United States High School Yearbooks by County
Henry Smith
LIVE OAK - No service is planned for Henry T. Smith, 86, of Live Oak, who died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at a local care facility.
Smith was born July 12, 1914, in Hawaii.
He worked in the farming industry for 20 years.
Smith was a self-taught electrician. He enjoyed fishing and working on cars.
Survivors include a daughter, Bobbie Solesski of Corning; two sons, Herman of Live Oak and Henry of Los Angeles; and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Inurnment will at Live Oak Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.
Bob Pugh
PARADISE - A funeral for Charles "Bob" Pugh, 72, of Paradise, will be at 10 a.m. today at Rose Chapel Mortuary.
Pugh died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, in Chico.
He was born Nov. 15, 1928, to Samuel and Elizabeth Pugh in Los Angeles.
He received degrees from Cerritos College and Long Beach Community College, and was in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in Korea. He also served in the Navy apprenticeship program for boat building in Long Beach.
He and his wife, Lora, were married on Dec. 17, 1948.
For 40 years, he was in the boat building industry, and served as maintenance and construction supervisor at the Los Angeles Harbor Department for 25 years.
He moved to Paradise from Norwalk in 1984.
Pugh enjoyed building boats, water skiing, camping, traveling and square dancing.
He attended the Pentecostal Church of God in Paradise, and was a member of the Chico Square Dance Club.
Survivors include his wife, Lora of Paradise; a daughter, Christine Serna of Magalia, and two granddaughters.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon today at the mortuary.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Memorial contributions may be made to Chico or Paradise Hospice.
Thomas Pearson
OROVILLE - A memorial service will be later in Sacramento for Thomas "Good Time Charlie" Pearson, 66, of Oroville, who died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, at his Oroville residence.
He was born Dec. 16, 1934, in Boston, Mass., to Thomas and Mae Pearson.
He was a Sacramento resident for 31 years and moved to Oroville four years ago.
He enjoyed all-terrain vehicles and dearly loved his mountain home in the foothills of Oroville. He was a wonderful father and husband.
Survivors include his wife, Ann of Oroville; two daughters, Sheri Frentz of Sacramento and Krissy Pearson of Oregon; and a brother, Joe of Quincy.
After cremation, inurnment will be private.
Arrangements are by Scheer Memorial Chapel.
Morris Perkins
DURHAM - An informal gathering of friends and family to celebrate the life of Morris R. Perkins, 66, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at his home in Durham.
Perkins died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at his home.
Tonya Niblett-Craft
SAN DIEGO - A funeral for Tonya Marie Niblett-Craft, 29, of San Diego, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Rose Chapel Mortuary in Paradise.
She died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at her residence.
She was born Aug. 30, 1971, to Jess and Dee Niblett in Paradise, where she was raised and attended schools.
She was a homemaker and mother.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Craft, E5, U.S. Navy; two sons, Brandan Jay and Joshua Michael; and a daughter, Aubrianna Marie; her parents, Jess and Dee Niblett of Paradise; a sister, Tessa Niblett of Paradise; and maternal grandmother, Pauline Niblett of Paradise.
Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery.
Rita Mello-Menzel
A private family service was held for Rita Mello-Menzel, 62, of Chico, who died Thursday, March 1, 2001, in Chico.
She was born Aug. 25, 1938, to Joseph and Antoinette Mello in Oroville. She attended schools in Butte County and graduated from Chico High School.
Mello-Menzel was a homemaker.
She liked collecting knick-knacks, sewing and arts and crafts. She especially enjoyed bowling and won several awards and trophies.
Survivors include four daughters, Sherrie Eslick of Quincy, Sandy Joaquin and Charlene Hague, both of San Jose, and Christine Williams of Chico; two brothers, John Mello and Joe Mello, both of Eureka; two sisters, Rose Mello of Chico and Lina Lawler of Eureka; and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Shee also leaves a close friend Gary Mulkey of Chico.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association, in care of Sorensen's Affordable Mortuary, which is handling the arrangements.
Rose Richmond
FRESNO - Private services were held for Rose G. Richmond, 89, of Fresno, a retired Chico State University food service employee.
She died on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002.
Survivors include a niece, Gloria Lopez.
Whitehurst Chapel of Fresno handled arrangements.
BETTYANN FARMER
At her request, no services will be held for Bettyann "Bets" Farmer, 78, of Cottonwood, Calif. She passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 at a Chico hospital.
Bets was born to Walter and Clarabelle Fullagar in Lincoln, Nebraska on December 12, 1923. In 1960 she married Edward Farmer; he passed away in May of 2001. Bets LOVED playing bridge with her special friends, traveling, jazz festivals, dancing 'til 2, house boating and their motor home. She worked as a schoolteacher for 35 years; in Arizona for seven years, then Chico Unified School District for 28 years, retiring in 1990.
Survivors include her two sons, Gary Greening of Gerber, Calif., and Gregg Greening of Japan; her daughter, Gae Timmons of Chico; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Hospice of Red Bluff, Calif. in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home, who are handling the arrangements.
June Gervasi
PARADISE - A memorial service for June Lucille Gervasi, 71, of Paradise, will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at St. Pius Catholic Church in Redwood City.
She died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, in Chico.
She was born June 11, 1929, to Joseph and Diva Massagli in San Francisco.
She wed John Earle Wood in 1946. He died in 1968.
In 1971, she married Joseph Gervasi. The couple moved to Paradise. He died in 1985.
Mrs. Gervasi was a homemaker and mother.
She loved cooking, entertaining, spending time with her pets, gardening. In the 1970s she enjoyed CB radios and went by the handle "Gemini."
Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Ward of Paradise and Jessica Wood of Chico; her mother, Diva Corradetti of Redwood City; three sisters, Gloria Saufley of Newark, Dolores Hart of Concord and Karen Elmore of Redwood City; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Butte Humane Society or the American Red Cross, in care of the Neptune Society of Chico, which is handling the arrangements.
THOM OPDENAKER
A celebration of life service will be held for Thomas "Thom" Ronald Opdendaker, 54, of Palermo 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 5th at the V.F.W. Hall at Lincoln & Elgin in Oroville. He died Saturday, September 21, 2002 at a Chico hospital.
Thom was born December 13, 1947 in Chester, Pennsylvania to Evelyn and Thomas Opdenaker. He came to California in 1963 and graduated from high school in Lakeside, Calif. During the Vietnam War he served in the U.S. Army. Following the service he attended college in San Diego. Thom was employed by the Los Angeles Housing Authority and later worked in law enforcement in San Diego. While in Southern California he was active in the Sweet Tooth Theatre in El Cajon.
In 1997 he moved to Palermo and worked as an intake social worker for Butte County Department of Social Services. Thom was an actor and writer. He served on the board of directors for the Birdcage Theatre and Community Radio KRBS.
His sister, Doris Laughlin of Palermo and a brother, Gary Opdenaker of Downing, survive him.
Thom's ashes will be buried
near his parents at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Memorial contributions may be made to KRBS Radio or to the Birdcage Theatre in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home.
Barbara Dodge
Barbara Jane Dodge, 64, of Chico, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, in Chico.
She was born June 5, 1936, in Long Beach. She attended Chico schools.
In 1954, she married James Dodge in Paradise.
She was a homemaker and worked at Taco Bell for a short time.
Survivors include her husband, James of Chico; two daughters, Debra Dodge of Chico and Sherry Wells of Ontario; a son, Joseph Dodge of Chico; a sister, Jannette Heron of Oregon; and four grandchildren.
Burial will be in Forest Ranch Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, in care of Brusie Funeral Home of Chico, which is handling the arrangements.
ROBERT G. HUSTON
Robert G. Huston, age 77, died Sept. 22. 2002. He is survived by his sister, Bernice Smith; his brother, Tommy Huston, and six children.
George Aguiar
A graveside service will be held for George Veirra Aguiar, 69, of Chico at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at Glen Oaks Memorial Park.
He died Friday, March 2, 2001, at a local hospital.
Aguiar was born Oct. 16, 1931, to Frank and Elsie Aguiar in Orland.
He lived in Orland most of his life. He graduated from Orland High School, transferred to Yuba College and then to Chico State University.
He enjoyed sports, family, traveling, friends, dining out and classical music.
He was a football coach for many years, coaching for Pop Warner and Orland High School. He was an avid fan of football all his life.
In 1956, he renewed a friendship with Nelda Kalb. They got married on Aug. 7, 1957.
Survivors include his wife, Nelda of Chico; his stepson, Gordon Kalb of Chico; his stepdaughter, Leah Wilder of Paradise; three brothers, Lawrence, Louie and Jimmy, all of Orland; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home.
Dale Baston
SUSANVILLE - A funeral was held for Dale Otto Baston, 64, of Susanville, who died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001.
He was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Worland, Wyo. He graduated from Chico High School in 1955, and attended Chico State University.
Baston was a fire captain with the California Department of Forestry for 20 years. He also worked with the U.S. Forest Service in a lookout tower for six years.
Baston had been a Lassen County resident for 34 years.
He was past master counselor of the DeMoLay, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Magalia Grange. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America, coaching Little League and attending sports activities in the local area.
Fishing and hunting were among his hobbies.
Survivors include his wife, Edna of Susanville; two sons, Greg of Janesville and Daniel of Maui, Hawaii; two brothers, Martin of Paradise and Pat of Reno, Nev.; three sisters, Mary King of Truth or Consequences, N.M., Patsy Gurly of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Sandra Wright of Reno; and six grandchildren.
Private interment was held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lassen County Special Olympics or a favorite charity.
Walton's Colonial Mortuary of Susanville is handling the arrangements.
FARMER - Bettyann "Bets" Farmer, 78, of Cottonwood, died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, in Chico. Arrangements are under the direction of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home, 342-9003.
HARRIS - Clayton Cliff-phon James Harris, two months, of Oroville, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, in Oroville. Arrangements are under the direction of Scheer Memorial Chapel, 533-5255.
HOWE - Josephine Janet Howe, 86, of Chico, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in Chico. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home, 342-9003.
HUSTON - Robert G. Huston, 77, of Oroville, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in Oroville.
HYATT - Sally Ann Hyatt, 54, of Magalia, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Magalia. Arrangements are under the direction of Newton-Bracewell Cremation & Funeral Service, 873-7602.
NELSON - Ronald Lee Nelson, 66, of Vina, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Vina. Arrangements are under the direction of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home, 342-9003.
PIPER - William Robert Piper II, 69, of Paradise, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, in Paradise. Arrangements are under the direction of Rose Chapel Mortuary, 877-4923.
RAMSEY - Grace Ramsey, 88, of Paradise, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, in Paradise. Arrangements are under the direction of Paradise Chapel of the Pines Mortuary, 877-4991.
RULE - Helen Barnes Rule, 42, of Oroville, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Paradise. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Brusie Funeral Home, 342-5642.
C. RANDAL FINCH
Services will be conducted at The Federated Church in Orland on Tuesday, February 11, at 10 a.m. for Randal Finch, who passed away on February 7, 2003 at the age of 87. Randal was born on January 12, 1916 in Orland, Calif. Randal attended Orland schools, was an alumni of the graduating Class of 1934. Randal farmed his entire life east of Orland and in the Plaza District. He sat on the Board of Chico Production Credit Association and for a time served as Chairman of The Board. He served on the Board of Orland Artois Irrigation District from November of 1954 until February of 1987; he served on the board of Cal West Seeds and for a time served as Chairman of The Board. He was a lifelong member of the Orland Federated Church and served as an Elder at the local Church and held office in the Sacramento Presbytery. He was a member of California Cattlemen's Association and was a director on the Orland High School Board during the 1950s and 1960s, and a long-time member of the Orland Kiwanis Club.
CESAR MIGUEL RICO
Cesar Miguel Rico, 21, passed away July 24, 2003 in Chico. He worked for Abel Construction Company. He was a resident of Orland. He attended Orland Schools. He is survived by his wife, Ariana Rico of Orland; parents Juan and Rosalva Rico of Orland.
Donald "Don" Ray Maberry
MABERRY - Former Chico and Gridley resident Donald "Don" Ray Maberry, 68, of Brookings, Ore., died Wednesday, July 23, 2003, in Brookings. Arrangements are under the direction of Redwood Memorial Chapel, (541) 469-9112. MULKEY - Gary Mulkey, 67, of Chico, died Wednesday, July 23, 2003, in Chico.
EZEQUIEL RICO
Ezequiel Rico, 21, passed away July 24, 2003 in Chico. He worked for Abel Construction Company. He was a resident of Corning and graduated from Corning High School.
GARY PAGE MULKEY
June 15, 1936-July 23 2003 Gary was born in Chico at Enloe Hospital. His parents were Loyd and Nora Mulkey. He is survived by his brother Loyd H. Mulkey Jr. and sister-in-law Jayne Mulkey, and numerous cousins. Gary grew up in Chico and attended High School at Mt.
SHEPHERD - Floyd Shepherd, 75, of Forbestown, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, in Oroville. Arrangements are under the direction of Scheer Memorial Chapel, 533-5255.
PATRICIA "PAT" GREENWELL
Patricia Anne Greenwell, 62, died Tuesday, August 5, 2003 in Marysville. She was born December 23, 1940 in Chico. She was reared in Durham. Pat and her husband, Burt "Doc" Greenwell, owned and operated Greenwell Veterinary Clinic in Yuba City for 25 years. She loved animals and horses.
GEHRINGER - Former Chico resident Jean Gehringer, 78, of Las Cruces, N.M., died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in Las Cruces. Arrangements are under the direction of Graham's Mortuary, (505) 526-6891. LITTLEFIELD - Former Butte County resident Helen F. Littlefield, 88, of Green Valley, Ariz.
HELENE F. LITTLEFIELD
A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, October 13, 2003 at 2 pm at Cherokee Cemetery for Helen Frances Littlefield, 88, who passed away on October 6, 2003 in Green Valley, Ariz. Helene was born on May 19, 1915 in Ft. Independence, Calif. to Alfred and Adele Giraud.
JOSEPH J. PITTS. JR.
Joseph J. Pitts, Jr. passed away peacefully September 29, 2003. He is survived by his sisters, Bonnie Maddox and Betty Gilbert, both of Oroville, Calif; children, Neil Pitts of Roseburg, Oregon, Joleen Rhodes of Lake Oroville, Calif., Barbara Stone of Roseville, Calif.
DOROTHY SMITH
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sat., Dec. 13th at Pardise Chapel of the Pines. Brusie Funeral Home handling the arrangements.
DAWN CAMPBELL
A memorial service will be held for Dawn Hyman Campbell, 47, of Chico on Saturday, December 13, 2003, 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. Dawn passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2003 at a local hospital.
HOWELL Delmer Howell, 74, of Gridley, died Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, in Gridley. Arrangements are under the direction of Sorensen's Affordable Mortuaries, Chico-Gridley, 893-4292. HUBBS Robert Bernard Hubbs, 84, of Chico, died Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, in Chico.
DELMER FRED HOWELL
Delmer Fred Howell died December 8, 2003 in Gridley. He was 74 years old. Visitation will be at Sorensen's Mortuary in Gridley Thursday, December 11, 2003 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Friday at 12 noon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Spruce Street just off Highway 99.
