In Loving Memory
Paul Robert Loewen
1916 – 2014

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Paul R. Loewen went home to be with His Lord early Friday morning, Dec. 19, in Lakeport, from heart complications.

He had just celebrated his 98th birthday on Thanksgiving Day with his family.
   
Paul was born Nov. 27, 1916 in Garden City, Kansas, the second youngest of eight siblings to Isaac and Pauline Loewen.

He is survived by his wife, Inez; three sons, Paul E. of Lakeport, David and Russell of Santa Rosa; sister, Ruth Zielke of Amarillo, Texas; eight grandchildren, Paula Thrasher, Todd, David II, Thomas, Travis, Justin, Ryan and Erica Loewen; and seven great-grandchildren, Taralyn, Bradlee, LaFayte, Leonitus, Lilla, Sophie, Jack and Harley.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Louise, in 1982.

Dad moved from Kansas to Texas in time to experience The Great Dustbowl.

Starting his career as a surveyor there, he took a correspondence course, graduating with a civil engineering degree, and went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers for over 30 years, retiring at the age of 57.

His work took him from California to Hawaii in 1959, and he traveled to the Far East, the Pacific and the Pentagon on highly classified federal government projects.

Notable achievements included numerous awards for excellence, surveying Area 51 and an on-site observer at the White Sands atomic testing grounds. He also was nominated for Federal Employee of the Year.

His most significant project was the Chief of Design and overseeing the construction of the Hale Koa Hotel for the military at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the early 1970s, which was so successful, the government erected a second tower copying Dad’s design after he retired. He moved from Hawaii to Lake County in 1974.

Dad was a very active man. He learned to fly at age 62 and enjoyed many years of flying. He was active in Youth for Christ and various churches where he loved to sing solos or be in the choir.

Being athletic, he loved to run and served as coach for youth baseball in Hawaii. Dad never stopped moving or doing something to the very end. His joyful attitude, his youthful outlook, and love of the Lord will be missed.

Services are Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Clear Lake Baptist Church in Lakeport at 11 a.m.

Viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church with burial and military honors at Kelseyville Cemetery. A reception and lunch will follow at the church.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – William “Bill” E. Watson passed away after a long illness Dec. 16, 2014, at the age of 95.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; three children; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

At his request there will be no services.

He will be sadly missed.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

Maureen Harriet Darvishian
May 10, 1933 – Dec. 9, 2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Maureen Darvishian died at home Dec. 9, 2014.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harry Darvishian, deceased May 28, 2009.

Born in San Francisco, Calif., on May 10, 1933, to Daniel and Grace Tevis, Maureen was a child of the Great Depression and raised in the city. She remembered seeing the Golden Gate Bridge under construction and greeting her father, a laborer on the project, as he returned home from work.

But her life took a hard turn. By age 17, both her parents had died, leaving her alone and still in school. Her rescue was an invitation into a girlfriend’s family home, an act of generosity that allowed her to graduate from San Francisco Polytechnic High School.

She came to Lake County by way of Southern California, where she and Harry made their first home.

Maureen was famed for her kindness, even if she would have blushed at the notion of being kinder than anyone else. Still, she was mindful about acting kindly, and she worked to improve herself, although she was not incapable of expressing pique.

Sanctimonious, greedy or dishonest behavior always raised her hackles. So did misbehaving youngsters, especially early on. As a young mother, she marched more than one ruffian back to his own home, gripped firmly by the earlobe. She would later cringe when those tales were retold by family members or friends. Her incredulous grandchildren simply dismissed the stories as rank slander.

Maureen assumed the best in people but understood that no one is perfect. She was a loyal friend. She did not pry and she was not selfish.

After retiring from a long career as a nurse’s aid, Maureen volunteered as a mentor for girls with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

She loved a road trip and visited some of the farthest corners of the West Coast, as well as many of its most cosmopolitan cities, usually with her great friend, Lois Thompson, who survives her, wishing they could have had one more adventure. Our hearts go out to her and her family.

We also send our fondest condolences to Nancy Sullivan, Maureen’s longtime workmate and friend, and her family.

Maureen is also survived by her children, Dan Darvishian and Lorie Cole and their extended relations; grandson, Brandon Cole and his wife, Heather, and their sons, Jesse and Jacob; Brandon’s eldest son, Tanner, and his mother and step-father, Jennifer and Norm Taylor, Norm’s son, Gage, and their relations; grandson, Lucas Cole and his wife, Amber, their son, Devin, and Amber’s daughters, Kaliegh and Taylor, and their relations; nieces, Janice Ebert, Penny Foster and Patricia Skolfield and all their families; and by a large host of wonderful neighbors and friends.

All of those who survive her will miss Maureen’s sly humor, her snappy retorts, her laughter, her compassion and the acceptance she offered to everyone who gathered in her circle.

The sun seems dimmed by her passing, but the world was improved by her presence.

A memorial gathering is planned, but at a time when the weather improves and everyone can enjoy an outdoor potluck. Maureen would have liked that.

For more information, please e-mail the family at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Robert Hockenhull, known as Rocky to friends and fellow veterans, passed away peacefully December 22, 2014.

He was born in Craig, Colorado August 16, 1926.

Survived by two daughters, two granddaughters, and many great and great-great grandkids.

He will rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Funeral services for Francisco Garcia Ramirez, who passed away Dec. 11, 2014, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The services will be held at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gordon Grant Barber passed from this world Dec. 1, 2014, peacefully in his favorite chair two days after his 87th birthday.

Gordon was born Nov. 29, 1927, to Carl and Nina Barber in McGill, Nev., the third of five children. The family moved to Mill Valley, Calif., when he was 15.

In 1944, at the age of 17, he entered into World War II and served on the USS Wisconsin.

Gordon married Dorothy Rometti on May 2, 1954. They were married 54 years. She passed March 6, 2009, two months before their 55th anniversary.

Gordon worked in waste water treatment from 1962, working his way up to management, until he retired in 1989 from the county of Lake.

He is survived by his four children, Debbie (John) O'Bryan, Steve (Linda) Barber, Albert Barber and Justin (Jen) Barber; former daughter-in-law, Maureen Barber; brother, Richard (Maia) Barber; sister, Nina Miller; 11 grandchildren, Patrick Barber, John (Michaela) O'Bryan Jr., Christopher (Angie) O'Bryan, William Barber, Jessica Barber, Brain (Molly) Barber, Gordon Barber, Joshua (Shirley) Barber, Jeremy Barber, Jacob Barber and Jade Barber; three great-grandchildren, Lilly, Thaila and Evan; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at his home at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .