LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – James David Carl, age 66, died in Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 23, 2015, after a brief battle with cancer.

Dave was born in Paso Robles, Calif., on Aug. 16, 1949, to John and Mildred Carl.

His early years were spent in San Miguel, Calif. Orphaned at a young age, Dave was raised by various relatives including his oldest sister, Sarah, in a number of communities. He finished school in Lynnwood, Wash.

Dave moved to Lake County in 1978. He met his future wife, Rae, and future sons, Zack and Alex, the following year.

At that time, he was a working cowboy and the boys participated in many ranching activities. A dedicated father, Dave coached soccer, was an adult volunteer for 4-H, and attended many classes, trainings and programs with his children.

In 1986, the family expanded, adding Amber and Marianne. Dave adored his girls as he had the boys and added hairstyling to his parenting skills, which were many.

He was a published poet, self-taught script writer, computer builder and leather worker. He also bred and showed quarter horses for more than 30 years.

Dave was primary caregiver for his Annie for the past 15 years. A devoted family man, Dave loved to cook, barbecue and spend time with his kids. He lived in Bachelor Valley for more than 30 years. Dave loved rural California and rolling oak woodlands. He embraced it as an ag foreman, gold miner, cowboy, laborer, yardman and rancher.

He leaves in sorrow his children, Zachary Burroughs and Heather Reilly, Alexander and Eliana Burroughs, Amber Peak and Marianne Carl; his sisters, Sarah Townsend and Anna French; brother-in-law, Don French; in-laws, Dave and Cari Eby; grandchildren, Nathaniel Norcio, Anthony Burroughs, Amanda Bertalot, Katie Peak, Matthew Peak, Andrew Peak and Emma Peak; nephews, Greg French, Doug French, Shawn Eby; niece, Susan Guyot; his dear friend, Bobby Gentry; wife, Rae Eby-Carl; and a large extended family of cousins.

The big man left an immense hole in his family's heart and will always be missed.

Services will be at United Christian Parish, 745 Brush St. in Lakeport at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, followed by a potluck. Please join the family in this celebration of Dave Carl's life.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Agnes “Grandma” Claunch passed away peacefully Dec. 3, 2015, at home surrounded by her family.

Our hearts are broken but filled with her love.

Agnes Inez Claunch was born to Loyal and Lula Knox on Jan. 9, 1927, in Leon, Kansas.

She married Elmer Claunch on Oct. 15, 1947. They had 60 happy years together.

Agnes lived in Lucerne with her family for 59 years. Her greatest joy was her family and taking care of many, many children for more than 50 years at “Grandma Claunch's” Daycare.

Agnes was the most loving caring person and we will cherish our memories of her forever.

Agnes is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Jerry) Smith, Elaine (Joe) Merchen, Lynda (Mike) Lloyd and Betty (Chris) Burry, and her son, Robert.

She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was a second grandmother to many more.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Arlone; her brother, Howard; her husband, Elmer; her youngest daughter, Cindy; her grandsons, Jimmy and Kevin; granddaughter, Laura; and great-granddaughter, Rebecca.

Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure, she was loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.

A memorial service will be held at the Upper Lake Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11.

Following the memorial, we would like you to join us for a celebration of Mom's life at the old Sons of Italy community building, 2817 East Highway 20, Nice.

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

Richard Daniel O’Brien
May 26, 1928 – Nov. 29, 2015

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Born May 26, 1928, in San Mateo, Calif., to Daniel and Freda O’Brien, Richard O'Brien passed away at Rocky Point Care Center in Lakeport on Nov. 29, 2015.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Roseline M. O’Brien, and sons, Mike and Dan O’Brien.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Bud LaFayette, and niece, Suzie LaFayette of Woodland; his daughters, Kim White (Barry) and Erin Norton (Mark); grandchildren, Jared Norton (Christy), Jessica Walker (Dylan), Josh White (Jami) and Danielle O’Brien; and great-grandchildren Tera and Aubrey Norton, Elizabeth and Alexandra Walker, and Brayden White.

He was an auto and marine mechanic all his life, a woodworker and model airplane enthusiast from childhood until after retirement. He also enjoyed ocean fishing.

He always put his family first and was a very kind and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. 

He and his wife started the summer journeys from Redwood City to “Shady Haven” on Clear Lake in the 1950s.

We are thankful for many fond memories of summers, friends, family, boating and skiing. We will miss his presence and his great sense of humor.

Per his wishes, there will be no services.

Many thanks to all the staff at Rocky Point for their love and care of Richard and Roseline, and especially to Dr. Gary Maes for his steadfast care and support.

Eugene R. Ford
Aug. 22, 1926 – Nov. 29, 2015

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Eugene passed peacefully in the evening of Nov. 29, surrounded by family.

Born in Hayward, Calif., he was orphaned by age 5. He spent the next 12 years in several foster homes.

At age 17 he came to Kelseyville with his foster family. He loved it here and wanted to stay, becoming one of the “Patton Boys” at Cliff and Mae Patton’s foster home.

He attended Kelseyville High School where he ran track and played basketball. He graduated with five other classmates in 1945.

He started working at an early age as a paperboy in Hayward. After moving to Kelseyville, he worked various jobs, from tending to pear and walnut orchards to milking cows at the dairy. He was known for his rototilling. He rototilled many orchards and gardens around the Kelseyville area. The family still has his original rototiller. He also worked on family and friends cars.

He married Maxine Mullen in 1948. They were married for 53 years until her passing in 2001.

In 1952 he got a job at Masonite Corp. in Ukiah as a grader and still continued to work on cars on the side for many years. He retired in 1988 from Masonite Corp. He and Maxine made two trips to Alaska, and he was the president of Clearlake Gleaner’s for several years.

He is survived by his children, Danny Ford, Linda Ford Breeding, Denise Wiltse (Mike), Deborah Ford-Reed and Jennifer Ford Taylor. He was an influential part of life with his nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, and also the daughters of his heart, Sammie Jane Barton and Sharon Ford Harvey. 

Graveside services will be at Kelseyville Cemetery Dec. 9 at noon. Afterwards there will be a gathering of friends and family at Kelseyville Methodist Church, located at First and Main Street. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice Services of Lake County.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary www.jonesmortuary.com FD311, Lakeport.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ronald Martin, beloved husband of Eileen Martin, father, friend, member and church leader of Saint John's Episcopal Church, Lakeport, passed away on Nov. 21, 2015.

He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on Jan. 17, 1936, to George and Ruth Martin.

His family, including Ron's brother, David, lived in both Ohio and West Virginia. They moved frequently back and forth between the two states to keep a close relationship with both paternal and maternal grandmothers. Ron took pleasure in describing what life was like then and in telling stories of the hijinks and mischief he got into while he was growing up.

When Ron was 14, his father found work at Kaiser Steel and his family moved to Fontana, Calif. His brother Michael was born there.

He met his wife Eileen in Fontana. They were married on May 1, 1956, and were inseparable for the next 59 years.

Ron followed in his father's footsteps and took a job at age 18 with Kaiser Steel where he worked as an electrician. He also worked in the high desert small town of Ora Grande at a cement factory.

He and Eileen moved to Kelseyville when he was hired at Homestake Gold Mine where he became a general foreman. He retired in 2003. Ron served in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Ron loved trains and helping others in any way he could. He was a leader of the Sea Scouts and both Boy and Cub Scout troops.

Over the years he faithfully served Saint John's Episcopal Church as both Junior and Senior Warden, in a variety of liturgical roles including Licensed Lay Preacher, and in countless hours of finding ways to make people's lives better with the food pantry and other ministries.

Ron served as chaplain to the Kelseyville Fire Department and at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he spent many nights at the bedsides of patients offering encouragement and prayers.

Ron was preceded in death by his son George and granddaughter Laci. He is survived by his wife Eileen, their children Roleen, Teresa and Robert, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

His memorial service will be held on Jan. 17, 2016, at Saint John's at 10 a.m. on what would be his 80th birthday. Holy Eucharist will be held at this time.

Donations for the family can be sent to Saint John's Episcopal Church, 1190 N. Forbes St. Lakeport, CA 95453.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – John K. “Jack” Willey, age 94, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Sept. 23, 2015, in Clearlake Park.

Jack is survived by his children, John Baines Willey and Mary Jo Garrett, of Clearlake; his grandchildren, Nicole (Danny) McKay of Clearlake, Joel Garrett, Jennifer Garrett and Lenny Steinmetz (Melinda), all of Clearlake Park, Michele Steinmetz (Stan) of Indianapolis, Ind., and Danny Steinmetz (Marie) of Rocklin, Calif. He also has eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Willey in August of 1995.

Jack was born on Nov. 26, 1920, in Hanley, Saskatchewan, Canada to parents Arthur Willey and Cora Lee (Martin) Willey.

In May 1944, he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 339th Infantry Regiment as a Light Machine Gunner.

During his two years in the Army he was deployed to Po Valley, Northern Apennines, North Africa and Northern Italy. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the WWII Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is truly a hero of the “Greatest Generation.”

Jack, whom his family called “Papa,” was a great family man, and a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He married Beth in San Francisco and the couple raised their children in Pacifica, Calif., where they lived until they moved to Clearlake Park in 1982.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Jack had a 44-year career with Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, as a welder, a welding supervisor and retiring as a department head.

Jack was a social, active man, and he and Beth were involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars for many years, of which he was a lifetime member. He was also a member of The American Legion and the Loyal Order of the Moose.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, and cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  His family and friends will always remember him as a very generous person and a man who loved to smile and tell stories of his travels all over the United States and Canada. 

Jack and Beth were very graceful dancers and are now dancing together in the hereafter. His family will miss this wonderful man who was loved and admired by many.

Jack will be interred with his wife at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, Calif.