United States High School Yearbooks by County
The Rev. L.A. McVay
Services will be Wednesday for the Rev. L.A. McVay, who died Thursday in Eureka. He was 84.
Born in Springfield, Mo., the Rev. McVay lived in Santa Cruz for at least a dozen years through the 1980s. He preached at United Pentecostal Church and was also a home builder. He volunteered for the Grey Bears senior citizens group, as well. Family members say he will be remembered as a wonderful father, grandfather, teacher and friend. He preached with conviction and love and was a blessing to all who knew him, they said.
He is survived by sons David McVay of San Jose and Daniel McVay of Eureka; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by wife Lena McVay and daughter Elaine Fearnside.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Memorial Park, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. Oakwood Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements and transportation.
February 26, 2002
Raymond J. Clay
Services will be Wednesday for Raymond J. Clay, who died Saturday at a Watsonville convalescent hospital. He was 92.
Born in Stoneington, Conn., Mr. Clay had lived in the Pajaro Valley since 1927. He worked as a postal clerk for the Watsonville Post Office for more than 20 years, retiring in 1971. He was also a member of the fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus Council 958 and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He regularly attended St. Patrick’s Church. In the summers, he enjoyed spending time on his boat in the Sacramento delta.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Leta A. Clay of the Pajaro Valley, and friends.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville, with Burial at Watsonville Catholic Cemetery.
February 26, 2002
Annie ‘Joy’ Rodriguez
Services will be Saturday for Annie "Joy" (Erickson) Rodriguez, who died Dec. 29 in Watsonville. She was 68.
Mrs. Rodriguez was born in St. Louis, Mo. She married Eddie Rodriguez in 1953 and moved to Borrego Springs in 1960. After her husband’s death in 1974, she moved with her children to Watsonville.
Family members said Mrs. Rodriguez counted the fact that her children grew up, married and raised their own families in the same close community to be one of her greatest blessings.
She is survived by daughters Carol Housner, Linda Bays and Tina Nakamura, all of Watsonville; sons Eddie Rodriguez and Stevie Rodriguez, all of Watsonville; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Watsonville, 480 Green Valley Road. Burial will be Jan. 12 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bakersfield.
Contributions are preferred to the American Heart Association, 1710 Gilbreath Road, Burlingame, CA 94010.
Arrangements are by Mehl’s Colonial Chapel in Watsonville.
January 4, 2002
Ethel Little
Graveside services will be Saturday for Ethel Little, who died Monday in Santa Cruz after a long illness. She was 74.
Mrs. Little was born on March 13, 1927 in Boise, Idaho. She lived in Santa Cruz for more than 50 years. She enjoyed caring for children and making crafts. She received several awards for her rugs at the Santa Cruz County Fair.
She is survived by daughters Cheri Van Elgort of Santa Cruz, Darlene Gamboa of Scotts Valley and Lisa Anderson of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; mother Minota Barbagelata of Santa Cruz; sister Dorothy Ellingson of Ada, Okla.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park, 1927 Ocean St.
Contributions are preferred to the Doran Research Center for the Blind, 413 Laurel St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Arrangements are by the Santa Cruz Memorial Park Funeral Home.
January 4, 2002
Gordon B. Nystrom
Services will be private for Gordon B. Nystrom, who died Sunday at a local hospital. He was 90.
He was a longtime resident of Scotts Valley and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1929.
He worked for more than 30 years as shop manager for J.K. Marion Drycleaning Enterprises, including Royal and Vapor cleaners.
He was a member of S.I.R.S., the Santa Cruz High School Alumni Association and Santa Cruz Old Timers, and was once named Old Timer of the Year.
He is survived by daughters Karen Churney of Burney and Ingrid Nystrom of San Francisco; son Erik Nystrom of San Jose; a niece; and six grandchildren.
Contributions are preferred to the Santa Cruz High School Alumni Association, 531 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Arrangements are by Pacific Garden Chapel.
January 4, 2002
Shao Khoon ‘Sean’ Koay
Services will be Saturday for Shao Khoon "Sean" Koay, who died during an apparent robbery attempt at his restaurant in Aptos Dec. 24. He was 40.
Mr. Koay was born on Penang Island in Malaysia. He moved to Soquel 13 years ago.
He and his wife owned the Pacific Rim Buffet restaurant for 13 years.
He is survived by his wife, Eriko Koay and a daughter, both of Soquel; father Shangeng Koay, who was injured during the robbery attempt; mother Kong Kim Lim; and siblings Shao Peng Koay, Shao Kee Koay and Shao Sheong Koay, all of Malaysia.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz.
Contributions are preferred to a fund for his daughter in care of Eriko Koay, P.O. Box 75, Soquel, CA 95073-0075, or at any branch of Coast Commercial Bank.
January 4, 2002
Jeanne Meyers
Private services will be held Monday for Jeanne Meyers, who died Sunday in Santa Cruz. She was 89.
Mrs. Meyers was born at the former Hanley Hospital in Santa Cruz. She graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1931.
Mrs. Meyers and her husband Otto, ran the Solano County Juvenile Hall for 10 years. They owned Jeanne and Otto’s Surf Shop at the site where the Fun Spot skatepark is now located.
She is survived by her nephews Charles L. Kirksey Jr. of Santa Cruz and Robert Bruce Willian of Groveland; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Otto Meyers, died before her.
Contributions are preferred to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
January 4, 2002
William F. Brune
Services will be held Saturday for William F. Brune, who died Tuesday at his Watsonville home. He was 89.
Mr. Brune was born in Salinas. He graduated from Watsonville High School in 1933.
Mr. Brune worked for Granite Construction Co. and owned and operated Canepa and Brune Cement Contractors from 1946 to 1984 with partner Jim Canepa.
Mr. Brune enjoyed fishing at Pinto Lake and gardening. He was a member of the Apple City Duck Club in Los Banos.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lillian Brune of Watsonville; son Richard Brune of Gasquet; daughter Marilyn Emerson of Fresno; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel. Burial will follow at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park. Friends may call from 5-9 p.m. at Mehl’s.
January 4, 2002
Clay Lawson
No services are planned for Clay Lawson, who died Dec. 23 in Irvine from complications from a recent surgery. He was 83.
Mr. Lawson was born in Salem, Mass. He lived in Santa Cruz from 1970 to 1981.
Mr. Lawson graduated Salem High School and Golden Gate University. He was in the U.S. Army and served three years in the European Theatre during World War II.
Mr. Lawson worked in management positions for the Thomas J. Lipton Co. for 32 years. He retired as manager of Lipton’s Santa Cruz plant in 1980.
Mr. Lawson was president of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Santa Cruz. He served on the board of directors at Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.
Mr. Lawson enjoyed playing golf and traveling.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Lawson of Irvine; two brothers; one sister; one niece; and two nephews.
Contributions are preferred to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Santa Cruz, P.O. Box 873, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.
Arrangements are by the Neptune Society of Southern California.
January 4, 2002
