United States High School Yearbooks by County
Denise Abbey
Longtime St. Helena resident Denise Abbey died May 31 in Calistoga. She was 86.
A Spokane, Wash., native and the daughter of Frank and Lillian Carabin, she married Richard Abbey in 1936. At the time of his death in 1987 they had been married 51 years.
Mrs. Abbey is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Peggy Abbey of Calistoga, a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Suzanne Abbey of Oakland; grandchildren Sharon Hoffman of Palo Alto, Heather Abbey of Oakland, Gannon Abbey of British Columbia and Molly Abbey of Seattle. A grandson, David Abbey, predeceased her.
Mrs. Abbey was active in the St. Helena Women’s Club, the St. Helena Garden Club was on the St. Helena Library Board and was a docent for several organizations.
Rather than memorial donations or flowers, she asked to be remembered in the garden or at the library.
Ilse Hilde Kotz
A memorial service will be held June 6 at 3 p.m. at Rose Haven, 520 Sanitarium Rd.,. St. Helena, for Ilse Hilde Kotz of St. Helena, who died April 25 at Rose Haven Board and Care. She was 88.
Ms. Kotz was a private nurse for over 40 years. She is survived by niece Arla Jean Squires of Colorado and a niece and nephew living in Australia.
Memorial donations may be made to Adventist Frontier Missions, P.O. Box 346, Berrien Springs, MI 49103-9907.
Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Mildred D. Parriott
Memorial services will be held Friday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at Morrison Funeral Chapel, 990 Vintage Ave., St. Helena, for Mildred Dukes Parriott of St. Helena, who died May 31. She was 89.
Mrs. Parriott, the daughter of Elmer and Ida Dukes, married Melvin Parriott in 1931. She and her family lived in Middletown for several years and moved to the Napa Valley in 1942.
During World War II she worked for Yuba Manufacturing in Benicia machining 155mm Howitzer barrels. While there she administered first aid to people injured in the Port Chicago blast.
Mrs. Parriott was a laboratory technician for Beringer Vineyards for 20 years, a volunteer in the St. Helena Hospital gift shop, a member of the Rebekah’s Lodge of St. Helena and past noble guard. She was also a past member of the Degree of Pocahontas and a member of the Elmshaven Seventh-day Adventist Church. Among her many interests was cooking for family and friends, and crocheting afghans for all of her grandchildren. She also had a penchant for driving fast.
Mrs. Parriott is survived by two sons and their wives, Melvin “Guy” and Terese Parriott, and Milton “Bear” and Rebecca Parriott, all of St. Helena; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Melvin, and a brother, Wilbur.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Marion R. Swim
Private graveside services will be held for Marion R. Swim of St. Helena, who died May 27. He was 96.
Pastor Gary Gifford of Calistoga Seventh-day Ad-ventist Church will officiate.
Mr. Swim was born June 23, 1904, in St. Edwards, Neb., to Francis and Berda Swim, but most of his life resided in Napa County, where he was a rancher-farmer before working for Napa State Hospital as a psychiatric technician.
He enjoyed camping and fishing with his family, and was an avid gardener who retired to his rose garden and craft work.
Mr. Swim is survived by his wife, Elgie; three children, Alyce Cadd of Geyserville, Robert Swim of Lake County and Ronald Swim of Napa; a sister, Edith Pittman, of Redwood Valley; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association: 1400 N. Dutton Ave., Suite 20, Santa Rosa, CA. 95401.
Funeral arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Maria Monica West
A memorial service was held May 31 at Claffey and Rota Funeral Home, Napa, for former St. Helena Wells Fargo employee Maria Monica West, who died May 8. She was 60.
Mrs. West was born Sept. 26, 1940, in Germany. She came to the U.S. in 1954 with her mother and brother to visit her great-aunt and uncle in Clearlake Highlands and lived there for a time. She moved to San Francisco where she met Thomas J. West, married, moved to Long Beach, Phoenix, back to San Francisco and then to Lake Berryessa for 30 years.
Mrs. West worked for Wells Fargo Bank in St. Helena and Napa. She is survived by her husband, Thomas J. West; her father, Friedrich Karl Kohlmeier, of Germany; a brother, Fred C. Kohlmeier, and his wife, Jeanette, of Napa; daughters and sons-in-law Linda and Ted Cebulski, Patricia and Kevin Fleet; grandchildren Robert J. West Devitt, Kristopher C. West Devitt, Michael B. West Cebulski, Chrystal D. Fleet, Thomas J. Fleet, Kevin E. Fleet Jr. and Samantha West.
Mrs. West is predeceased by her mother, Grete Mosel, and a son, Thomas J. West Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Napa Valley, 3299 Claremont Way, Napa, CA 94558.
Gunilda "Jean" R. Rianda
Services were held on July 7 in St. Helena for Gunilda Rianda of St. Helena, who died on July 1. Mrs. Rianda, known as "Jean" to her friends, was 95.
Born In 1907 in Rutherford to Augusta and John Pistorious, Mrs. Rianda graduated from St. Helena High School and Stanford Lane Nursing School.
She served as a public health nurse in San Francisco for 25 years. In 1952, she returned to St. Helena and married Walter Rianda. She became a broker and realtor with Albertazzi Realty, a career that spanned 30 years.
She was predeceased by her husband Walter in 1979. In recent years, she donated an old house behind her own to the Red Cross, and in keeping with her wishes, her own home on Main Street will one day serve St. Helena as a senior center.
interment was at St. Helena Cemetery. Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Gloria Burnette Oyarzo
Services were held in Calistoga July 8 for Gloria Burnette Oyarzo, 70, who died at her home in Calistoga on July 2.
She was born in 1932 to Beatrice and Norse Waymire, and raised by her mother and stepfather, William Hughes, following her father's death. She graduated from Alameda High School and was a homemaker all of her life, moving to Calistoga with her husband Robert in 1986. She was active in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Calistoga and Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Mrs. Oyarzo is survived by four sons: Dennis of San Leandro, Mark of Calistoga and Stacy and William, both of Washington; five grandchildren: Jarrod, Jeffrey, Maureen, Robert and Shannon; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; son, Michael; and two sisters, Darlene Stark and Diane Rutlidge.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at the church on Friday, July 11 at 11 a.m., with Father Carlos as celebrant. The Burial service will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery in St. Helena.
Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Ignacio Vega
Ignacio Vega passed away at his home on July 6, 2003, with his family at his side. He was 77 years of age.
He was born in Mexico on June 22, 1926 to Jose and Maria Vega. He had lived in Napa Valley for 35 years.
Ignacio was an active member of the St. Helena Catholic Church for over 30 years. He enjoyed gardening and the outdoors and dedicated most of his life to Mother Nature. Ignacio was embraced by his community for his willingness to help everyone unconditionally. He will be remembered by his family for his sense of humor, outlook of life, and his dedication to his entire family.
He and his wife, Reberina, were married on June 3, l952. His dear wife, Reberina, of Yountville survives him as do his children, Ignacio Vega, Jr., and wife, Elda, of Mexico; Teresa Vega of Yountville; Ana M. Vega and husband, Jorge, of Napa; Maria J. Vega of San Francisco; Jose Luis Vega, Mexico; M. Luisa Vega and husband, Jose, of Napa; and Daniel Vega and wife, Martha, of Vallejo.
His dearly beloved grandchildren include Nancy Vianett Morales, Jorge L. Morales, Ignacio Vega III, Julio Cesar Vega, Ulises Morales, Elda Vanessa Vega, Paulina Vazquez, Victor Nicolas Vega, Emmanuel Vazquez; plus five great grandchildren, Vanessa Espinoza, Vianett Espinoza, Jeanett A. Morales, Natalie A. Espinoza, and Cruz Morales.
He also leaves three brothers and two sisters.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 10, from 4-9 p.m. at the St. Helena Catholic Church, 1340 Tainter St., with the Rosary at 8 p.m.
Evelyn M. Bush
Graveside services were held July 10 at St. Helena Cemetery for Evelyn M. Bush of Calistoga, who died June 30. She was 88.
Mrs. Bush, the daughter of Otis and Lulu McKune of Bodega Bay, married Lionel Bush March 27, 1933. She sent much of her life caring for her family. She was very active with hand work and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and cooking. She was also a member of the St. Helena Eastern Star.
She is survived by a son, Donald E. Bush of La Bufa, Mexico; a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Sean O’Keefe, of Half Moon Bay; a daughter and son-in-law, Ardyth and Bill Bartolucci, of St. Helena; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Eugene B. Graff
Services were held at Morrison Funeral Chapel July 11 for St. Helena native Eugene Bailey Graff, who died July 7 in St. Helena. He was 78.
Mr. Graff was born Dec. 31, 1922 in the old St. Helena Hospital on Main Street to George and Pearl Bailey Graff. He graduated from St. Helena High School in 1942 and a year later married his high school sweetheart, Carol Hurd.
When he completed service in the Coast Guard, the Graffs returned home to St. Helena and soon celebrated the births of twin daughters.
He worked in the family plumbing business, Graff Plumbing, and eventually he and his wife became sole proprietors. They retired in 1979.
From 1949 to 1966, Mr. Graff volunteered for the St. Helena Fire Department, serving as chief for several years. He was a member of the American Legion and served on the board of the St. Helena Cemetery Association.
Mr. Graff is survived by his wife of 58 years; daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Cliff Little and Carolyn and Mike Milat; grandchildren Jennifer (Augusto) DiBattista, Cliff Little, Michelle (David) Duckhorn, Mike (Stacie) Milat and Caryn Milat; and four great-grandaughters.
He was predeceased by a brother, George, and three sisters Nell, Gretchen and Juanita.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Inurnment will be at St. Helena Cemetery. Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
Dorothy E. Harrison
Services were held July 6 at St. Helena Cemetery for Dorothy Evelyn Harrison, who died June 28. She was 84.
Mrs. Harrison was born July 17, 1916 to Ruben Newton and Frances Owens McMillen. She graduated from St. Helena High in 1934. She married Jim Harrison in 1937 and they had one daughter, Suzanne.
Mrs. Harrison was a project coordinator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Max Berchtold; two grandchildren, Debbie Carbaugh and Gary Berchtold; four great-grandchildren, Jason Car-baugh, Erik Presley, Brianna Berchtold and Britanny Berchtold; a sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Harold Pellini of Sebastopol; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by four siblings, Alvin McMillen, Ervin McMillen, Marjorie Rovera and Ruby Young.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Laytonville Fire Dept., P.O. Box 89, Laytonville, CA 95454.
