Was Clifton native, U.S. Navy veteran
By Walt Mares
File Photo By Walter Mares: Clifton native and community activist Esther Tavison displays a post announcing the resurrection of the Clifton Hill Climb. She played a key role in the event’s 2014 comeback. She suffered an aneurysm on New Year’s Eve and died Saturday morning, Jan. 7, at a hospital in Tucson. She was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of American Legion Post 28 in Clifton.
Clifton native and community activist Esther Tavison, 54, died Saturday morning, Jan. 7, after suffering a brain aneurysm on New Year’s Eve. According to friends of hers, she was on life support at a Tucson hospital until the decision was made to remove the breathing apparatus.
Tavison was a Clifton High School graduate, U.S. Navy veteran and a member of American Legion Post 28 in Clifton. The post’s Honor Guard Commander Robert Bailey said he was contacted Saturday afternoon about her death but did not know any details other than she was taken off of life support around midnight Friday and died around 6 a.m., Saturday.
Bailey said he was told that Tavison was an organ donor and some of her organs were harvested for use by others in need of them.
Last week, several rumors circulated around the community about her status, including incorrect information about her demise.
Tavison was involved with the resurrection of The Clifton Hill Climb in 2014. The event was highly popular in the 1960s, including when her father, Julio, who survives her, was Clifton’s mayor.
Bailey said funeral plans had not yet been announced, but, if requested, the Honor Guard will be at the funeral or memorial service to give her a traditional send off for veterans. It includes the Honor Guard firing three volleys from rifles, the playing of Taps and the presentation of a folded American flag to her survivors.
Details regarding Tavison’s survivors , including siblings and her children, were not known as of late Saturday.
Look to this website for more information as it becomes available.
