Final
Arrangements Planned for Fallen Firefighter
Anthony Ramon Polk, a firefighter
for Quechan Tribe and a resident of Yuma, AZ would have been 31 on his birthday,
June 22, this year. He died June 8 in a one-vehicle accident while on
assignment at the Montezuma Fire.
Memorial services are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at Quechan Community Center. A wake is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Yuma Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Cry House in Winterhaven. Cremation will be at dawn Saturday at Quechan Cemetery.
Memorial services are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at Quechan Community Center. A wake is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Yuma Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Cry House in Winterhaven. Cremation will be at dawn Saturday at Quechan Cemetery.
An
enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache and a descendant of the Quechan Tribe
of Fort Yuma. Family descendant of the Carr, Pasqual, Sahenti, Escalanti and
Polk families, Anthony’s given names are: “Two Feathers” and “Morning Dancer at
Sunrise.” Anthony participated in powwows and
traditional ceremonies as a singer and grass dancer. He was an avid
sports enthusiast and played a variety of sports. A
graduate of San Pasqual High School in 1999, Anthony attended one year of
college at Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, KS in 2000.
He
served 10 years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Fort Yuma Agency where
he became a leader of the Prescribed Fire Operations/Fuels Program. He was a Firing
Boss and Incident Commander Type 4 as well as an Engine Boss, and training to
be a Fire Investigator and a Burn Boss. He worked with several organizations
including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau
of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and local fire departments throughout
the area in the fuels program.
He
is survived by his daughter, Aiyana Polk, his mother, Ramona Villa,
grandmother, Lucinda Polk, siblings, Manual, Alex and Raquiel Villa, and
numerous relatives and friends.
His parents are Ramona Polk Villa
and Benjamin Villa of Yuma; grandparents are Lucinda Escalanti Polk and the
late Raphael Bradley Polk, Sr. He was preceded in death by Grandmother Vicenta
Villa and Grandfather Manual Martinez and his Aunt Mancy Triste.
Anthony was most known for his
outgoing, caring, friendly personality and good sense of humor. He enjoyed
fishing, cooking, and being with family. He devoted all his energy to
making his daughter happy.
Cards can be sent to the Polk Family
at 673 Baseline Road
Winterhaven, CA 92283. Flowers
can be sent to Yuma Mortuary & Crematory, 551 W. 16th Street, Yuma,
AZ 85364. Donations are being accepted at AEA Federal Credit Union, Donation
Account: 1613510-010, Member Name: for Anthony Polk.
PHOTO: Anthony with his
daughter, Aiyana, at Quechan Powwow.
Photo provided by Fort Yuma Agency.
