NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Maria de Jesus “Mamie” Cunha Ramos, 96, passed away Nov. 12, 2014, in Chico, surrounded by her family.

The eldest of eight children, she was born Feb. 23, 1918, in the village of Ribeirinha on the island of Terceira in the Azores, Portugal, to Francisco and Maria Cunha.

Mamie, her parents Frank and Maria, and sister Connie sailed for the United States on June 4, 1920, on the SS Providence. Along with them came Mamie's maternal grandmother and at least three more of Maria's siblings. They landed at Ellis Island.

They settled in Gustine, Calif. Two of Mamie's uncles and one aunt from her mother's side of the family already were in America and sponsored Frank with a job in the dairy business. Maria also was hired to work as a cook at the dairy.

Mamie did not speak any English when she began school. She often told the story of being late to school because she was finishing her chores and thinking the teacher was talking to her about milk when she kept saying, “Late! Late!” – which sounded like the Portuguese word for milk. She was very happy that the teacher was finally using a word she could understand.

Mamie attended Romero School and graduated from the eighth grade in 1933.

She met her future husband, August F. “Gus” Ramos, at a rosary when she was 17.

Her neighbors, the Simas family, were hosting the crown for the festa for a week and would hold a rosary each evening. Gus' dad came with his sons. Who could resist a carload of good looking Ramos men? Mamie said Gus was very quiet and shy. “He stood at the door. I didn't know who he was.”

But, Mrs. Simas had told Gus that Mamie was a nice girl. So Gus and his brothers would later drive slowly down the lane and see if they could catch sight of Mamie. During their courtship, they had one of Mamie's siblings as a chaperone at all times.

Mamie and Gus were married in Gustine on April 28, 1938.

All of the Cunhas, including Gus and Mamie Ramos, moved to Salinas in 1941. In Salinas, the family was in the dairy business for nearly 40 years. In the 1940s, at the time Salinas Valley agriculture began booming, Mamie also worked in the lettuce sheds.

Mamie and Gus' son, Danny, was born in 1949.

In the 1950s, Mamie and Connie studied for the US citizenship test and became naturalized American citizens. Mamie wanted to be able to vote, and eventually worked at the polling precincts.

In 1956, Mamie and Gus adopted daughter Mary, who then was 8 weeks old.

Mamie was proud of her Portuguese heritage, and she was a devoted and longtime member of a number of Portuguese societies, among them, the LUSO American Fraternal Federation, AFDES Portuguese Hall, Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Santa Isabel (SPRSI), Irmandade do Divino Espírito Santo (IDES) and União Portuguesa Protectora do Estado da Califórnia (UPPEC).

Throughout their years in Salinas, Mamie and Gus were part of the building of the first AFDES Portuguese hall, the new AFDES hall, and St. Mary's Catholic Church. They were involved in all of the Portuguese festas, and their children and grandchildren participated as festa royalty and in the festa parades.

Mamie also was very involved in the PTA while children Danny and Mary were in school.

In the 1960s, she worked in the Salinas High School cafeteria. She made friends there and picked up a lot of recipes from the American cooking.

Mamie and Gus often vacationed at Clear Lake in Lake County, Calif. The tradition grew out of Grandpa Cunha's tradition of taking the family to stay at the beach in Santa Cruz in the summer.

The Clear Lake tradition began in the late 1950s, with the family going annually until the 1970s, sometimes bringing friends along. They continued to go to Clear Lake occasionally into the 1980s.

In the late 70s, Mamie and Gus planned their first trip back to the Azores. But as the trip drew near, Gus became too nervous to fly, and the trip was nearly canceled. Knowing that Mamie had looked forward to the trip, he encouraged her to go ahead and go and take her sister Connie. And so they went. 

In 1985, Gus decided he really did want to see the Azores and so they went one more time. Mamie always said he was glad he did.

Mamie and Gus moved off the ranch and into town in 1978. Mamie continued her active involvement in the Portuguese lodges and attended the annual conventions in the summer, often taking one or two grandkids. This was a coveted trip that always included a hotel with a pool, as well as the chance to dress up for the formal dinners and take part in the processions.

A deeply religious woman, Mamie had a powerful love and devotion for Jesus Christ. Her family said it did not matter how her day went, she still sat and read her prayer cards and prayed her rosary everyday – sometimes multiple times a day.

She and her husband were deeply devoted to their large and loving family, and to their many friends. They hosted big Easter and Christmas celebrations and family gatherings. Mamie could always be counted on to fill up a table with her marvelous cooking.

They took their grandchildren on many trips during spring and summer breaks, with Gus praying the rosary in the car with the children. If the grandchildren didn't go home after a summer visit 5 pounds heavier, Mamie didn't believe she had done her job.

When she wasn't caring for her big family, Mamie was knitting countless afghans, tending to the many rose bushes in her backyard, baking chocolate chip bar cookies, sending cards and letters for every occasion, and participating in the altar society. She also loved to reminisce and tell stories from her childhood.

Her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews recall her as loving them unconditionally, and said she blessed their lives with her honesty, faith, genuine heart, kindness, graciousness, caring, compassion, and her thankfulness and appreciation for all she had in her life.

Mamie and Gus had been married for 65 years when Gus passed away in 2004.

After Gus passed away, Mamie lived in Salinas another six years keeping up with family, friends and activities. She finally moved to Orland in 2010, and then to Chico in 2012.

In the years since she moved north, her family enjoyed celebrating her birthdays, having Thanksgiving at granddaughter Shelley's home, her grandson Danny's wedding, grandson Paul's 40th birthday, the many performances by great-granddaughter Sophie's ukulele troupe at Mamie's home, and her many photo ops and videos on Facebook.

Not long after Gus died, Mamie came across an article about a couple who had been married 80 years.

“How lucky!” she exclaimed.

What a sweet love they shared, to still hope for more time together after 65 years. Mamie and Gus are together again now – this time, for eternity. How lucky.

In addition to her beloved Gus, she is preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

Mamie is survived by son, Dan (Kathy) Ramos of Orland; daughter, Mary Ramos Porter of Yuma, Ariz.; sisters-in-law, Elaine Cunha, Mary Cunha and Rosalie Cunha; grandchildren, Dan Jr. (Susan) Ramos, Shelley (Scott) January, Paul Ramos, Melissa (John) MacClean, Vanessa (Gus) Rodriguez and Jerrod Harris.

She also leaves behind great-grandchildren, Alexander, Mitchel (Kalea) and Tyler (Hannah) Graves; Kylee and Nathaniel Harris; Sophie, Gus, Aubrey and Lexie January; Olivia MacClean; Elizabeth, Emily and Tyler (Chelsi) Ramos; and Alizae and Junior Rodriguez.

In addition, she is survived by many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

On Monday, Nov. 17, visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at F.D. Sweet & Son, 825 A St., Orland.

A requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at St. Dominic's Parish, 822 A St., Orland, with a reception to follow in the parish hall.

In Salinas, graveside services are planned for 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Garden of Memories, 850 Abbott St., with a reception immediately following at a location to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – R. Michael Schaus lost his battle with cancer on Nov. 6, 2014, at the age of 69.

Mike is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967 aboard the USS Coral Sea.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Karen; sons, Don and Dean; daughter, Cathy; grandsons, Anthony, Adam, and Gabriel; mother, Esther; sister, Kathy; and brothers, Marc and Scott.

Mike will be remembered for his wit, his laughter and his giving heart.

Gone too soon.

Private services will be held at Hartley Cemetery.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lyn “Williedean” Donaldson passed away on Nov. 5, 2014, surrounded by her family.

Lyn was born on October 29, 1930, in Arkansas as the third child to Elva and Edgar Vinson.

As a young child, her family moved west to California where they settled in Lake County, Calif. It is Kelseyville where she grew up and met her future husband, Charles Edward Donaldson.

She was a 1949 graduate of Kelseyville High School. A short time after she graduated, she boarded a plane to fly across the country to marry Ed, who had joined the military out of high school. They married in September of 1950 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

A few short years later the couple found themselves back in California, where she attended American River College in Sacramento, until she and Ed started their family.

In 1955 they had their first child, Mark, followed by their second son, Ross, and then they had their daughter, Ann.

Eventually, they finally settled back in Kelseyville. Her greatest joy was being a wife and mother to her three children.

After raising the children, Lyn worked for many years for Konocti Growers and Steele Winery, from which she eventually retired.

Lyn is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Elva Vinson; brother, Eddie Vinson; son, Ross Donaldson; and her beloved husband, Charles Edward Donaldson.
 
Lyn is survived by her son, Mark Donaldson and his wife Janice of Kelseyville; daughter, Ann Barron and her husband Troy of Elk Grove, Calif.; sister, Lois Chastain of Arizona; five granddaughters, Lyann, Mary, Erin, Marcy and Sydney; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lyn will be remembered for her lifetime of grace, beauty, wisdom, laughter, inspiration and, most importantly, her unwavering, neverending, tireless, insurmountable, everlasting love shared with all she knew.

Lyn’s family wishes for friends of Lyn to join them for graveside services to be held at Kelseyville Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.

Anyone who would like to also celebrate Lyn’s life can join the family at 3555 Bell Hill Road, Kelseyville, immediately following the graveside services.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Harmon Joseph John Jr. passed away November 12, 2014 at the age of 51.

He was a loving person. If he was your friend, he was your friend till the end. He wasn't an emotional person, but love was unconditional.

Harmon is preceded in death by his mother, Joanne.

He is survived by his godmother, JoJo; father, Harmon Sr.; children, Tashina, Joanne, and Dimitri; grandson, Anthony; sisters, Alida, Anna, Cheryl and Michaela; brothers, Brian, Marcos, JJ, Alwood, Michael and Pud.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, and continue through 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the the Big Valley Gym with the procession to St. Mary's Cemetery following.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611.

We love you Brother Hunchie.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Judith Lee Hardle passed away Nov. 11, 2014, at the age of 70.

She was a very creative woman who loved outdoors, camping and gardening.

Judith is survived by husband, Dan; children, Patty Beigel, Lauri Higgens and Nicole Wind; sisters, Kathi Balbi and Peggi West-Sunderbruch; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Dianna Gomez.

A memorial service at Chapel of the Lakes will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Carol Elaine Wright, 72, made the journey to be with Jesus on Oct. 28, 2014. 

She was born to Pete and Bernice Alford in San Diego, Calif., on April 9, 1942. Her family moved to Kelseyville on Easter in 1949.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, J.D.; her son, Charlie, his wife Jessica and their two children Logan and London of Chico; her daughter, Suzanne Emerson, her husband Chris, and their son Chase of Kelseyville; her siblings, Joan Turner of Kelseyville and Carl “Buster” Alford and his wife Linda of Grass Valley; and an abundance of other family members.

It was very important to Carol that her family stay close and continue to give to each other and their communities. 

She was a great example to us all by giving her time and support to her friends and family, her church, the schools and her community.

Our family invites you to join us in celebrating her life on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.

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