LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Daniel Robert Tracy passed away at home on June 23, 2017.

Read more ...

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Diane Mae Mussat, age 64, born on March 3, 1953, passed away at her home on June 17, 2017. 

Beloved wife of Gary Mussat of 39 years. She is leaving behind her father and mother, Gene Max Frazell and Alice Mae Frazell; sisters, Jan Frazell and Patti Moore; daughter, Sara Mae Stangland; son, Vince Edward Mussat; along with four grandchildren, Cody Lawson, Kelsie Lawson, Cooper Stangland and Allison Stangland. 

She was strong in her faith with our Lord. As a devoted Christian she loved reading the "Daily Planner," "Angels on Earth" and "Guideposts" along with all the books by Diana Gabaldon which the "Outlander" television series was based on. 

Her grandchildren brought her so much joy. She enjoyed every moment of spoiling them rotten when she could be with them. 

Because of her lung conditions, she was highly susceptible to germs resulting in frequent bouts of pneumonia. 

Visiting with her grandchildren was limited. As bad as her condition was, she never gave up or lost faith. She was always smiling and laughing when she was around her family. 

Her ultimate favorite time of the year was fall. She loved celebrating the first day of fall. The Christmas season and watching endless Christmas movies over and over always made her happy. 

Her favorite hobby was taking care of her flower garden. She was blessed with such a green thumb. 

She's no longer suffering and in the arms of our Heavenly Father rejoicing with him. She will be dearly missed, but thankful that we’ll meet again! Praise God!

No service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in her honor.

Diane’s guest book is available to sign at www.jonesmortuary.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Siegfried Franz Otto died June 1, 2017, just shy of his 80th birthday, after a short battle with pneumonia.

He was born July 30,1937, in Wickede-Ruhr, Germany.

He was an adventurous man, and he often said that he could live almost anywhere in the world and be happy.
 
As a child, he survived World War II. While his village was being bombed, grenades flew through the windows of his family’s home. During the war, he and his brother would often steal apples from the local orchards when they were hungry. Since all of the trees were owned by the government, this could be quite dangerous.
 
In the early morning of May 17, 1943, the British bombed the nearby Möhnesee Dam. As the floodwaters rose, Siegfried hung onto the tail of a large goat while a neighbor pulled him to safety up a hill to a church.
 
As a young man, Siegfried served with the first postwar German army. When the soldiers marched through the streets, little old ladies hung from the windows and shouted, “Go home, boys. No more war!”
 
After graduating from business school and working in the cold-rolled steel business, he decided to see the world.

In 1963, Siegfried said goodbye to his family and sailed from Bremen to New York City. Eventually, he hitchhiked to the West Coast.

With limited English, he found jobs in San Francisco. He was a Fuller Brush and a Collier Encyclopedia salesman. In addition, he spent 10 years working for King-American Ambulance as an EMT. Later on, he was an EMT in Los Angeles during the Watts riots.

While living in San Francisco, he had the chance to play a paramedic in the Clint Eastwood film “Dirty Harry.” He also spent 26 years as a pear and walnut farmer in Lake County.
 
He and his wife, Christie Morrison Otto, were happily married for 47 years. He was a wonderful husband, father and Opa.

He is survived by his wife, Christie; his children, Miriam and Jeremy; the Alois Otto family; his grandchildren, Ben and Vaughn; and many, many friends and relatives. 
 
Before he died, Siegfried said he was going to the mountains. Did that mean that he was going to climb the Passion Play hill, travel to his son’s cabin at Letts Lake or ascend to heaven? One thing we know for sure: His next great adventure lies ahead. God bless him!
 
A Catholic Mass and a celebration of life will be held at St. Peter’s Church in Kelseyville on July 22 at 10 a.m. A reception will follow. Please join us!
 
Donations in his name can be made to the Lake County Passion Play in which he participated for 25 years. Please send them to P.O. Box 386, Lakeport, CA 95435. Donations can also be made to Donor Network West Services at 888-570-9400.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, June 23, 2017, at 2:30 a.m., Juana passed from this life.

Read more ...

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Michael Darrell Swaney passed away on May 5, 2017, with loved ones by his side. 

Mike was born Dec. 31, 1947, to Max and Foneta Swaney.

He moved from Reno to live with his dad at a young age and called Lake County home for more than 60 years.

Mike was the oldest of six brothers, one sister, and three step-brothers: Mary Anderson, Steve, Jim and Gene Guichu of Reno, Nev., and Mickey, Daniel Swaney, Jim, Bob and Billy Lovrin of Lake County.

He had three sons, Richard, Joseph and John Swaney, all of Lake County. All three of his boys remained close to him throughout his life. Mike's boys gave him four grandchildren: Jessica, Rebecca, Jeremiah and Janee Swaney.

Mike graduated from Upper Lake High School in 1966 and later in life attended Butte Junior College. Mike passed his state building inspector exam but spent most of his life working in the construction trades. 

Hard work defined him as a man and anyone who knew him said he was a hardworking man.

Mike loved racing stock cars. He started racing at Lakeport Speedway in 1974 and continued until 2012. 

He won a couple of track championships and lots of trophies, and he shared his love of racing with his kids and grandkids. Mike enjoyed a good time with cold beer and a lady by his side.

Upon his retirement, he spent several years cruising to the coast or whereever the road took him with his longtime companion, Lynn Speakman.

He was a big sports fan and never missed a game that his kids or grandkids played in, including the away games. Mike was a big Bay Area sports fan and always had an opinion on how his teams won or lost games.

Mike's life and accomplishments will be celebrated just the way he lived his life – with food and drinks! 

A celebration of life will be held at the Upper Lake Grange Hall in Upper Lake on Saturday, June 24, from 4 to 8 p.m.

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

Barbara Ann Graves
Sept. 10, 1941 - June 13, 2017

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Barbara Ann Graves was born Barbara Ann Scott on Sept. 10, 1941, in San Francisco to parents Harold Scott and Dorothy Mae LeBounger (m).

She grew up in Oakland, Calif., with her sister Joan Mae Scott and brother Harold Scott Jr. Unfortunately Barbara would lose her beloved Mother when she was only 9 years old. At a young age Barbara took the place of her Mother as the “Lady of the House,” and was instrumental in helping to raise her two younger siblings.

When Barbara, was 20 years old her Father brought home his younger friend from work, Robert Joseph Graves (b. 1925 d. 1983), originally from Poteau, Okla. He proposed to Barbara, during a trip together in Clearlake, Calif., when it was still called “Clearlake Highlands.”

They were married on Sept. 30, 1961, in Carson City, Nev. She would give birth to three children: Robert Joseph Graves Jr., Sept. 16, 1963, in Oakland, Michael Scott Graves, July 18, 1965, in Oakland, and Patrick Neil Graves, Oct. 22, in Fayetteville, Ark. (d. Jan. 13, 2013).

In 1969 the couple made the decision to raise their young family in Clearlake. She would live in Clearlake, until the death of her husband on Dec. 14, 1983. In January 1984, she started over in Oakland, with her youngest son Patrick.

She began working in “Law Offices” and soon began to run the operations. In the late 1990s she, along with her “brother-in-law” James Owen Rush, opened their own office in Oakland on Edgewater Drive.

Along with her sister Joan Rush she worked it as a family business until the evening of June 18, 1998. On that night Barbara suffered a severe stroke while locked in a bathroom of the office building. It took over an hour for her to be found and the damage was done.

Not expected to live the weekend, she would prove the doctors wrong and survive. However she lost the use of the right side of her body, lost the ability to speak, had to learn how to walk and eat, and only had a vocabulary of about four words. She was always alert, understood everything that was being told to her, and continued to make her own decisions.

Over the next 19 years she was selflessly cared for by her sister Joan and brother-in-law James Rush.

In time she was preceded in death by her brother, Harold Jr. (Sonny); brother-in-law, James Owen Rush; son, Patrick; and sister, Joan.

In her last years she was cared for by her nephew, Daniel Rush, and his wife Pam, of Oakland, and by her son, Michael.

In that last three years she became a resident of Elmwood Rehabilitation and Care Facility in Berkeley. This was the place she considered home. They treated her wonderfully, and she often blew kisses to the faculty and fellow residents. She loved the people of Elmwood, and they gave her the same in return.

In early March 2017 she was diagnosed with Melanoma. It was discovered too late, and had spread.

Barbara Graves had a zest for life, and a strong will to live, but was given a prognosis of just a few months to live. She choose to spend the remainder of her days at Elmwood.

On June 13 at 4:31 a.m., with her son Michael at her side, Barbara left this world for the peace of another.

She is survived by her oldest son, Robert Graves, and daughter-in-law, Dawn, of Middletown, Calif.; son, Michael, of Clearlake; grandchildren, Jason and Jordan Graves, Sammi Butler and Taylor Graves, all of Virginia; along with several great-grandchildren.

On the final wishes of Barbara Graves their will be no services. Please remember her as you knew and loved her.