Her parents were O. F. "Pappy" Harmon and Patricia Bates Harmon.

Susan graduated from Clear Lake High in 1983. She attended Empire College in Santa Rosa, graduating on the Dean's List and received her B.A. from Dominican College in San Rafael, Calif., graduating magna cum laude.

Susan worked as an executive assistant at Korbel Winery, Guerneville, Calif., in the marketing department before turning her talents to business consulting, establishing her own company, Savvy Communications, which she operated for 25 years.

The past five years Susan was also a facilitator for Mt. Konocti Facilitation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Lake County aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses to succeed.

Susan was preceded in death by her father; grandparents, O.F. Red Harmon, Helen Harmon, S. Garland Bates and Martha Avery; and uncle, Gary Bates.

She is survived by her special companion, Sandra West of Kelseyville; mother, Patricia Harmon of Lakeport; brothers, Daniel (Julie) Harmon of Lakeport and David Harmon of Witter Springs; sister, Karen Harmon of Nice; nieces, Adrianne (Nick) Bragg of Fair Oaks and Lauren Harmon of Nice; nephew, Darin Harmon of Nice; and beloved dog, Bita.

Susan loved Lake County and felt privileged to grow up in Lakeport. She had such a bright and outgoing personality. She never knew a stranger and won your heart with her charm and wit.

She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport.

The family prefers tax-deductible donations to Mt. Konocti Facilitation, P.O. Box 295, Lakeport, CA, 95453.

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

Clinton Rhoades, 87, died on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Clinton Edward “Dusty” Rhoades began his final retirement on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011.

Born Dec. 31, 1923 in Muncie, Indiana, he served in the Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945 in France. He was attached to support services, assembling and maintaining vehicles, from jeeps to

trucks to tanks.

After the war, he married Hueberta May Rinker of Anderson, Indiana in 1947. They moved briefly to Texas, then to Long Beach, California in 1948.

In 1950 Dusty was recalled, and served during the Korean War, stationed primarily in Japan.

In 1952 back in California, they moved to Compton, where he continued automotive work as a mechanic. His son Douglas Rhoades was born in 1953.

In 1961 he decided, after visiting Lake County with friends and relatives on several occasions, that he wanted to move north. The following year the family relocated to Nice, where he would remain for the next 43 years.

He opened his own automotive repair and service station business in Upper Lake, the R & R Garage (the second “R” represented his early business partner Lloyd Redfield).

He was also a bus driver for many years for the Upper Lake Union School and High School Districts, and many former students of those schools remember him fondly.

He continued his automotive business until his first retirement in 1989. In 1997, he and his wife celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Hueberta died in 2000 after a protracted illness, during which Dusty remained by her side for many months with the assistance of Hospice Services of Lake County.

Not one to stay at rest for long, Dusty went back to work, providing vehicle transportation for Airport Auto in Lakeport. There he met Ethel Evans, who provided financial services to that business. Her first husband Gil had died in a plane accident in 1987.

In 2005, he married Ethel and moved to Kelseyville where he remained until his rapid decline and death, after being diagnosed with leukemia just one month earlier.

Dusty was very involved in the community. He was a volunteer fireman for the Nice Fire Department, served on the board of the Nice Water Co., where he frequently helped with installation and repair of services for that utility.

He entered the Masonic Lodge in 1961 in Compton, and was a member and Past Master of Hartley Lodge No. 199 F&AM in Lakeport.

Dusty’s family came to America before there was something called the “United States.” He could trace his genealogy through his mother’s Dutch ancestors to arrival in the “New World” in New Amsterdam, now New York, in 1640.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Ellabell Winans Case; father, Gordon Rhoades, of Indiana; and his first wife, Hueberta May Rinker Rhoades of Nice, Calif.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Nancy Rhoades of Kelseyville; grandchildren, Jeremiah French and Sarah Joy Dutra (Joe); and his four great-grandchildren, Adriana, Taran, Ian and

Austin.

He is also survived by his sister, Adeline Monroe of Muncie, Indiana; and his four nieces, Rita, Renee, Julie and Brenda.

A Masonic graveside service will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at 11 a.m. with participation by the Lake County Military Honors Team.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Services of Lake County or the Masonic Homes Foundation.

Celestial Summer Dove Cassman, 35, of Santa Cruz, Calif., died Thursday, September 1, 2011. Courtesy photo.

Celestial Summer Dove Cassman, 35, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, auntie, friend, colleague, artist and philanthropist, died unexpectedly while vacationing in Hawaii on the island of Maui on Sept. 1, 2011.

Celestial Summer Dove was born on June 15, 1976, into the loving arms of her parents in Nanakuli, Hawaii.

She spent her formative years growing up in Lake County, Calif. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1994 and attended UC Santa Cruz, graduating with honors in political science.

She took some time to travel after college, exploring a large portion of South America and then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she worked for a nonprofit affordable housing and community building organization.

She decided to become an attorney, studied hard to take entrance exams, and then selected the UC Davis law school.

During law school, Celestial completed a public interest fellowship where she assisted indigent clients with housing, benefits and employment issues. She also worked as a teaching assistant, and served as co-chair of a nonprofit legal foundation.

She graduated in the top 5 percent of her class and began her professional career at McDonough Holland & Allen law firm in Sacramento in 2004. She ultimately followed her dream to be near the coast and moved to Santa Cruz in 2007.

Until her tragic and untimely death, Celestial enjoyed life and her career in public law, working for the law firm Atchison, Barisone, Condotti and Kovacevich, as deputy city attorney for the coastal California cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Half Moon Bay.

Celestial served on the board of directors and volunteered many hours to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Cruz County, which supports abused and neglected children.

Celestial, or “Dove” as family call her, enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends. She appreciated the beauty of nature and especially loved the beach.

Some of her favorite pastimes included cooking, yoga, walking on the beach, riding her bike, learning to surf and paddle board, writing, drawing and creating art.

Dove especially enjoyed creating and making thoughtful, handmade gifts for loved ones.

She could often be seen pedaling her bicycle or riding her pink motor scooter to work, complete with high heels, business suit and a flower in her hair.

Dove was so very special, had a passion for life and was a joy to be around. She loved animals and cared sweetly for her two cats.

Celestial Summer Dove is survived by her mother, Deborah Bevington and Alex Newfield Sr. of Lake County, Calif.; and father, Ken Cassman and Susan Cassman of Oceanside, Calif.

She also is survived by her devoted sisters, Crystal, Charity, Shawnee, Jessica and Marissa, as well as her grandparents Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman of Los Angeles.

Additionally, she is survived by her aunts and uncles, Joan and Michael and Ted and Beth of the San Francisco Bay area; as well as her adoring nephews and niece, Jon, Josh and Ali; and her cousins; Jason, Cole, Julia, Tim, Danny and Jake. We will miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m. at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, by the ocean she loved. A memorial Web page can be found at www.ilasting.com/celestialdovecassman.php.

Flowers may be delivered to the Surfing Museum at Lighthouse Point at 701 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz 95060, on Sept. 24.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Celestial Dove Cassman’s name to CASA, 813 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville, CA 95076 or at www.casaofsantacruz.org .

A beautiful soul is never forgotten. Where there are happy memories, there will always be love. We will mourn the loss of such an amazing, bright, loving and generous human being. Her precious light will endure through the good she did in life and all who loved her.

We will never forget Dove.

Mary Hurkett-McQueen died on September 24, 2011. She was 51 years old.

Mary Elizabeth Hurkett-McQueen went to heaven on Sept. 24, 2011 after losing her courageous battle to cancer.

Mary was known by many names such as “Buff,” “Auntie B” and “Mom” but she was best known as “Beth.”

Beth was born on May 25, 1960, the youngest of four daughters, Lori, Theresa and Julie. She was born and raised in Lakeport and attended Lakeport public schools from grades kindergarten through 12th, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1978 and enrolling at Heald Business College.

She excelled in her studies and was one of the fastest typists in the history of Heald, where she is listed on their Hall of Fame.

After college, Beth started her career as a secretary, working for the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for the next 19 years.

She then began a new career at Lakeport Unified School District where she was the secretary to the superintendent, serving in that position from 1999 as a valuable and trusted employee.

Beth was the loving wife of Mike McQueen, a.k.a “Uncle Fuzzy” or “Captain Mike,” and loving mother to sons Jared and Brendan. They were the lights of her life and there was nothing that she wouldn’t do for her boys.

She was a person who exhibited love, kindness, integrity, truthfulness and loyalty. She loved her family and her dear friends more than herself. Her happiest times were spent with family and friends in Hawaii, at Giants baseball games and lounging outside the house on the deck with her pets, Happy, Hootie, Chuckie, Biscuit, Willow and Jasmine.

In addition to her husband and boys, Beth is survived by her three sisters and families, Julie and Mark Frazell, Theresa and Greg Pickle, Lori and Les Pinson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a local animal shelter.

A celebration of Beth’s life will be held at 7786 Wight Way, Kelseyville, Calif.

The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. on Sept. 30, with a dinner/potluck to follow.

Please contact Carol Thorn at 707-349-6847 if you plan to attend the dinner/potluck.

Fallen Navy SEAL Jesse D. Pittman will be remembered in a memorial service on Saturday, September 24, 2011, in Ukiah, Calif. Courtesy photo.

UKIAH, Calif. – The memorial service honoring fallen Navy SEAL Jesse D. Pittman is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah.

Pittman was one of 30 U.S. servicemen killed August 6, 2011 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

He was a 2002 Willits High School graduate joining the Navy in March 2005 and becoming a Navy SEAL in April 2007.

Pittman's extended family and friends ask the community Mendocino County and beyond to come out and show their support for the sacrifice made by Pittman and his family by lining the streets of Ukiah as the family is escorted to the fairgrounds for the service.

The procession is scheduled to travel from U.S. Highway 101 to the Perkins Street exit; head west to State Street turn north and travel to the fairgrounds.

The approximate time the procession should exit the freeway will be between 10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 24.

Please bring a small American Flag if possible and pick a location on the designated route to help do your small part to let Pittman's family know that we all care and send deepest condolences their way at this time of tremendous loss.

For those who would like to make a donation to help with this memorial honoring Pittman, please send your donation to Agape Bible Church, C/O Jesse Pittman Fund, 290 S. Lenore, Willits, CA 95490.

The memorial service will be held at the Ukiah Fairgrounds Saturday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m.

Pittman was one of 30 U.S. servicemen killed Aug. 6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, when their Chinook helicopter was shot down by insurgents.

Pittman was a 2002 Willits High School graduate. He worked as a seasonal firefighter for Cal Fire in 2003 and 2004 before he joined the Navy in March 2005 to pursue his goal of becoming a Navy SEAL.

Pittman attained his goal and in April 2007 reported to the West Coast-based SEAL team.

He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and fellow Navy SEALs. He loved his country and died a hero.

If anyone would like to make a donation to help with this memorial honoring Pittman, please send your donation to Agape Bible Church, c/o Jesse Pittman Fund, 290 S. Lenore, Willits, CA 95490.