Charlene "Char" Mae Begay

Charlene “Char” Mae Begay, age 73, passed away March 11, 2025, in Rio Rancho, NM. She was born to Scotty Begay Sr. and Lorretta Begay, July 30, 1951, in Gallup, NM.

Char was preceded in death by her parents: Scotty Begay Sr. and Loretta Begay; brother, Scotty N. Begay Jr.; sister, Darlene Begay; daughter, Marcie Rae Dennison; granddaughter, Brianna Lynn Castor; nephews, Neal Begay and Justin Begay.

Char is survived by her grandson, Scott Hill of Rio Rancho, NM; nieces: Shelly Begay of Rio Rancho, NM, Vanessa Begay of Albuquerque, NM, and Michelle Littlefoot of Flagstaff, AZ; nephew, Austin Littlefoot of Flagstaff, AZ; daughter-in-law, Eugeneia Hill of Rio Rancho, NM; (paternal) sister, Shirley Chato of Tohatchi, NM; foster sister, Lora Lea Mock; great-grandchildren: Kodi Doyebi, Taylor Ortiz, Josh Ortiz, Nevaeh Ortiz, Ava Ortiz, Syslis Hill, and Nasir Hill, and her dog, Urameshi.

She graduated from Springville High School in 1969; she attended Northern Arizona University, transferred to Western Washington University and received her Bachelor’s degree in 1992.

Char was employed in health care for 40 years, including working for:  Amazing Grace Home Care; Tohatchi Area Opportunity Services; Coyote Canyon Rehabilitation Center, United Health Care and Innovative Health at Home; Senior Living; Molina Healthcare, Innovated Health at Home, and Division of Death Improvement (Incident Management).  She enjoyed working to provide individuals with medical waivers and was most proud of the accomplishment of becoming a Demographic Researcher for Special Projects at the Nation Science Foundation back in 1991.

She was a member of Heights First Church of the Nazarene.

She enjoyed: singing and dancing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

The Family of Charlene Begay expresses their gratitude to Amazing Grace Personal Care Services for the excellent care that they provided Char, to Heights First Church of the Nazarene for their support and prayers, to Daniels Family Funeral and Cremation for their services and care, and to family and friends.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Matthew 5:4 – Jesus says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

A Visitation will be held Monday, March 24, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Daniels Family Funeral and Cremation, 2400 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.