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Ramon A. (Raymond) Saldana

Posted 2010-04-17 by Sharla
Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, AZ
Sunday, September 7, 2008

Ramon A. Saldana

Ramon A. Saldana of Safford died Sept. 1, 2008, in Morenci at the age of 67. He was born in Jerome on Feb. 10, 1941, to Juan Saldana and Lupe (Alonzo) Saldana.

Ramon served in the U.S. Army, was a lifelong miner, working underground in Bisbee for 18 years for Phelps Dodge and then transferring to Safford, where he retired from Phelps Dodge after 42 years. After his retirement, he became a supervisor consultant for Freeport in Morenci.

Ramon was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, American Legion Swift Murphy Post #32 and the Safford Elks Lodge. He was a devoted family man and enjoyed bow, rifle and pistol hunting.

On June 29, 1963, in Bisbee, he married Katherine Marrujo, who survives him. Also surviving are his daughter, Denise (Danny) Guerrero of Casa Grande; his son, Raymond (Stephanie) Saldana Jr. of Safford; and his grandchildren, Monique and Sophia Saldana. Ramon is also survived by his sisters, Felicitas Friend of Safford and Margaret Berg of Phoenix; and his brother, Johnny Saldana of Phoenix.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A rosary was recited at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, with a funeral Mass being celebrated at 11 a.m.

Burial followed in Safford Union Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Gila Valley Honor Guard.

Services were under the direction of Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematorium of Willcox.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Safford miner dies in 30-foot fall at Morenci
By Walter Mares
Copper Era Managing Editor
Published on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:09 AM MST

A Safford man fell 30 feet to his death at the Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Morenci copper mine on Sept. 1.

Greenlee County Sheriff Steve Tucker said Ramon Alonzo Saldana, 67, suffered massive head trauma and very likely died instantly in the Monday morning accident.

Saldana was working on a catwalk above the Number 6 milling plant.
A section of catwalk flooring at the Morenci copper mine Number 6 milling plant remains open after Ray Saldana, Safford, fell through it before he could finish putting it in place. He fell 30 feet and died instantly of massive head trauma. He was supervising a crew laying a catwalk floor at the Freeport McMoRan Morenci Operations Contributed photo

A photograph of the scene shows an opening in the catwalk floor. Sheriff's investigators Frank Montoya and Daniel Medina said Saldana was laying a section of floor grating to cover the opening when he fell to his death.

Saldana was supervising a crew that was laying metal grating on the milling plant catwalks. He had retired from Phelps Dodge and returned to work as a consultant under FMI, which purchased Phelps Dodge last year.

Tucker said all persons present in the area at the time of the accident were interviewed and foul play has been ruled out. The incident is also being investigated by the Arizona State Mine Inspector's Office and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA.

The Greenlee County Ambulance Service also responded to the accident.



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