Darlene Gazzam Ogo

Darlene Gazzam Ogo, known to many as “Gola”, made her journey from her earthly home to her heavenly home with the Creator early February 27, 2019. She was born September 18, 1933 on the Fort McDowell Reservation, to John and Amy Gazzam, but grew up on the Yavapai-Prescott Reservation (now the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe).

With her mother’s passing at an early age, she (along with her three siblings) was raised by her grandmother Viola Jimulla, and aunt Lucy Jimulla Miller. 

She graduated from Prescott High School in 1952 and went on to attend Nursing School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At completion, Senator Barry Goldwater sent a letter of congratulations because of his friendship with Viola. She then traveled to Tacoma, Washington where she was assigned to work at the hospital there. After working in Tacoma for a few years she met her husband Miguel “Mike” Ogo, a native Chamorro, who was stationed at Fort Lewis, and on June 15, 1959 they were married on the military base. 

From this love they started their family of five, starting with Robert “Bob”. After Bob was born Mike was re-stationed to Oahu where they lived for a few years, before going on to Mike’s native home of Guam. They returned to her Prescott roots where she had Laure, James, Linda and Amy. 

Darlene loved camping, fishing, hunting, traveling and being with her family. Upon her husband’s untimely death in 1985, Darlene’s new passion became her grandchildren, especially Katie and Audray, and all those that would follow. This is when she became known as Gola (grandmother in Yavapai). Gola traveled with her family to many places she never imagined she would go such as: Alaska, most of the Hawaiian islands, Mexico, Canada, British Columbia, Tahiti, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and many of the lower 48 States. 

Darlene came from a long line of Leaders, most notably her Grandfather Sam Jimulla being the first Chief of the Yavapai at Prescott and her Grandmother Viola Jimulla being the first Chieftess - upon Sam’s death. From all that she learned from her grandparents she remained steadfast to her faith and her first language of Yavapai. Darlene is the last Yavapai Speaker at Prescott to actively participate in the preservation and perpetuation of the Yavapai language. Many of her travels are a result of her Tribe’s language revitalization work that she happily participated in. 

Darlene is preceeded in death by her Parents, her sisters Patricia McGee, [Joselyn Harrison Green, Lillian Pablo], and brothers Ted Vaughn, Robert “Travis” Gazzam, [and Murphy Gazzam], and grandchildren, Nicole Apolinar and Marc Tapija, Jr. 

Gola touched many lives. She is survived by her Sister-in-law, Ana Benevente of Guam, and her half-sister, Lela Jackson. Her children: Bob (Donna) Ogo, Laure (Jeff) Badilla, James (Lisa) Ogo, Linda (Henry) Ogo-Smith and Amy (Tomas) Coppola. Her grandchildren:Ayanna [Justin, Kelly], Katie, Michael, Hunter, Carlene, [Henry, Jacob], Audray, Aaron, Shanice, Miguel, Lori, and Tomas Jr., Her great-grandchildren: Meaddow, Daniel, Rico, Azalea, Clinton, Everett, Elliot, Kaslynn, Colton, [Skyler], Aaron Jr., Celeste, Graycee, Clarisa, Justin, Thomas, [Adam, Luke, Tyler, Noah, Jennessa, Aidan]. Along with many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.