Chico Ray Cole

Chico Ray Cole, 31, died on Sunday, March 16, 2008, in Globe. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, at the Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitations will be held from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight (March 21) at Owens Mortuary in Snowflake and one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in the Snowflake Cemetery.
   He was born Sept. 27, 1976, in Cortez, Colo., to Donna Horn.
   Later he moved to Miami, Ariz., to live with Johnnie and Gilbert Gonzales. They moved to Taylor in 1986 and to Snowflake in 1990, where he attended Snowflake High School. In 1994 he moved to Flagstaff to reside in a group home.
   He was a prolific artist who was a subject for a documentary about art. He had a lot of shows at galler-ies, and had a unique and unforgettable style.
   He was very active in the community and loved sports, where he won numerous medals in Special Olympics. He also loved cars and music, especially Elvis.
   Survivors include his biological mother, Donna Horn (Jeff) of Globe; his adoptive parents, Johnnie and Gilbert Gonzales of Snowflake; his grandparents, Dorine and Leon Poe of Globe; five sisters, Summer Westin, Crystal Endera, Dorina Gonzales, Patricia Gonzales and Tara Press; two brothers, Paul Gonzales and Aarron Gonzales; a niece, Natalynn Smith; and many friends and art partners.
   He was preceded in death by a brother, Mark D. Westin.