo Phoenix in 1971. Richard and Loyce then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she started her career as a Commissioned Officer. The same year in December, Lee Phoenix III was born in Boston. Richard continued his college education at Boston College and worked part time as a student.
In 1976, the family moved back to Phoenix and Richard began his career at Arizona Public Service. After that he transferred to Salt River Project in Page, Arizona. After working at the Salt River Project, he transferred to El Paso Natural Gas company; Chaco Plant, Ft. Wingate, and Val Verde Plant. During his tenure with the company it became Burlington Resources, Duke Energy, TepCo and lastly Enterprise Inc. He made many close friends at work and they were his second family. He was always telling stories about his co-workers and enjoyed the company Christmas dinners.
Richard was a loving, kind and hardworking father and he was very passionate about whatever he put his hand to. He was also very generous to those in need, and a friend if you needed someone to talk to. A very loving Grandfather to his only Grandson Josiah. They would look for opportunities to go to Target and buy the latest and greatest toy. Richard also loved taking his grandson to the Hilton in Albuquerque, NM Josisah would say "Hey PaPa lets go to the Big House?" They both loved to swim and spent most of their time in the pool, only leaving the water to eat and sleep.
There were losses in Richards' life that began early with his father in 1946 when he was only a few months old. Then he lost two older brothers, his Grandma Hannah, his Mother Isabelle, aunts and uncles. He loved talking about his child hood out under the stars.
He is survived by his wife Loyce of 45 years; son, Lee Phoenix III, daughter, Dana Phoenix Johnson, son-in-law Sharone Johnson; and grandson Josiah Aiden Johnson.
He is survived by his sister and their husbands; Stella and B. James Webster; Gloria and Charlie Brown; Cecilia and Ken Tanaka; and Judy Singer.
He is also survived by his brothers and their wives, Ed and Ed's wife Sonji (pronounced Sonya); Marvin and Sharon Singer, Gary Singer and David Singer. In addition there are numerous nieces and nephews.
Richard Phoenix went to his heavenly home June 8, 2016. Loyce's nephew, Eugen Benally had a dream that all of Richard's relatives and friends in Heaven were all waiting for him to show up for his welcoming home party. He described everyone as being young, skinny and full of Love.