SELF, Derwin Lee

Mohave Daily News, Mohave Valley, AZ - Published in Mohave Daily News Online from May 11 to May 18, 2011 - Derwin Lee Self, age 60, a 15-year resident of Mohave Valley, Ariz. passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Friday, May 6, 2011, in Fort Mohave, Ariz. He was born April 1, 1951 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Floyd and Anastasia Natalie Self. Derwin was a Burlington Northern Sante Fe Locomotive Engineer for the past 30 years while working out of the Needles, Calif. terminal running the trains between Needles and Winslow for the past 15 years. He served as President of the local Brotherhood of Local Engineers chapter in Needles for the past several years, and was a household name here in the area for fixing anyone, and everyone's, computer. Derwin was proud to have served in the Navy and loved to talk about his time in Greece and Puerto Rico and was enthusiastically planning his retirement to the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. He had such an enthusiasm for life and interests in anything and everything that it's impossible to list how many people's lives he has touched in so many different ways. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, William, and his parents Floyd and Natalie Self. Derwin is survived by his wife of 26 years, Joanne; three sons, Douglas and Daniel Self of Mohave Valley, Ariz., and William Rose of Needles, Calif.; two daughters, Rhyannon Rose, (currently stationed at Kunsan AFB in Korea), and Poppy (Lee) Perfect of Oak Hills, Calif.; two grandchildren Brooke and Ashton Perfect of Oak Hills Calif.; two cousins, Al and Tari Malon of Ooltawah, Tenn.; and the many members of his extended family. Viewing for friends will be at 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Desert Lawn Funeral Home, 9250 S. Ranchero Lane in Mohave Valley, Ariz. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, May 12, 2011, at Mohave Valley United Methodist Church, 1595 Lipan Blvd. in Ft. Mohave, Ariz.