From Santa Cruz, California:
August 6, 2003
Dorothy J. Yonts
Services are today for Dorothy J. Yonts, a former resident of Scotts Valley, who died July 31 at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. She was 81.
Mrs. Yonts was born and raised in Baltimore, where she met her future husband, Robert B. Yonts Sr., who was in Coast Guard radio school. The couple married in 1941 in Seattle and moved to Pasadena in 1946. They lived in San Mateo from 1956 to 1972, then in Scotts Valley for four years, moving to Mountain View in 1976.
A longtime member of St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in San Mateo, Mrs. Yonts was active in its theater guild. She was the featured singer in a number of Rodgers and Hammerstein productions, with Anna in "The King and I" her all-time favorite.
She headed the Decorations Committee at Serra High School and was a C.C.D. teacher. She worked as the activity director at a convalescent hospital in Milbrae and served as the president of the Santa Cruz chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Her family said she was an excellent cook and had a talent for decorating.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert B. Yonts Sr. of Mountain View; sons Robert B. Yonts Jr. of Soquel and John M. Yonts of Sunnyvale; brothers Joseph Malinowski of Florida and Bud Malinowski of Maryland; and sisters Helen Okonski and Rose Graleski, both of Maryland.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 p.m. today at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St., Santa Cruz. Burial will be private.
Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the American Cancer Society, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz.
Richard Joseph Timothy Lee
Services will be today for Richard Joseph Timothy Lee, who died Friday in Santa Cruz. He was 77.
Born in San Mateo, he had lived in Santa Cruz County since 1974.
He was a graduate of the University of Southern California in aerospace and mechanical engineering and served in the U.S. Army Air Force as an aerial gunner.
He worked as an insurance broker for Brown-Lussier-Lee and Neel Insurance Agency in San Mateo for more than 40 years, retiring in 1987.
He enjoyed playing golf and building model planes. It took him two years to complete a B17 bomber from scratch because of arthritis that crippled his hands. That model is on display at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos.
He was a member and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
He also was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, a member and past president of the Commemorative Air Force in Midland, Texas, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Burlingame San Mateo Insurance Association.
For many years, he was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Mary Lynn Lee of Scotts Valley; sons Terrence Lee of Northhampton, Mass., Jonathon Lee of Monterey, and Douglas Lee of Houston; and brother James A. Lee Jr. of Murphys.
His brother, Robert Lee, and his parents, James and Irene Lee, died before him.
Friends may call at 3 p.m. today at San Agustin Church, 257 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 4 p.m. Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in San Mateo.
Donations are preferred to the American Diabetes Association, 4040 Moorpark Ave., Suite 105, San Jose, CA 95117, or to National World War II Memorial, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 501, Arlington, VA 22201.
Blair Foster
Services will be Friday for Blair Foster, who died Saturday after fighting leukemia for 13 months. He was 52.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Santa Cruz with his family in 1959. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1969, attended Cabrillo College and joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1973.
Later he became a builder and developer in Santa Cruz. He completed his last project, an apartment complex on 500 Soquel Ave., on July 29.
He enjoyed traveling, walks at Santa Cruz harbor and gatherings with family and friends.
His family said they were inspired by his courageous attitude and his sense of humor. They also said they were grateful to the woman who donated bone marrow for him.
He is survived by wife Carol Foster; daughters Jodi Cushing of Citrus Heights, Kari Foster of Roseville and Jami Foster of Santa Cruz; stepson Cory Atkinson of Santa Cruz; stepdaughter Kelly Atkinson of Los Banos; brother Bruce Foster of Trabucco Canyon; sisters Brooke Foster Graff and Debbie Foster of Santa Cruz; and one grandson, a niece and three nephews.
A memorial service will be 4 p.m. Friday at First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz. Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 675 N. First St., Suite 1100, San Jose, CA 95112 or the National Marrow Donor Program, 3001 Broadway St., NE, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55413-1753.
Ellyn Smith Gier
Services will be Saturday for Ellyn Smith Gier of Santa Cruz, who died Thursday at a local convalescent facility. She was 77.
Mrs. Gier was born in Fresno and lived in Santa Cruz for 30 years. She worked for the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office for 15 years. In 1979, she and another employee received a commendation for uncovering a book company’s sweepstakes scheme in which the Book Digest company charged people for subscriptions they did not want when they tried to enter a sweepstakes. Then county prosecutor Don Gartner took the case to court, winning the county $100,000 in damages.
Mrs. Gier was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Gier also was an avid bowler in Santa Cruz and Watsonville leagues. She bowled a high score of 267.
She is survived by sister Mary Horner of Santa Cruz; three nieces and three nephews.
Her husband, Raymond Gier, and brother William Smith died before her.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, 2017 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Cremation will be at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.
Contributions are preferred to the American Diabetes Association or the Hospice Caring Project. Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
Thelma Tibbs
No services are planned for Thelma Tibbs, who died of natural causes Monday at a convalescent home in Watsonville. She was 90.
A native of Pacific Grove, she worked as a waitress in her younger years. During World War II, she volunteered at a lookout on the coast of Pacific Grove. She also worked as a hospital volunteer, always looking to help others. She was a member of Arthur Road Baptist Church.
She is survived by son Paul Tibbs; brother Howard Wilson of Arizona; and three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Her husband, Paul Tibbs, died in 1989 and her granddaughter Joan Lawson died before her.
Arrangements are by Santa Cruz Cremation Service.
Contributions are preferred to Arthur Road Baptist Church, 360 Arthur Road, Watsonville 95076 or to Heartland Hospice, 2511 E. Garden Road, No. B200, Monterey, CA 93950.
Daniel Lee Alexander
Services will be private for Daniel Lee Alexander, who died Friday at his home in Santa Cruz. He was 66.
Born in Hollywood, he graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1955 and served in the Navy. He also spent 24 years with the county Sheriff’s Office, including seven years in the coroner’s division.
He enjoyed fishing, cooking, reading and traveling, with Reno being one of his favorite destinations. Archie, a golden retriever, was his faithful companion.
His family said they were grateful to the people at Hospice Caring Project and the Satellite Dialysis Center of Santa Cruz.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sally Alexander; daughters Julie Reveles and Barbara Alexander, both of Santa Cruz; and two grandchildren.
A private family celebration will take place later. Arrangements are by Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the National Kidney Foundation or Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County.
