Chester Kahn Obituary

Chester Kahn

- - Chester Kahn passed away on June 1, 2019 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his siblings.

Chester was born in 1936 in Pine Springs, Arizona. He was raised in a traditional Navajo lifestyle with livestock & farming, and born into a family of Navajo silversmiths and rug weavers. He attended the Pine Springs BIA day school, Shiprock Indian School, and graduated from Stewart Indian School in Nevada.

Chester developed as a silversmith & painter and won many awards. As an artist, he painted under his Navajo name of "Tso Yazzy", painting the large mural inside the Gallup Indian Center. He also illustrated books: Warriors of the Rainbow, Strange Journey and The Winds Erase Your Footprints.

In 1968 he moved his family, including six children, to Chinle to direct the Chinle Office of Navajo Economic Opportunity. He became an executive for Dine' Bits'iis Ba'ahiiya' Inc., which built the Chinle Nursing Home, Chinle Valley School, and Canyon De Chelly housing.

Chester's most well- known murals are the "Circle of Light" murals inside Ellis Tanner Trading Company in Gallup; 64 murals that depict prominent Navajo people and history. He painted 36 murals inside the historic El Rancho Hotel, the large mural in Gallup called the "Native American Trading", and murals in the Fort Defiance Hospital, Pueblo Pintado Clinic, Thunderbird Jewelry, Indian Wells School, and Love's Trading Post.

Chester also was a master silversmith, designing & making: concho belts, necklaces, bracelets, bolo ties. His style was unique and contemporary and is featured in several Native American jewelry books.

Chester traveled extensively, lectured on Native American spirituality & traditions, Navajo arts & culture; spoke at the Gathering of Eagles and for the Circle of Light Foundation.

In 2008 Chester was named "Living Treasure" for the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial and served as Grand Marshal. In 2011 he was named Arizona Indian Living Treasure.

Chester was passionate about world peace and unity. He was a dedicated member of the Baha'i Faith, becoming a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. The funeral was held on June 4.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Arizona Republic on Jun. 16, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Chester Kahn

8 Entries

Isaac Curley, Jr.

December 8, 2025

Dearest uncle Chester, it's the day after Pearl Harbor Day. In a sense, I was saddened to see and feel that most American citizens in my neighborhood forgot to honor its memory. I recall when I introduced myself to you by my name, you said "I recognize that name" as you and my dad Isaac, Sr. grew up a few miles from each others. I immediately took a liking to you. It's almost two weeks away from first day of winter. Buts it's already below freezing in Window Rock. Before we know it, it will be lambing season. Thank you uncle for helping to keep me inspired to honor and respect the traditions of our Dineh. God bless you eternally. Love always, Isaac, Jr.

Michael Zargarov

March 16, 2022

Michael Zargarov

March 16, 2022

Michael Zargarov

March 16, 2022

I met Chester Kahn through the Baha'i Faith, of which I was also a follower. When I married in 1992, Chester invited me and my new wife to honeymoon in his traditional Dine Hogan. His wife taught us to make Fry Bread. He took us to Galluop to see the wonderful murals he had painted in a Trading Post there.
He was a quiet man. Saintly. Generous. A Friend. Ya'Te'He!

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Isaac Curley, Jr.

October 14, 2021

Its Fall 2021 and lately I find myself thinking of you often, uncle Chester. The leaves are changing in the Oak Creek canyon area and the sacred San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff got its first dusting of snow two days ago. This first snow conveys a traditional message that storytelling time has arrived within the Navajo culture. My mind tells me that rich traditions such as appropriate storytelling time are examples of what you taught, my dearest cousin Chester. I choose to call you uncle because you were my elder and I looked up to you with great affection and admiration. I am semi-retired and devote volunteer time to the Az American Indian Tourism Association as one of its nine board members. We promote tribal tourism within Arizona and have a special event that brings 15,000-17,000 attendees to experience and learn of tribal heritage and culture which is offered in tribal recreational sites throughout the year. I guess you could say that I somewhat follow in your footsteps to bring and share our tribal culture and traditions so we feel more kinship as a society. This weekend is Apache Jii in the town of Globe. I recall the time you were the driver that brought aunt Lucille Chester from Klagetoh to San Carlos Apache reservation and allowed my siblings to honor both of you and my mother's brother Kay Lewis, a retired Apache chief tribal judge. What a grand day it was! And as I prepare to close, I ask our Creator to bless your being and those of close family and friends. One day we will all be together and what a rejoicing that will be - the Good Lord willing.

Isaac Curley

January 19, 2021

Its winter Chester and I continue to miss you with each passing season. Sadly your sister Della has passed on also. She had been ill and had much difficulty due to ailing lungs. Now she joins you and other family members in a place where suffering is no more. Della was beautifully dressed at your funeral and told my sister of our father Isaac Curley Sr. and how he came to her rescue when a spooked horse ran off with her in a wagon. One day I will revisit the businesses in Gallup that are dressed with your exquisite paintings of the tranquil Dine lifeways. You remain a treasure as your work continues to tell stories of past eras of the proud Dineh. I love you Chester and miss you so much, Isaac, Jr.

Isaac Curley

July 27, 2020

It has been slightly more than a year since your passing and I think of you so very often cousin Chester. I miss our conversations and hearing your kind and affectionate voice. I hold many pictures of you in my mind, such as the time we met up at Ellis Tanner Trading Post which has your Circle of Light paintings hanging throughout of prominent 64 leaders of the Navajo. As one of 2011 Az Indian Living Treasures, you were dressed strikingly and colorfully during award presentation and you spoke eloquently of your rich heritage. Thank you for sharing the sketch books from when you and your brother Franklin Kahn painted billboard signs and often camped overnight to finish the eye-catching signs upon the interstate highways. The delicious luncheon at El Rancho Hotel dining room to honor you as 2008 Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial grand marshal was so touching, especially the traditional songs that were presented by you and the distinguished Navajo men is unforgettable and etched in my mind forever. So it is of little wonder that I miss you so tremendously, even as my eyes cloud over with tears at this writing, but is somewhat lifted when I recall our last phone conversation and your closing words to me were, "I love you, too."

June 18, 2019

Losing a loved one is never easy, but our loving God promises to give the strength and courage you'll need to endure, and to cope with the pain of your loss. He also promises to hold your hand every step of the way. (Isaiah 40:29, 41:10, 13) May loving memories also sustain your family during this difficult time. Ann Smith

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