Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 12 January 2019 00:19; 12 January 2019

David Poe

David Poe
Jan. 12, 1925 - Jan. 10, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Traditional Native American visitation will start at Robinson Rancheria Gymnasium on Monday, Jan. 14, at noon continuing until the funeral service that will start on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. with final viewing at noon and graveside committal service at Robinson Rancheria Cemetery on Mockingbird Lane at 1:30 p.m.

Joni Prather

Joni Louise Prather
Sept. 23, 1954 – Dec. 11, 2018

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Joni L. Prather, “Jo,” passed away peacefully on Dec. 11, 2018, with her loving husband by her side at the age of 64.

Joni is survived by her husband of 41 years, Danny Prather; her son, Robert Prather; her daughters, Dana and Stacey Prather; her mother, Marilyn Kies; and sisters, Janet, Jane, Julie and Jill.

Joni is preceded in death by her father, Robert Kies.

She will be missed by her grandchildren, Kevin, Adrienne and Joshua, and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

Joni will be missed for her contagious smile and endless love for her family and friends.

She was a strong woman with a calm demeanor and soft spoken voice.

She will be forever remembered in our thoughts and prayers.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at BlackRock Golf Course, Cobb, Calif.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Tuesday, 01 January 2019 00:38; 01 January 2019

Jack Mitcham

Jack Clyde “Mitch” Mitcham

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mitch passed away at home in Spring Valley on Dec. 15, 2018.

He was born in Los Angeles on April 3, 1936 to Florence and Jack Mitcham.

Mitch worked for Pacific Bell for 36 years, starting in Southern California as a lineman. He came north to San Francisco in 1978 and retired as a regional manager to Lake County in 1991.

Mitch married first wife Pat Spanninger (deceased) on May 3, 1957, and they had three children – Pamela, Jack and Shelley.

Mitch was an avid hunter and after finding Spring Valley, he bought property and built his home overlooking the hills. He married his second wife Helen Betts on June 22, 1991, at one of their infamous pig roasts and inherited another daughter, Julie.

He will be missed by his loving family and many wonderful, life-long friends.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; children, Pam Summerfruit (Rick), Jack Mitcham, Shelley Perlin (Mike) and Julie Williams (Ron); grandchildren, Amber, Rochelle, Lindsay, Ronald, Kelly, Emma and Jack; and great-grandchildren, Taylor, Austin, Kaiden, Dani, Addison, Keylee and Alice. We know his grandson Richard was waiting for him and that helps all of us who are left.

As Mitch would often say … “And the beat goes on!”

A celebration of life will be held Feb. 2 at the Community Center in Spring Valley at 1 p.m.

Donations in Mitch’s name can be made to the Cleft Palate Fund at the Native Sons of the Golden West.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 09 January 2019 01:35; 09 January 2019

Charles McCarty

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Charles Michael McCarty passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on New Year’s Day 2019.

He is missed by many friends and family.

Charlie came and went from Lake County for 20 years and finally came back to stay in 2014. He invested himself in Lake County and especially the lake, which he loved so dearly.

You would often see Charlie at the boat ramp, taking a personal interest in helping people get out on the water fishing and boating.

He worked for the county selling quagga mussel stickers, and even started his own business selling them – “Fishaholic Service.”

And that is what Charlie was. He loved fishing and he loved to encourage others to fish. If you want to honor Charlie’s memory – take someone fishing.

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held when the weather is better.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 03 January 2019 01:05; 03 January 2019

William (Bill) Raymond Vann Sr.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Bill was born in Brisbane, Calif., and grew up in neighboring San Mateo, Calif., with his mother, Sandra, father, James, and 3 brothers, Richard, James (Jim) and Donald (Don).

He was a talented musician who began playing music as a child. After high school, he went on to play trumpet for the US Army, as well as play “Taps” for his fallen brothers in arms at many funerals. Throughout his life, his house was filled with the sounds of the music he loved to play.

Bill became a father at 19 years old, with the birth of his oldest son, Anthony (Tony). The following year, his daughter, Celia (Cece) was born.

After being honorably discharged from the US Army, he moved back to San Mateo where he worked in construction and raised his family.

In 1989, his next son, William Jr. (Will) was born, and a few short years later, in 1995, his youngest son, Jacob (Jake).

Weekends at the Vann house were regularly spent playing music with his uncles while his kids watched and sang with him. He also enjoyed playing video games with his three boys, and even coached Will’s little league team for a year.

Even when things were tough, he always made sure his kids knew the value of a good day’s work. As they grew older, he loved teaching them how to play trumpet, guitar, bass, shoot and respect firearms, as well as how to fix their cars and repair things around the house.

In his later years, Bill moved to Lakeport, Calif., and went on to volunteer with the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team, playing “Taps” for fallen soldiers locally and throughout the country.

His last time away from home was at the 100 Nights of Taps held at the Gettysburg National Cemetery on Aug. 28, 2018.

In Lakeport, he finally found his soul mate, Susan French. He was such a proud husband. His catch-phrase becoming, “I love you, past forever,” crediting her with helping him overcome the demons that had haunted him in his 30s and 40s.

Together, Susan and Bill created a loving home for their now, bigger family. Welcoming her children as his own, he now had four more children, Christy, Alicia, Ian and Craig Jr., and a combined total of eight grandchildren, Leila, Charlotte, Breeana, Madison, Ireland, Brooklynn, Maximus and MacKenzie. To his grandkids, he was known as Papa, and this was a role he was meant for. He loved, once again, hearing the sound of kids at play once again in his home.

With family relationships finally mended, he greatly looked forward to his twilight years with Susan, and the rest of his family. Sadly, this was not meant to be, as a late lung cancer diagnosis took Bill from us on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 – The Day the Music Died. Bill was 56 years young. After a hard-fought battle, he passed away, surrounded by family and friends at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport.

Bill is survived by his wife, their children and grandchildren, and his three brothers. He will be remembered for his caring nature, always willing to help anyone in any way he can.

Military funeral honors will be held at Veteran’s Circle at Hartley Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 29 December 2018 01:03; 29 December 2018

David Patton

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, my beloved father, David Aaron Patton, went home to be with the Lord.

David was born in Tampa, Florida, to Mary and Phil Patton on May 24, 1920.

They moved to Bells, Tennessee, for a couple of years, and moved again to Jasper, Tennessee. They finally settled in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, where David grew up. David left Tennessee and traveled to California.

David was part of the Army Air Force in World War II from October 1942 to February 1946. He did basic training as a private for one month, became a corporal and for 14 months he was an airplane and engine mechanic. He went on to become a gunner mechanic for 25 months. He taught deflection, ballistics and turret operations, and he did maintenance work on guns and planes.

David became my dad around 1955, when he met my mother, Lois Burton. She already had me. He took me on as his own legally. I love my dad.

David is survived by one daughter, Mary Carver; 10 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law; nieces; nephews; and other family members.

He is loved and will be missed.

A celebration of Life will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 11 a.m.

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

Obits

David Poe

Joni Prather

Jack Mitcham

Charles McCarty

William (Bill) Raymond Vann Sr.

David Patton

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