Lake County News,California

Obits

: Editor; Posted On Friday, 25 June 2021 03:08; 25 June 2021

Debbie Bastian

Debbie Elaine Bastian
Dec. 6, 1962 — June 17, 2021

Wow, what a great life I’ve had! I have been blessed to have a beautiful family that knows how to have fun and really LIVE!

There are so many friends who have had such a powerful impact on my life, and I was lucky enough to see almost all of them in the last days before my passing. Thank you for taking the time to come and see me.

I want you all to know you mean the world to me and the gift of your friendship made my life even better. We have had a blast with so many fun, wonderful adventures and I hope those memories will continue to put a smile on all your beautiful faces!

My beautiful, sweet husband, Brad, I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you when I was 18. In the past four decades, that love has only grown stronger.

My beautiful daughter, Shannon, you fulfilled my dream of becoming a mom and your kind, sweet, pure heart has filled my life with joy.

Drew, your enduring devotion and commitment to Shannon has been a source of comfort and strength to me.

My sweet grandson, Knox, you have been a gift and constant source of pleasure and pride from the moment you arrived. I’m sorry there is so much I will miss, but please know I will always be with you in your heart.

My amazing son, Beau, you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drummer and lived life on your own terms, which I always loved. I am so happy I was able to meet Lauren, your future wife, before I had to leave. You two are so good together and I know you will have a beautiful life.

My sister, Sherry, and brother-in-law Ken, the time we had together was a constant source of joy and laughter. I will miss you both dearly.

To all of you I’ve known and loved, don’t be sad. Live your life and find joy in each and every day. Life is what you make it and there is beauty all around you. Embrace life with both hands, and when you do, think of me. — Ciao

A celebration of Debbie’s life will be held Saturday, June 26, at 5 p.m. at Sherry and Ken’s house, 5205 Second St., Kelseyville (cross of Gard Street — entrance is on Gard).

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

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 20 June 2021 01:14; 20 June 2021

Daryl Patrick Van Proyen

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Daryl Van Proyen passed in peace on June 9, 2021, at the age of 72.

Born in Pasadena, California, he later moved to Lancaster, then Mendota, and finally settled in Lake County in 1977.

Daryl is predeceased by his parents, Neil and Elizabeth Van Proyen, and his wife of 40 years, Jackie.

He was a loving companion to Annette Francis; loving father of Tracy Davis (Ralph Davis) and Renee Lopez (Juan Lopez); proud grandfather of Maureen Claire (Tracy and Ralph), Jacob and Nathon Lopez (Renee and Juan); and many extended family and friends.

Daryl aka “The Crazy Dutchman” will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a “man of many hats.”

He began his career as a mechanic in the 70s. He pursued cabinetry in 1979 and would go on to establish Daryl’s Custom Cabinets in Lakeport, California, in 1982, later retiring at the age of 57.

He was well known for his craftsmanship, especially his Victorian dream home that was built in 2004.

During his retirement, his love of working with a tool in his hand extended to working on and restoring his beautiful classic cars.

Private family services were held on June 15, 2021.

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

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 12 June 2021 01:59; 12 June 2021

Jeanne Marie Clemons

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Jeanne Marie Clemons was born Dec. 29, 1933, in San Francisco, California, and passed away June 1, 2021, surrounded by her family.

Jeanne was the only child to Ben and Emily Scott.

Jeanne would vacation with her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Lake County. In 1951 it was the year for Blue Lakes and when she met her soulmate, best friend and love of her life, Clyde. In 1952 they were married and were so for an amazing 66 years.

Clyde and Jeanne lived in the Bay Area for 32 years and raised three children. Jeanne was a homemaker and business partner to Clyde’s Tires. On the weekends she would help sell these tires at AC Flea Market in Castro Valley and later at the Freemont Drive-in Market.

Clyde and Jeanne had a summer home in Clearlake that they retired to in 1984 with children Karen and Rick following.

Jeanne continued as a homemaker and helped care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jeanne was a loving, strong woman with a pure heart and a family that was her life. Jeanne’s family was also blessed as she was their life and heart.

Everyday her family would come for morning coffee and in the evenings a glass of wine or two. She would have weekly calls with her son, John, and every Friday night with cousin Joan who both still lived in the Bay Area.

Jeanne was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, Nana, cousin, sister and friend. All of those who knew her would say what a beautiful woman she was.

Jeanne is once again with her love, Clyde.

Jeanne leaves behind her daughter, Karen Morrell; son, Rick Clemons; son, John Clemons (Cheryl McAlice); granddaughter, Christine Gonzales (Edward Gonzales); grandson, Jason Clemons; grandson, Brandon Clemons (Sara Clemons); great-grandchildren, Elias Lee Clemons, Willie Clyde Gonzales, Jayden Paige Clemons, Kaylie Ann-Marie Armstrong, Madeline Raychel-Jean Armstrong; cousin, Joan Aylworth (Jim Aylworth); and “sisters,” Evelyn Clemons and Carol Wofford.

Private services will be held with family. Family asks in lieu of flowers please donate to the American Heart Association.

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

: Editor; Posted On Thursday, 24 June 2021 02:03; 24 June 2021

Harry Lovisone

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On May 30, 2021, Harry Ben Lovisone passed away at the ripe old age of 98; his health had been declining for several months.

He died peacefully at home in the care of his faithful love, Barbara.

Harry was born in Lower Lake on Feb. 6, 1923. His father and mother, Louis and Josephine Lovisone, already had two children: a daughter named Alma and a son named Gene.

Harry attended elementary school at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse, which is now a museum. He then went on to complete 12 years of formal education at Lower Lake Union High School; he graduated with the Class of 1942.

Harry grew up working in his family’s walnut orchard. When he was old enough he took any odd jobs that he could find. One of these required him to trap gophers for $0.05 apiece.

During World War II, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a military police officer in the Mediterranean Theater.

In 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned home to California. He used his GI Bill benefits to enter the machinist apprentice program in the East Bay. At this same time, he began working as an apprentice machinist for Jacuzzi Brothers’ Pumps.

In 1950, following his completion of his apprentice program, Harry accepted an employment offer from Lawrence Radiation Lab. He worked at both the Berkeley and Livermore laboratories until he “retired” 15 years later.

Throughout this time Harry resided in Richmond because the Bay Area is where the work was located.

Harry’s heart, however, belonged in Lake County. Harry’s work ethic and his desire to provide for his family prompted him to buy 17 acres in Lower Lake. His father helped him plant walnut trees on his newly acquired property. His dad taught him how to graft English walnut trees onto the black walnut trunks.

Throughout the entire time that he lived in the East Bay, Harry worked the five weekdays at Lawrence Labs and traveled home to Lower Lake to tend his growing walnut ranch.

In early 1964, following his “retirement,” Harry added to his walnut holdings by purchasing the 80 acre Sacket Orchard on Round Mountain. Following the purchase, Harry moved his family from Richmond to Clearlake Oaks.

Under Harry’s care the orchards flourished. But his entrepreneurial instinct caused him to recognize an opportunity. Because of Lake County’s rural and agrarian nature it needed a skilled machinist to tend to the well pumps that supplied water to homes and farms.

So Harry started his own successful business, Lovisone Pumps, in Lower Lake. In the southern portion of the county there are few pumps that Harry has not been involved with in some capacity.

Harry’s true passion was the outdoors. He was an avid hunter who tramped the mountains of Northern California and Nevada in search of deer and elk. Harry was also an avid fisherman who has fished lakes, rivers, and streams all across the west coast states.

In 1996, Harry met someone who shared his joy of fishing. He and Barbara were soon married and became true partners in all that they did.

Harry’s love of fishing was probably second only to his love for Barbara. For the next 25 years, their adventures took them all across the south Western United States.

In the winter they would camp near Crescent City and fish for Steelhead in the Smith River. Barbara caught a 20 pound steelhead, bringing an end to Harry’s reign as the Steelhead King.

During the summers they would rendezvous at Eagle Lake with some 30 friends for a two- to three-week camping adventure. During the day Harry and Barbara would be out on the lake, in their Ranger fishing boat, fishing for Eagle Lake trout.

In the evenings, with a belly full of Eagle Lake trout, they would join their fellow adventurers around campfires and revel in a quality of friendship and fellowship that few have ever known.

Come fall, Harry and Barbara would camp out along the Sacramento River. Each morning, they would pilot their Ranger boat out onto the river in hopes of landing a salmon. In whispered tones they would debate whether this year’s recipe for “smelly jelly” would do the trick.

Once again, Barbara displayed her skill at angling. Her biggest salmon was larger than Harry’s biggest salmon (there must be something in the way that women bait the hook — lol).

Recently, Harry and Barbara traded the cold winter days on the Smith River for the fun and sun of Yuma, Arizona. Each fall they would make the pilgrimage from Clearlake to Yuma where they had a modest winter home. They made new friends who introduced them to new adventures.

They both medaled in the senior Olympics. They annually watched in awe the flawless precision of the Marine Corps’ Silent Drill Team.

And their friends introduced them to dune buggies. Harry bought a buggy made from an old VW Super Beetle. They spent countless hours tearing up the dirt roads of the Arizona Mountains.

Harry remained very active until the last three months of his life. If he and Barbara weren’t cruising the waters of Clear Lake in his pontoon boat then they were cruising the streets of Clearlake in his red 1986 Corvette.

Then suddenly he became very weak and had difficulty walking. Harry’s stepdaughter is a registered nurse. She opined that “after 98 years of use the respective parts of Harry’s body had simply worn out.” Unfortunately, none of us come with replacement parts.

The last few weeks of Harry’s life were a testament to the wealth of friendships that he has cultivated over the years. People from all over stopped by the house to visit Harry and to have what would be their very last conversation with him. Distant friends called from as far away as Canada. Such was the impact that Harry had on the lives of so many individuals.

When Harry drew in his last breath he was resting comfortably in his bed, nestled away in a home that overflowed with the love of so many friends and relatives. Barbara, his wife of 25 years, was sitting with him at that moment.

Harry is survived by his spouse, Barbara Dryden; his son, Larry, and daughter-in-law, Mary; his son, Mikael; stepson, Jeffrey Dryden; stepdaughters, Karen Suenram (Darrell) and Linda Dryden Del Valle; grandson, Anthony Lovisone; granddaughters, Britney Linn and Grace Suenram; great-grandchildren, Sierra, Lacy and Ty Lovisone; nephew, Gene Lovisone; nieces, Tish Lovisone and Dawn Biano (Tony); brother-in-law, Dennis Pluth; and close friend, Dennis Del Valle.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at the Masonic Hall, Highway 53.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

You may leave thoughts and condolences online at www.jonesandlewismemorialchapel.com.

: Editor; Posted On Tuesday, 15 June 2021 02:41; 15 June 2021

Pamela Ussery Knispel

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — Pam passed away at age 75 on Friday, April 30, 2021 in Upper Lake.

She was born Nov. 23, 1945, in Lakeport, California, and raised as a fourth generation pear farmer in Scotts Valley.

Pam grew up on the back of her favorite mare, Misty. You could always find Mom on a tractor in the orchards.

Mom was ambitious in life’s journey. She acquired her pilots licence, illustrated children's books and appraised prized racehorses. She even sat on the Lake County Planning Commission.

Mom loved her books and had a keen eye for antiques. She had boundless energy, most youngsters had trouble keeping up with her, she was still running a forklift for the county schools at the age of 70 and was the best cook I will ever know.

Pam is survived by her three daughters; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

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

“Mother, you left us
beautiful memories,
your love is still our guide,
although we cannot see you,
you’re always at our side.”

: Editor; Posted On Friday, 11 June 2021 02:48; 11 June 2021

Roger Smith

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Roger Smith passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack early Easter morning at the age of 83.

Roger is best known for his beautiful portraits and other art works, and his resonant baritone opera voice.

He was a type of Renaissance man, because he is also known for three amazing large log homes that he built in British Columbia and Idaho, as a younger man.

He moved to Lakeport in 2012, in semi retirement, and continued with his opera and art work, teaching art at the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport, painting portraits and driving to the Bay Area to perform with the Verismo Opera Co.

Roger is survived by his son, Robert; stepson, Eddie; and sister, Naida.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1111 Park Way, Lakeport.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UCSF Kidney Project, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145.

Obits

Debbie Bastian

Daryl Patrick Van Proyen

Jeanne Marie Clemons

Harry Lovisone

Pamela Ussery Knispel

Roger Smith

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