Maria A. Freitas
Services are today for Maria A. Freitas, who died Tuesday at her son’s home in Aromas. She was 89.
Mrs. Freitas was born in Azores and moved to California in 1959. She moved to Watsonville in 1962.
She was a member of the Valley Catholic Church and loved to garden.
Mrs. Freitas is survived by her son, Manuel Freitas of Aromas; two sisters in the Azores; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services are 6 tonight at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. Mass will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Assumption in Pajaro. Calling hours are 3 p.m. today at Mehl’s.
June 15, 2001
Manuel Jaras
Services are Monday for Manuel Jaras, who died Wednesday at his Watsonville home. He was 86.
Mr. Jaras was born in Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico and lived in Watsonville since 1954. He was a maintenance worker for the Pajaro Valley Bakery for 15 years. Mr. Jaras was a member of St. Patrick’s Church.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Maria Luisa Jaras of Watsonville; sons Juan Manuel Jaras and Jesus Jaras, both of Watsonville, and Pedro Jaras of Mexicali; daughters Margaret Martinez, Elva Rodriguez, Aurora Martinez, Mercedes Chavez, Alicia Samano and Silvia Martinez, all of Watsonville, and Emma Flores of Petaluma; 28 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Church. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
A rosary is 6 p.m. Sunday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel. Friends may call 1-9 p.m. Sunday at the chapel.
March 24, 2001
Vaden John McCray
Services are today for Vaden John McCray.
He died Monday in Camp Verde, Ariz., after a brief illness. He was 86.
The Texas native’s children and grandchildren were fond of hearing his stories about his family’s move across the plains and how they burned cow pies for fuel. In his youth he was a boxer, and later taught his children to box, including the girls. He also enjoyed watching prize fights.
His daughter, Velda, cared for him in Texas and then Camp Verde during the last years of his life.
He moved to Santa Cruz in 1943. He helped start the Mystery Spot, family members say, and is one of the original tour guides and managers at the popular tourist attraction. He and his brother, Virgil, were featured in a Life magazine spread on the Mystery Spot in the Nov. 15, 1948 issue.
He ran cattle at Arana Gulch, in an area that was later the Harbor High School site, in the 1950s and also raised chickens. He and his wife, Grace, raced greyhounds and thoroughbred racehorses.
Mr. McCray and his wife met just over 65 years ago at a greyhound race and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on March 18.
Mr. McCray was affectionately known as "Granpa Mexico" to his grandchildren because of frequent stays in New Mexico. He was also a singer and musician.
His children chose a blue casket for him because blue was his favorite color and also because of his blue eyes.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Grace McCray of Watsonville; five children, Vadastine Lovato of Camp Verde; Vaden McCray of Camp Verde; Vonda Hodges of Watsonville; Velda Dellamora of Camp Verde, Ariz.; and Veldon McCray of Felton; 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services are 11 a.m. today at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz, with longtime family friend, Pastor Clayton Dilworth, officiating.
Contributions are preferred to Salvation Army, 721 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; or the Alzheimer’s Association of Santa Cruz County, 1777 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
March 24, 2001
Ruth R. Hiserman
A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park Mission Chapel for Ruth R. Hiserman, who died Jan. 11. A reception will follow at the Lodge at Montevalle in Scotts Valley.
Contributions are preferred to the Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
March 24, 2001
Roxie Lee Lansford
Services will be Monday for Roxie Lee Lansford, who died Wednesday at her home in Watsonville. She was 76.
A native of Chickasha, Okla., Mrs. Lansford lived in Watsonville for more than 30 years. She worked as a self-employed real estate broker for eight years. She was also a member of the Lioness Club and the American Business Woman’s Association.
She is survived by three daughters, Jacquelin Johnson of Sedro Wooley, Calif., Lynda Morgan of Watsonville and Victoria Jimenez or Terrell, Texas.
Private services and cremation will be Monday at Davis Memorial Chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the Lupus Foundation.
November 18, 2001
Hunter Bohan McPherson
Services will be Wednesday for Hunter Bohan McPherson, who died Saturday in San Francisco. He was 27.
Mr. McPherson was born in Santa Cruz. In 1992, he graduated from Harbor High School, where he played varsity baseball and basketball. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley in 1997.
After college, Mr. McPherson worked in Hawaii before becoming a sales representative with Rainmaker in Scotts Valley.
He moved to San Francisco in early 2001, where he was an account executive for Big Dev Ex, a sales and business development company.
He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Mary McPherson of Santa Cruz; a sister, Tori Kistler of Tiburon; grandmother Eleanor Bohan of Los Osos; one niece and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services are 3 p.m. Wednesday at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos.
Burial will be private.
Contributions are preferred to the Hunter, Bruce and Mary McPherson Athletic Fund of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, 2425 Porter St., Suite 16, Soquel, CA 95073.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
November 19, 2001
Bernard Brookman
Services are private for Bernard Brookman, who died Tuesday. He was 89.
Mr. Brookman was born in New York City and lived in Santa Cruz County since 1972.
He earned a doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1950 and worked as a medical entomologist with the U.S. Public Health Service for 24 years. After retirement, he worked with the UC San Francisco Hooper Foundation administration.
Mr. Brookman enjoyed stamp collecting and was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marjorie Brookman of Watsonville; sons David Todd Brookman of Boise, Philip Alan Brookman of Takoma Park, Md. and Ronald Herman Brookman of Novato; a sister, Dorothy Rose Jenck of Fresno; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements are by Norman’s Family Chapel.
November 19, 2001
C. Eugene Darling
Services are Saturday for C. Eugene Darling, who died Nov. 2 in a Capitola convalescent hospital. He was 92.
Mr. Darling was born in Jewett, Ill. and lived in Santa Cruz for 17 years. He was a United Methodist minister and a retired member of the Great Rivers Annual Conference in Illinois.
Mr. Darling graduated from Illinois College in Jacksonville and Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Ill.
He was an eagle scout and established the scouting program in Cumberland County, Illinois.
In addition to his pastorates, Mr. Darling did missionary work in South America in the 1960s and served as conference secretary of evangelism in the former Central Illinois Annual Conference of the Methodist Church.
After retirement he served the church in San Francisco and Upper Lake. His favorite activity was golfing, especially with his sons.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Norma Darling of Santa Cruz; sons Steven Darling of Lodi, Darrell Darling of Santa Cruz, Lowell Darling of Occidental and Paul Darling of Portland; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Live Oak United Methodist Church, 2091 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.
Contributions are preferred to the church, or to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
November 19, 2001
