Frank Barcellos, a Longtime Resident of Hawthorne, Nevada,
Died peacefully at his home February 2, 2026, at Age 93
Frank Barcellos
August 4, 1932 – February 2, 2026
Frank Barcellos was born on August 4, 1932, in Wabuska, Nevada, to Joseph and Marianna Augusta (Toledo) Barcellos. His parents had been promised to one another in the Azores and immigrated via Rhode Island and Brazil, respectively. The family lived on a dairy at the end of Penrose Lane in Wabuska.
When Joseph died in 1936, Marianna later married Frank Goncalves, a native of the Azores. The family moved to Hawthorne, Nevada, which remained Frank’s home for the rest of his life.
Frank was an avid sports enthusiast and played football and basketball throughout his school years. He graduated from Mineral County High School with the Class of 1951. While in school, he met the love of his life, Norma Leatha Payne, and they were married shortly after graduation on June 20, 1951.
Frank and Leatha welcomed three children: Frank Alan, Rebecca Jean, and Karen Sue. They were married for 68 years at the time of Leatha’s passing in 2020.
Frank was a true Nevadan through and through and was proud to have been born in the Silver State. He was a passionate outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting, spending countless hours on horseback in the Nevada mountains enjoying the state’s natural beauty. He held a special love for fishing and duck hunting at Walker Lake, a passion that developed during his childhood through the time he spent there with his stepfather, Frank Goncalves. Frank also enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout Elko, Nye, Esmeralda, Lyon, and Mineral Counties, as well as in the Sierra Nevadas.
Frank spent his career as a heavy equipment and crane operator at the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. He retired as a shop foreman after 31 years of civil service.
Frank is survived by his son, Frank Alan (Anna) Barcellos of Salem, Oregon; daughters Becky Tanner of Lebanon, Oregon, and Karen (Vern) Watson of Hawthorne, Nevada; his grandchildren Keri (Jared) Bates, Kevin Barcellos, Courtney Bell, Erin (Frank) Larsen, Ashley (Spencer) Schrupp, Andrea (Rick) Templeton, Jennifer Tanner, Patrick (Sarah) Watson, and Sean (Noelle) Watson; and 20 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Joe; his sisters Caroline and Alvina; his beloved wife, Leatha; and his son-in-law, Ray Tanner.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Hawthorne, Nevada. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Cemetery.
Died peacefully at his home February 2, 2026, at Age 93
Frank Barcellos
August 4, 1932 – February 2, 2026
Frank Barcellos was born on August 4, 1932, in Wabuska, Nevada, to Joseph and Marianna Augusta (Toledo) Barcellos. His parents had been promised to one another in the Azores and immigrated via Rhode Island and Brazil, respectively. The family lived on a dairy at the end of Penrose Lane in Wabuska.
When Joseph died in 1936, Marianna later married Frank Goncalves, a native of the Azores. The family moved to Hawthorne, Nevada, which remained Frank’s home for the rest of his life.
Frank was an avid sports enthusiast and played football and basketball throughout his school years. He graduated from Mineral County High School with the Class of 1951. While in school, he met the love of his life, Norma Leatha Payne, and they were married shortly after graduation on June 20, 1951.
Frank and Leatha welcomed three children: Frank Alan, Rebecca Jean, and Karen Sue. They were married for 68 years at the time of Leatha’s passing in 2020.
Frank was a true Nevadan through and through and was proud to have been born in the Silver State. He was a passionate outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting, spending countless hours on horseback in the Nevada mountains enjoying the state’s natural beauty. He held a special love for fishing and duck hunting at Walker Lake, a passion that developed during his childhood through the time he spent there with his stepfather, Frank Goncalves. Frank also enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout Elko, Nye, Esmeralda, Lyon, and Mineral Counties, as well as in the Sierra Nevadas.
Frank spent his career as a heavy equipment and crane operator at the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. He retired as a shop foreman after 31 years of civil service.
Frank is survived by his son, Frank Alan (Anna) Barcellos of Salem, Oregon; daughters Becky Tanner of Lebanon, Oregon, and Karen (Vern) Watson of Hawthorne, Nevada; his grandchildren Keri (Jared) Bates, Kevin Barcellos, Courtney Bell, Erin (Frank) Larsen, Ashley (Spencer) Schrupp, Andrea (Rick) Templeton, Jennifer Tanner, Patrick (Sarah) Watson, and Sean (Noelle) Watson; and 20 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Joe; his sisters Caroline and Alvina; his beloved wife, Leatha; and his son-in-law, Ray Tanner.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Hawthorne, Nevada. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Cemetery.
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