LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sit down on the couch with a drink this evening for a story. It’s about a guy who left us before he planned to, but he went exactly as he would have wished – fast, and with a bit of surprise. We weren’t ready and we will miss him dearly.

He lived many lives in his 69 years.

Born in Sonora to Donna and Lee Schultz, then raised in Vallecito, Calif, he and his brother Ron were raised as small town boys, close to extended family.

He went to college at Sacramento State and had his first career in marine biology with the Department of Fish and Game.

With abalone shells strewn far and wide, he had his daughters, Heidi and Andrea, with his first wife Linda.

During this period of his life, you would have learned from him that just because the water was sharky, it didn’t mean you couldn’t dive it.

He found adventure and peace under the ocean waves. With the chilly winters on the coast, he was known to clear the garage and fire up a heater so his little girls could roller skate.

After his first marriage ended, he met his life partner and second wife, Jan, and his children by choice, Shaun and Shalon.

He took up the art of blended family water skiing, fitting six people into the cab of a truck while towing a boat, and spending long hours treading water in a lake while the kids learned to ski.

He also decided that diving was for sport, not money, and he made several career changes through his life, showing that when it’s time to do something different, you just do it, because life is too short.

He was good at everything he did. In retirement, he dabbled in small projects such as operating a vineyard with some friends, building a swimming pool and starting a dialysis center, just because the coast didn’t have one.

He drove just about everywhere he went simply to avoid an airplane. He often wore slippers as shoes, and pulled it off with remarkable style. He had great calves, a sassy sense of humor, and a strong investment in helping the people in his life.

He stayed in touch with family and friends from his home town, from Mendocino and Fort Bragg, and from his new home in Lake County.

He was so very proud of his grandchildren, Kaleb, Griffin, Anika, Cody, Amy and Hayden, who all share glimmers of his personality. He was rarely without his pup, Missy, by his side.

In the evenings, he finished the day with a drink on the couch – sometimes he was quiet, and sometimes he liked to talk. Other times he snored.

When thinking of the things that Steve Schultz cared about – the ocean, wildlife, people who worked hard and had less than they deserved, please consider making a donation in his honor to organizations that support these causes.

A celebration of life will he held at Narley Dude Ranch and Equestrian Center at 4965 Steelhead Drive, Kelseyville, at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19.

Please come and honor Steve's memories, share stories and spend some time toasting a man who will be missed by many.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lena Holden, 95, resident of Lake County for 40 years, entered into rest peacefully on Feb. 27, 2016, in Lakeport.

Loved by children, Diane Ayala, Dale Holden, and Sandra Binge (preceded in death); grandchildren, William Lazzarini, and Kristin Boice (Entz); great-granddaughter, Amariah Boice.

No service will be held.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fay Carol Johnson was born June 27, 1940.

Surrounded by her family, she quietly slipped away Feb. 12, 2016.

Graceful and kind, she was always a lady.

Fay married the love of her life, Chet, on Oct. 15, 1960. Together, they raised a family on the shores of Clearlake in Nice, the very same property where Chet was born and raised. Their home was often a gathering place for family and friends.

After retiring near Fort Bragg, and spending over 15 years there, they decided to come home to Lake County, where family was closer and weather was warmer.

Fay had a great love of planting, and watching her flowers grow. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed an occasional visit to the local casino to “push the button” with her sisters and her kids.

Family always came first. She fought cancer bravely.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Chet; sons, Donald and David; daughter, Denise, and son- in- law, Fred; big sister to Penny (Keith) Kuhl, Pam Manes and Charles “Bud” Peebles III; uncle, Robert Peebles; nephews, John Miskill, Charles (Donna) Peebles, Danny (Heidi) Peebles; nieces, Rachelle (Mark) Kohnen, Vicky (Cliff) Stout, Melissa Peebles, and Karrie Woll; special grandmother to Carole Snell; great nephews and nieces, Alex, DJ, Shelby, Jacob, Adam, Lucy, Danny, Claire and Katie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lee Peebles of Ukiah and loving in-laws Franklin and Frances Johnson of Nice.

Love never ends; the memories will have to be enough for now.

We will miss you for the rest of our days.

A memorial celebration of Fay’s life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please give to the angels at Hospice of Lake County in her memory.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Dorothy Emerson passed away peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 26, 2016.

In earlier years, she played golf, loved to paint, helped with the Catholic Church designing the stained glass windows for the Loch Lomond Church and cleaning benches at the outdoor church.

She was proud of the two houses she designed and decorated, but mostly she was proud of her family.

Dorothy was the daughter of Charles and Roma Elliott and was born the third of four children in Lake County, where she resided most of her life.

She and her husband, Don, owned and ran Forest Lake Resort for many years. They traveled and had wonderful friends.

Dorothy was predeceased by Don in 2010. She is survived by son, Jon Emerson; daughters, Kathie Keefer (Jim) and Karen Ogando (Joe); 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She made sure the entire family celebrated holidays three times a year (one of them being her birthday!) with lots of food, laughter and love.

She didn't mind getting in the car late at night with her pajamas rolled up under her trench coat and the dog in the back to pick up one of her kids from the bus after an out of town sporting event.

She was fiercely loyal and we will miss her. We love you, Mom.

Funeral Mass will be at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 12836 Highway 175, Loch Lomond, on March 10 at 11 a.m. with a celebration of life to follow at Black Rock Golf Course, 16451 Golf Road, Cobb.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Monica Bradshaw, age 80, entered into eternal peace on Feb. 27, 2016, with her loving daughters Melanie Ramachandran and Paula Dhanda at her bedside.
                                                        
Monica was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England to Naval Officer William and Annie Elizabeth Bradshaw.  She was the third of nine children growing up in the era of World War II.
 
She married Dr. Sath Paul Dhanda while a student nurse in England, and had three lovely daughters – Melanie, Paula and Angeli. The family lived in India and England before moving to the USA in 1968. 

Monica went back to college while raising her family, and graduated with the highest of honors with her degree in registered nursing, bachelor's degree and masters degree in social work.

She worked as an RN and subsequently as a psychiatric social worker in Syracuse, NY before retiring to Lakeport, Calif.
 
Mrs. Bradshaw was an active member of the Lake County community and enjoyed her many organizations (Lakeport Women's Civic Club, Senior Center, TOPS, and Red Hats) and all her wonderful friends. She was very physically active, walked everywhere and swam several times a week until her illness.

Monica is fondly remembered for her kindness, strength, intelligence, independence and strict moral compass. Monica's battle with ovarian cancer was hard-fought with strength, grace and dignity.
 
Monica was a devoted mother and an exemplary role model. She was so very proud of her family. 

She is survived by daughters, Melanie Ramachandran (Tarakad) and Paula Dhanda (John); grandchildren, Manoj (Sarika), Arun (Sari), Amber, Devan (Chelsey) and Jasmin; great-grandchildren, Navya, Silas, Lola and Arjun. She also leaves behind in England her brothers David, Charles and Christopher, and sisters Elizabeth and Edie and their families. 

Monica was preceded in death by her former husband, Sath Paul Dhanda; her brothers, William and George Bradshaw; her sister, Brenda Collins; her dear daughter, Angeli Dems; and her most beloved grandson, John Paul Clarke.
 
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at Buckingham Clubhouse, 5820 Eastlake Road, Kelseyville.
 
Donations in Monica's memory, to support mothers worldwide, may be made to Worldwide Healing Hands, 5685 Main St., Kelseyville, CA 95451, or donate online at http://worldwidehealinghands.org/donate/ .
 
For more information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or view www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Nancy Lee Antoni (née Haack)

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Nancy passed from this world on Feb. 23, 2016, surrounded by her family and caregivers.

Born in Palo Alto, Calif., on May 2, 1954, she moved to Kelseyville with her family at the age of 8. 

She graduated from Kelseyville High School and worked for Pacific Bell, Sutter Lakeside Hospital and North Lake Ford.

Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2011 she bravely and quietly battled the disease.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Jerry; daughters, Keri Hamner, Carla Ocohdain and Janae Antoni; son, Nick (Keely) Antoni; brother, Bill Haack; sisters, Kathleen Doherty and Judith Taylor; and loving caregivers, Mary Loftsgaard, Marissa Morey, Sandi Ford and Nancy Peterson.

A celebration of life will be held at the Fairgrounds Village Club House, 1025 Martin St. in Lakeport on Saturday, April 30, at noon.

A donation to the ALS Clinic, 400 Parnassus Ave 8th Fir, San Francisco, CA  94143 in Nancy's name would be welcomed by the family.

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