Loretta Sparrow was born April 17, 1934, in Muskogee Okla. She lost a 14-year-long battle with cancer on March 26, 2013.

She was predeceased by her husband, N.O. Sparrow and son John Clayton Sparrow.

She is survived by her nine children, Rita Sparrow, Larry Sparrow, Neil Sparrow (Julie), Lloyd Sparrow (Joanne), Thomas Sparrow, Patricia Bliner (Leo), Brenda Sparrow, Sharon Naber (Mike), and Laura Garcia. She had several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews.

Services will be held at Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave., in Santa Rosa, Calif., on April 11.

Charles “Bud” VanHeurck, a resident of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., passed peacefully March 14, 2013, at the age of 92.

Bud will be laid to rest at Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, Calif.

Per his wishes, no services will be held.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport, Calif.

Judy Willde passed away March 31, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Friends are welcome to a celebration of life at her home Friday, April 5, at 2 p.m.

Donations to Hospice in her memory would be appreciated.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport, Calif.

Dolores Elaine Nutt (Dee), 91, went to be with the Lord March 4, 2013, peacefully in her sleep.

She was born Dec. 14, 1921, the oldest of nine kids to Ann and Clifford Stark in Salem, South Dakota.

She had many fond memories of growing up on her parents’ dairy farm. Her family moved to Minnesota where, in 1939, after high school she married Gordon Nutt. Together they had eight children.

In 1942 Gordon’s poor health led them to Richmond, Calif. He later discovered Lake County, Calif., through work, and in 1952 they moved their family there. Dolores always referred to Lake County as “God’s Country.”

Widowed at age 37 in 1958, Dolores sometimes worked two jobs at a time to support her family.

In April of 1966 she married Doc Carden and became mom to give more children. Their union ended 10 years later and she moved to Walnut Creek.

She was a banquet waitress for many years in a lot of dinner houses; one of her favorites was the Nugget in Sparks, Nev.

At 62 she married Pete Nutt, gaining three more children and moved with him to Minnesota. Ten years later they moved home to Lakeport, where she happily lived the rest of her life.

Dolores always had a hand in community and children’s activities. She was an accomplished craftswoman, from crocheting gorgeous blankets to painting, sewing, needlepoint and many others.

She was at one time head cook at the high school, took part in her kids sports, soap box races, she was a 4-H leader and in her later years she was a member of the Red Hatters Society, Lake County Historical Society and Woman’s Catholic Church Guild.

Being a breast cancer survivor, she took part in Relay for Life events.

She was happiest when she was surrounded by people, family, friends and even strangers in need of a good meal, a warm hug or a friend. She loved to gather loved ones, cook up a feast and enjoy her family.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Ann and Clifford Stark; brothers, Laurell, Neland and Marlin Stark; sister, Dodie Whitecotton; husbands, Gordon S. Nutt, Doc Carden and Pete Nutt; sons, Gordon A. Nutt and Delaney Nutt; daughters, Gerri Bauer and Bunny Nawrocki; and granddaughters, Elizabeth Bybee and Carrie Ann Nutt.

This wonderful woman is survived by daughters, Sherry (Monty) Rodgers, Diana (Johnny) Ashley, Rita (Terry) Stacy, LaDonna (Dan) Curtis and Annie Daskum; sons, Donovan (Marilyn) Nutt, Donald (Debbie) Nutt, David (Dale) Carden, Tony Carden, Michael Carden, Gary (Ann) Nutt and Ronnie Nutt; sisters, Donnie (Don) Mercer, Marlene (Roger) Wickum, Luana (Rich) Cook, Nornell Souheaver and Wanda Stark.

She was blessed with 42 grandchildren, more than 50 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones too numerous to count.

She was strength, she was faith and she was love. She will be forever missed.

The celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, Calif. Reception immediately following at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave. Her final resting place is Hartley Cemetery.

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

Robert George McDonald, age 84, passed away April 1, 2013, at his Clear Lake Riviera home with his wife Gretchen at his side.

Survived by his wife, Gretchen; brother, Fred McDonald; two step-sisters, Connie Marquis and Pam Von Bergen; brother-in-law, Richard Davis; and their families.

There will be a gathering at the family home between 3  p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, April 5.

Family prefers donations to Hospice of Lake County or your favorite charity.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport, Calif.

On Thursday, March 28, Frank August Sylva suddenly passed. He was born in 1937 to the late Frank Sylva and Florence Dobbs, and was brother to Marie and Mike Odom, and Rose and the late Ed Jaffe.

Frank was born in Southern California and lived up and down the West Coast. He went where the fruit grew and ended up in his mother’s home town of Kelseyville. It was there that he graduated from Kelseyville High School. He married his high school sweetheart and had two boys, Jim and Ken Sylva.

In 1964 Frank opened up A_1 Body Shop with Corley Anderson. By 1971 Frank’s life changed. He bought out his business partner and married Patricia Shipley. He gained two more children by the names Candace and Bill.

Frank served in the Army Reserve for nine years, and for over 10 years was very active in the reserve fire department and the sheriff’s posse. He was an active fisherman and belonged to the Derby Fishing Club for 44 years. For over 40 years Frank and his sons set off fireworks around all of Lake County.

Frank was an avid horseman and belonged to the Clearlake Horsemen for over 20 years. He rode long after his retirement in 2000, and at the age of 70 he adopted a mustang and trained him himself. One of the only things he rode farther then his horse was his motorcycle. He rode from Mexico to Canada several times with his wife Patricia on the back.

Frank was an incredible grandfather to Justin, Becky, Julie, Tiffany, Joanie, Cameron, Joe, Mitchell, Nathan, Lauren, Joesef and Colton. Even children he was not related to called him their grandpa. His great-grandchildren Brandon, Rio, Jorden, Jessie and Luca were blessed to have known him.

Frank Sylva will be missed terribly by all of his friends and family. He was a loving and inspiring person who worked hard and played harder.

Friends and family are welcome to join in our celebration of life. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Rancho De La Fuente on Soda Bay Road in Lakeport. Donations and gifts are unnecessary, but please be prepared to share stories and smiles.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary FD311, Lakeport, Calif.