NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Born on Dec. 30, 1954, In Salinas, Calif., Kenneth D. Wells passed away Dec. 9, 2015, at the age of 60.

In 1962 the Wells family moved to Kelseyville. Ken was a longtime member of the Clear Lake Junior Horseman, riding his prize horse Cricket.

While in high school Ken joined the Kelseyville Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 16. He also ran track and wrestled. But foremost he excelled in football playing linebacker.

After graduation Ken attended Yuba Junior College majoring in fire science and again playing football.

After college Ken worked for the California Division of Forestry as a seasonal firefighter. Ken took a job working for Bill Wolf at Lakeport Tire while still being a firefighter/volunteer with the Kelseyville Fire Department.

In 1980 Ken was hired full-time as a captain with Kelseyville Fire Department. He became a paramedic and field training officer and became an EMT instructor with Mendocino College on his days off. He covered shifts for Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne Fire Departments for five years and Lakeport for seven years.

In January 2007 Ken accepted the position of fire chief for Lakeport Fire Protection District until his retirement from the fire service April 30, 2014. Ken had been involved in fire service of some sort for over 44 years.

Ken was proceeded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Frances. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Lydia; brother, Lloyd (Marcia); sisters, Trish (Hans) and Kathy; son, Chad (Nyia); daughter, Brandie (Kendall); grandchildren, Haley, Dustin, Tailer, Joseph and Clayton; along with nephew, Gavin (Kricket); Gracie and Montana, and Darren (Nicole) and Landen, along with many close friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Kelseyville High School Student Center at 1 p.m.

Family is requesting, in lieu of flowers, that donations can be made to the Lakeport Fire Protection District or Kelseyville Fire Protection District.

Douglas Lowry Codling
Feb. 24, 1943 – Dec. 2, 2015

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Douglas Lowry Codling, 72, of Clearlake passed away on Dec. 2, 2015, at Saint Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif.

Son of the late Beatrice and Howard Codling, Doug is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Stephanie Codling; his son, Michael Codling and daughter-in-law, Mary Codling; his daughter, Michele Codling Waterman and his son-in-law, Craig Waterman; as well as his beloved grandchildren, Cecelia Codling and John and Alyssa Waterman.

He also is survived by his siblings, David Codling, Nicole Evans and Michele Cheney; nephew, George Cheney IV; niece, Lucy Hunt; two great-nephews; one great-niece; as well as many dear friends.

Doug was born in Seattle, Wash., on Feb. 24, 1943.

He loved sports and was a talented athlete, playing baseball and football in high school. He also coached both of his children in soccer, baseball and softball.

He was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing and hunting most of his adult life along with golf, tennis and snow skiing in his younger days while living in Colorado.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1961, shortly after graduating from Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif. During his tour of duty, he spent time in Japan, China and the Philippines. He served on the USS Ranger aircraft carrier and completed two tours of duty in Vietnam.

In July of 1963, he went on a blind date and met the love of his life – Stephanie Eileen Arata. They celebrated 51 years of marriage in August 2015.

After his service in the Navy, Doug began corporate life at Wyle Labs in Santa Clara, Calif. He and his family shared countless fond memories at their summer home in Clearlake, which is why he retired there after 33 years of marketing, sales and management at Wyle Labs.

Doug lived life to the fullest and loved traveling with Stephanie all over the world, including trips to Holland, Spain, France, England, Italy, Germany, Canada and Tahiti, and many adventures in Hawaii and Mexico.

Doug had a tremendous sense of humor and was the life of the party. He lived life with passion and purpose. A kind, loving, warm and welcoming man, he will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.

A celebration of his wonderful life is planned for early January 2016.

Calvin Richardson
Sept. 19, 1956 – Dec. 2, 2015

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Calvin was a Kelseyville resident for 26 years.

He was born in Chowchilla, Calif., and worked as a tile setter for P&M Tile.

He is survived by his mother, Velma Richardson, and brothers Stan and John.

Calvin will always be remembered as an honest, sincere and loving man.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport

Edward Alton Brooks III

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Born on Dec. 20, 1957, in Oxnard, Calif., Edward Brooks III passed away Dec. 1, 2015, at St. Helena Hospital in Napa, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 57.

Eddie or “Buddy,” as his family and friends called him, was raised in Marin County, Calif., relocating to Lake County in the late 1990s. He loved Lake County, and living near the water.

Buddy had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed playing his guitar and all kinds of music. He worked for various attorneys in Lake and Mendocino County as a licensed process server.

Buddy is survived by his parents, father Edward Brooks Jr. and mother Margaret Brooks, both of Lakeport; his sister, Regina Weinstein; his brother, Scott Brooks; and his beloved nieces and nephews, as well as his many cousins, all of whom he grew up with and stayed close to after adulthood.

The family would like to thank the kind EMTs, Sutter Lakeside Emergency Department and St. Helena Hospital ICU Staff.

Per his instructions, there will be no services.

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

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The family of Leonard Neft invites community members to a celebration of his colorful life on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The service will be held beginning at 11 a.m. at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 21396 Highway 175 in Middletown.

Rev. James McSweeney will officiate.

Neft, a retired journalist living in Anderson Springs, died trying to escape the Valley fire in early September. He was 69 years old.

In celebration of Neft's life, those planning to attend the Saturday service are asked to wear something colorful.

Following the service there will be an “after party” at the Middletown Lions Club community center, 15399 Central Park Road.

A meal of Mexican food will be catered by the Rosales family, with both meat and vegetarian options available.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Phebe Lois (McCormick) Hepworth, born 1919 in Cedaredge, Colorado, died peacefully at her home in Lakeport Dec. 5, 2015, she was 96.

From their agrarian roots in Phoenix, Arizona, Phebe and her husband, Donald had intended to raise their family in the Pacific Northwest.

En route to Oregon with their infant daughter, they stopped in Lakeport to visit friends. Soon realizing they felt at home in Lake County, the Hepworths settled on Jan. 1, 1950, and appreciated the area's rich agricultural and recreational opportunities.

In addition to being a dedicated homemaker, Phebe was employed as secretary of Lake County Fair and was a vocational instructor for Mendocino College where she taught food preparation and bread making.

She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge since 1952 and was a founding member of United Christian Parish. With great civic pride, Phebe was involved in numerous community and charitable activities.

Her passion for home baking and canning garnered many blue ribbon awards and scores of deserved compliments.

Phebe was preceded in death by Donald Hepworth, her husband of 57 years, and their son, Dale. She is survived by her daughter, Donna.

Burial services are private. Memorial contributions to United Christian Parish in Lakeport, http://www.lakeportucp.org/ , are suggested.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.