"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

• Romans 8:38-39

Josiah O. DeClay, 38, of Cibecue, Arizona, entered eternal rest on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Born on August 13, 1988, to Cecelia Lee and Perry DeClay, Josiah was the youngest of three children. His siblings are Terrell DeClay and Doressa DeClay.

Josiah is survived by his beloved children, Atreyu DeClay, Leah DeClay, and Israel DeClay. He loved his children deeply and always spoke of them with great pride. Josiah also loved his niece Nashari, whom he was also very proud of.

Josiah graduated from Dischiibikoh High School in 2006. He later participated in the International House of Prayer's Fire in the Night Internship Program in Kansas City, Missouri.

A gifted athlete, Josiah enjoyed many sports, but baseball was his favorite. He was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, the Arizona Diamondbacks and NFL's Green Bay Packers. He also loved fishing and often spent his summer evenings along the streams of Cibecue Creek and the Black River, as well as at the beautiful lakes throughout the White Mountains.

Music was another important part of Josiah's life. He was a talented guitar and bass player who traveled with friends to various church events, where he sang and accompanied them in worship. Josiah was also an enthusiastic Star Wars fan and looked forward to watching every new movie that was released.

Josiah will be remembered as a humble, genuine, kindhearted, and witty person. He embodied the meaning of a loyal and faithful friend. His dedication, friendship, and many contributions made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

At the time of his passing, Josiah was employed as a security officer with Dischiibikoh Community School. He had previously served as a security officer for the White Mountain Apache Housing Authority.

A one-night wake will begin at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2026 at the Cibecue House of Prayer Church. Funeral services will be held at the same, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Graveside Services will conclude at Red Mountain Cemetery, Cibecue AZ.