Thursday, 19 September 2024

Obits

Mario B. Williams
Aug. 10,1954 - July 7,2018

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A traditional Native American visitation will be held at Big Valley Gymnasium, 1002 Osprey Court in Lakeport, starting on Monday, July 16, at 11 a.m. and ending on Thursday, July 19, at 11 a.m.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Longtime journalist, sports columnist and raconteur John Lindblom of Middletown died on Sunday, March 3, 2018, following a brief illness. He was 82 years old.

He was born in Stratford, Iowa, on March 30, 1935, to John and Annette Lindblom.

He had one sister, Jackie, who passed away from illness when he was a teen.

During the 1950s he join the United States Navy, where he served during the Korean War.

He was stationed in San Francisco, where he met Mariann Geissler, whom he married in 1956. They had two children, Kathleen (born 1958) and Joni (born 1965).

In 1958 he made his way into journalism. He started his writing career in Arizona, covering a young baseball team called the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s went on to win three world championships between 1972 and 1974, and John was front and center, considering this one of the most exciting breaks a young sportswriter gets.

As a sportswriter he had his first big break with the San Jose Mercury News. He worked for the Merc as a columnist with a front page picture preceding his biweekly columns for more than two decades.

John covered some of the major sporting events occuring during his era, including the Olympics, Super Bowls, NBA and World Series Championships.

He later went into public relations and became vice president of the prestigious PR firm PRX in San Jose for many years.

During that period of time, he was commissioned and wrote a book that was published about the 100th year anniversary of the San Jose Country Club.

He went back to professional writing on a freelance basis after leaving PRX.

John moved to Lake County, where he worked for the Lake County Record-Bee and Lake County News, and the St. Helena Star.

While he continued to cover sports, he wrote human interest stories as well, which he loved to do, and took some of the pictures in the featured stories

While living in Hidden Valley Lake, he was able to enjoy one of his favorite sports, golf, and continued to pursue his love of photography.

He continued to write until not long before he died.

He is survived by his daughters, Katy Flynn, and Joni Lindblom; his grandchildren, Erika Spence and Ian Flynn; two great-grandchildren, Emily Spence, and Ryland Flynn; and his partner, Elizabeth Wallace.

A private memorial service took place in Napa in May.

Charley Nuessle Jr. Courtesy photo.


Charley Nuessle Jr.
Nov. 2, 1934 - July 4, 2018

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Charley Nuessle Jr. rejoined his Angel Family on Fourth of July morning, 2018.

Charley passed comfortably at home surrounded by his family.

Charley was born in Healdsburg, Calif., where he grew up on the family ranch. In 1999, after retiring from PG&E for the second time, Charley and Betty retired to Kelseyville, where they enjoyed the weather and wildlife.

Charley is survived by two sisters, Anna (Clifford) Perry and Lillian (Dennis) Savedra; four grown children, Michael (Adele) Nuessle, Ellen (Cameron) Cole, Robin (Brian) Wall and Jerald (Christine) Nuessle; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Charley will be missed immeasurably by his family, and by all that were fortunate enough to make his acquaintance.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Thursday, July 12, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Graveside funeral service will be held at Hartley Cemetery on Friday, July 13, at 11 a.m.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers any donations be made to Hospice Services of Lake County.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – We mournfully announce that Geraldine Marie Williams passed away on July 6, 2018.

Geraldine was born on April 10, 1951, in Sebastopol, Calif., and lived here in Lake County for 32 years.

Geraldine is survived by her son, Clinton K. (Christine A.) Williams and her grandson, Nikolas D. Williams.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Mary Helen Sampson. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mary Helen was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Aug. 19, 1924, to Colon and Elizabeth (Bessie) Taylor.

Mary Helen attended E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville during this time she met George H. Sampson. George was so taken by her poise and demeanor that the day after they met he wrote Mary Helen a note asking if he could walk her home from school.

After graduating high school in 1942, Mary Helen went on to attend Morgan State University in Baltimore. On June 18, 1943 she married George H. Sampson In New York City.

In 1945, Mary Helen decided to continue her education at Oakwood University where she complete her teaching certificate and was a school teacher at Abney Chapel Seventh-day Adventist School in Fayetteville, NC where she was adored and esteemed by both students and faculty.

Between the years of 1944 and 1965, Mary Helen and George had 12 children, six boys and six girls. After more than 20 years of teaching, Mary Helen had a desire to further her education and at the age of 44 she enrolled in a nursing program, and one year later emerged into the health care workforce.

Of all her accolades Mary Helen was most proud of her family. She spoke endlessly of the joys of raising 12 wonderful children.

In 1995, Mary Helen and George retired and left New York, and moved westward to be closer to their ever-growing family. The two settled in Lakeport, where two of their children had recently relocated. In no time they embraced the warm community, taking on leadership positions in the local church and spending time with their family.

Mary Helen passed away July 2, 2018, peacefully in her sleep at the home of Helen Vernetta and Fred Johnson.

She is remembered by her loved ones as an angel lent to earth for nearly a century; a woman after God’s own heart. Some have said, “If you want a description of Mary Helen just read aloud the fruits of the spirit.” There aren’t enough noble words to describe her, but we honor her memory today, and every day, until we meet again.

Mary Helen is survived by her husband of 75 years, George Henry Sampson Sr.; her children, George Sampson Jr. (Judy Sampson), Paula K. Brown (Freddie Brown), Reginald Sampson (Gervel Sampson), Alan Sampson (Kathy Sampson), Helen Vernetta Johnson (Frederick Johnson), Arlene LuValle Johnson (Deora Johnson), Carlton Sampson (Bethany Sampson), DeVora Renee Winkfield (Kenneth Winkfield), Michael Sampson (Mary Jo Sampson) and Sonya Sampson; and her predeceased children, the late James Colon Sampson (living spouse Ann Sampson) and Gwendolyn Sampson; her 30 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Monday, July 9, from 2 to 6 p.m. Memorial Service will be held at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, July 21, at 3 p.m. Mary Helen will be buried at the family cemetery in Fayetteville, NC.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Diane Smith. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Diane Elizabeth Smith was born July 22, 1945, in San Diego, Calif., to William and Henrietta Rinder.

She lived a full life with her husband of 53 years, Frederick Henry Smith, up until her passing at home on Monday, June 25, 2018.

Diane left our earthly world fearlessly with Fred and her children by her side. She was ill for a very short time with cancer. She is now with God beside her daughter, Shalean, her parents, and the several loving family members and friends she lost in her lifetime.

Diane is survived by her husband, Frederick; her children and their spouses, Edward and Deana Smith, Brandon and Sheajuli Smith, Jason and Jane Smith, Danielle and Paul Barclay, Iseth Rae, and Travis and Christine Lipscomb; her grandchildren, Jeremy, Patsy, Michael, Matthew, Dylan, Jared, Chelsea, Sawyer, Trinity, Josh, Kassie, Dakota, Jillianne, Genevieve, Ulrik, Antonella, Octavian, Skylar, Wills, Jasey, Joshua, Thatcher, Solamay, Isaac and Klein; her siblings, William, Jim, Margaret and Donna; her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love and friendship and she will be missed dearly.

Diane grew up on 41st Street in San Diego, many of her stories began here. She graduated from Rosary High School in 1963 and shortly after met a sailor, Fred Smith, and married him on Nov. 7, 1964.

She had one plan in life at that time and it was to have a big family which she began in October 1965.

Diane and Fred called San Diego home until moving to Witter Springs in 1978 with their five children to run the Witter Springs store and post office and later the Bachelor Valley volunteer fire department.

Diane spent the next 40 years involving herself in her community in positive and memorable ways. She was known by many as Aunt Diane, whether you were family or not.

The Smith family expresses deep gratitude to family and friends near and far for sharing stories, laughter and tears on June 30 in celebration of Diane’s life.

Hospice Services of Lake County, 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport, CA 95453 was very supportive and the family asks that any donations be made there in Diane’s name.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Upcoming Calendar

21Sep
09.21.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Passion Play fundraiser
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Lake County Wine Auction
24Sep
09.24.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
28Sep
09.28.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
5Oct
10.05.2024 7:00 am - 11:00 am
Sponsoring Survivorship
5Oct
10.05.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
12Oct
10.12.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
14Oct
10.14.2024
Columbus Day
14Oct

Mini Calendar

loader

LCNews

Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake. 

 

Newsletter

Enter your email here to make sure you get the daily headlines.

You'll receive one daily headline email and breaking news alerts.
No spam.