Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 10 August 2019 02:08; 10 August 2019

Benjamin D. Mitten

Benjamin (Ben) Mitten was born in 1942 in Santa Monica, California. He was one of five children born to Charles and Maria Mitten.

Ben died at his home on Aug. 2, 2019.

He joined the Navy at 18 and served three years aboard the USS Carpenter.

After he returned home, he began working in construction, eventually starting Best Way Construction with his brother Jerry. He made many long-lasting friendships through his work as a contractor for 42 years.

He moved to Kelseyville, California, in 1972 and built his dream home from scratch, milling his own lumber and putting his heart and soul into every inch.

Always the spirited conversationalist, he loved to talk with anyone. Whether it was cracking jokes with strangers, sharing a beer at his barn, or trading stories with close friends and family.

Family always came first and he wanted nothing more than for his kids to carry on his legacy by doing slightly better with theirs.

Ben is survived by his wife of 33 years, Margie; his brothers, Jerry of Alta Loma and David of Arkansas; sister, Alice of Mont Clair; his sons, Danny (Annaliese) of Washington, Nick (Shawna) of Sacramento, Chris of San Diego and Steven (Nichole) of Kelseyville; daughter, Stephanie of New York; six grandchildren and another one on the way; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

He will be truly missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Buckingham Homeowners Association Club House, 2850 Eastlake Drive, Kelseyville.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 08 August 2019 01:13; 08 August 2019

Eunice Allenby

Eunice 'Rae-Baby' Allenby
January 12, 1935 - June 28, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Eunice "Rae" Allenby passed away on June 28 at the age of 84.

She was a graduate of the 1952 class of Fort Bragg High and a member of Clear Lake Baptist Church.

She was born Jan. 12, 1935, in Altadena, California. Her parents were Gladys and Charles Reynolds.

She is survived by daughter, Pam (George) Furtado; sons, Dana (Maria) Wilder, Marty (Robin) Wilder; brother Richard (DeAnn) Rigg; and sister, Willadean Wong; along with 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

During her lifetime in Fort Bragg, she was on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers and Big Sisters (in which she also took care of 5 little sisters and brothers); president of the Auxiliary for Sherwood Oaks and she participated in many craft bazaars for different organizations.

Over the years, you may remember her as a fixture for many local restaurants, including her own, the Wilder's-Redwood Cafe, and as manager/waitress of Tradewinds and Pine Beach Inn.

Memorial service will be Saturday, August 17, at 10:30 a.m. in Lakeport at the Clear Lake Baptist Church followed by interment of ashes at Rose Memorial Park in Fort Bragg at 3 p.m.

Monetary donations can be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Flowers can be sent to Rose Memorial Park in Fort Bragg.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 27 July 2019 02:40; 27 July 2019

Marion ‘Ray’ Snyder

MARION RAY SNYDER
‘RAY’
JULY 16, 1939 – JULY 9, 2019

Ray passed away peacefully July 9, 2019.

He was born in 1939 in Enid, Oklahoma, to Leroy and Goldie Snyder (Johnson). In 1942 the family moved to Long Beach, California and that is where he grew up with his four brothers and two sisters.

Around 1955 Ray began his career as an iron worker, Shopmans Union in LA and Arizona and Locals 416 and 378. He loved his job.

In the early 1980s Ray moved to Kelseyville, California, and bought a walnut business on Bell Hill Road, Snyder Ranch. He eventually expanded the company with the help of his family to Lake County Walnuts Inc. If he wasn’t talking about his nuts, he would either be playing a card game at the local casino or be talking with friends at the Brick Tavern (his favorite bar), especially the coffee club in the mornings. Ray also enjoyed fishing in the Sacramento river and the ocean.

Ray will remain in our hearts and will never be forgotten.

Ray is survived by his wife, Michelle Snyder (Posner); sons, Jason Snyder of Kelseyville, Craig (Joanne) of Nice and Mark (Pierrette) of Forest Ranch; five grandchildren, Charleena, Brandon, Justin, Kayla and Brian; six great-grandchildren, Amiah, Kaden, Fallen, Zayrin, Elizabeth and Colin; sister, Doris of Long Beach; brother, Jerry of Garden Grove; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clear Lake Riviera Clubhouse, Kelseyville.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 08 August 2019 01:17; 05 September 2019

Philip F. Mateer Jr.

Philip F. Mateer Jr., 70, of Garden Valley, Idaho, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2019.

He was born June 14, 1949, in Catskill, New York, the son of Philip F. Mateer Sr. and Pauline Mateer.

He enrolled in the Navy in September 1971 and was stationed in Moffett Field, California, where he was honorably discharged in February 1975.

He settled in California, went to Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz and while attending college he welcomed his first child, Kristin.

He went on to get his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from San Jose State University and in 1977 welcomed his son, Philip.

**Phil Mateer began his law enforcement career in 1979. Courtesy photo.**

He moved to Lake County, California, to begin his law enforcement career in 1979 with the Lake County Sheriff's Office and medically retired in 1989. A few years later he went on to work for Mendocino County, as a bailiff, where he retired in 2013.

In 2014 Phil made his way to Idaho. His love of hunting with his buddies over the years, fishing, being outdoors and his love for woodworking made this his dream destination.

He is survived by his father, Philip F. Mateer Sr. of Catskill, New York; daughter and son-in-law, Kristin and Matthew Rooney of Kelseyville, California; son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Jenny Mateer of Lakeport, California; sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and Nelson Higgins of Catskill, New York; sister, Linda Beers of Catskill, New York; grandchildren, Mikayla, Alyssa, Skye, Matisyn and Easton; and nephews, Nelson, Jason, Justin and Josh.

Mr. Philip Mateer was proceeded in death by his mother, Pauline Mateer of Catskill, New York.

A celebration of life will be held in the near future. Details to come at a later time.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 06 August 2019 21:36; 07 August 2019

Alfonso Robles

Alfonso Robles
Oct. 10, 1959 - Aug. 3, 2019

Alfonso moved to Sacramento about 10 years ago and there he found happiness, working and living in the community that he enjoyed.

His family is abiding by his choice for cremation with no services.

He was loved by all and will be missed.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 23 July 2019 02:24; 23 July 2019

Russell F. Norton

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Russell “Russ” F. Norton was born in Kelseyville on February 19, 1925.

He was the youngest of three sons born to Fred Henry and Bonnie (Denio) Norton. He was descended from the pioneer family of Charles and Sarah Piner who settled in Kelseyville in 1861.

A life-long resident of Kelseyville, Russ died at his home on July 13, 2019, after a long and rewarding life of 94 years.

One of just five classmates, he graduated from Kelseyville Union High School and enlisted in the US Navy in 1943.

After World War II he returned home and joined the family business, Norton Motors, a fixture in downtown Kelseyville, which started as a Ford agency by his father Fred in 1923.

In 1946 Russ married Carol White at the White family home, now the Saw Shop Restaurant.

With the arrival of the Korean War when he was recalled to active duty, he and his family moved to Pennsylvania, where he served until 1953. He became a lieutenant and completed his service in the Navy Reserve in 1959.

When they returned to Kelseyville Russ and Carol settled back into their home on Third Street, where they raised their three children. He also went back to the family business, joining his brother Howard in the operation of what was then a Dodge dealership.

In 1959 when Howard left to pursue another career, Russ became the sole owner. In 1970 Russ added Chrysler/Plymouth to the Dodge dealership. His son Mark joined him at Norton Motors in 1972, where they worked together until 1987 when Russ retired.

His adored wife of 50 years, Carol White Norton, predeceased him in 1997. He is also predeceased by son-in-law Pete Jerome, daughter-in-law Erin Norton and great-granddaughter Brionna Jerome.

Russ is survived by his son, Mark Norton of Red Bluff; daughters, Pam Jerome of Lakeport and Margie Mitten (son-in-law Ben) of Kelseyville; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his devoted partner of 20-plus years, Jan Alexander.

The family home was always open to fun-filled gatherings for swimming, barbeques, weddings, reunions, dinners and holiday celebrations. Russ loved being with family and friends.

In that family tradition a celebration of life is being held at his home 5180 Third St., Kelseyville, on Saturday, July 27, from noon to 4 p.m.

Obits

Benjamin D. Mitten

Eunice Allenby

Marion ‘Ray’ Snyder

Philip F. Mateer Jr.

Alfonso Robles

Russell F. Norton

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