Donna Jo Reed Staehlin
Nov. 23, 1935-Feb. 1, 2013

We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend Donna Staehlin.

Donna passed away peacefully with her daughter and son-in-law by her side in St. Helena Hospital’s ICU.

Donna had been diagnosed with a rare form of vasculitis called Churg-Strauss and passed away six short months later.

Donna was born at the Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, to Linda Jo Egerer and Cecil Brady “C.B.” Reed.

Most of her childhood was spent in Fountain Lake, Minnesota, where she attended parochial school and then going on to attended Albert Lea High School graduating in 1953.

Donna went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in physical education with a minor in economics at her father’s alma mater, the University of Colorado, in 1957.

While in Boulder her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she went on to earn a master's degree in education at the Texas Christian University in 1960.

After graduation, she took a short lived teaching job in New York, which she called “the time of which we don’t speak.”

Taking a teaching position in Arizona, she made many friends and found she was made for the desert.

While in Arizona, she met and married Rogers Munro Staehlin Jr. in 1964. In 1965 they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where Donna continued her career in education, teaching in the San Mateo Union High School District for more than 30 years.

She and Rogers divorced in 1983 after 18 years of marriage, however they maintained a deep friendship and parenting partnership throughout their lives.

Retiring at the age of 55, she moved to the Mendocino Coast in 1992. She lived in the cool North Coast for 14 years until she moved to Cobb Mountain in 2006, where she loved the warmer weather.

In the last chapter of her life, she became an integral part of the Cobb community, and enjoyed having her daughter as a next-door neighbor.

Donna had grown up in a family who loved to laugh and debate politics around the dinner table. She had a quiet, reflective, witty personality. She wasn’t afraid to stand her ground and speak her mind. Her tight inner circle of friends made her laugh and gave her a true sense of belonging.

She lived a practical, low frills, classic collegiate lifestyle. She enjoyed sports and had especially enjoyed skiing, playing tennis and softball. She continued to be an avid golfer her whole life and played three to four times a week.

Technology never scared her and she was known to be the techie among her friends. She embraced the Internet and enjoyed playing video games. Family and friends were her highest priority.

Donna was predeceased by her sisters, Diane Jean Thompson and Wanda Reed Catis, as well as her parents.

She is survived by her brother, John Reed Sr.; her daughter, Kimberlee Reed Ferguson; and two granddaughters, Alyssa Munro Ferguson and Madeline Reed Ferguson.

A memorial will be held in her honor at Moore Family Winery at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.

She had made prearrangements through Neptune Society and will be scattered at sea north of the Golden Gate.

Donald Eugene Shroyer, 82, passed Jan. 4, 2013.

Donald was a Korean War veteran, serving in the US Army.

Survived by brothers, William Shroyer of Ukiah, Calif., and James Shroyer of Vancouver, WA; sister, Geri Obrien of San Jose, Calif.; son, John Shroyer; and several nieces and nephews.

He will be put to rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif.

At his request, no services will be held.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.

James Christopher Ducoty, if you knew Jim you were lucky, if he loved you, even luckier.

We will miss you and love you forever big man.

– Michelle and Jimmy

A celebration of John Duane Thompson's life is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Lodge at Blue Lakes in Upper Lake.

John died suddenly Dec. 17, 2012, at the age of 57.  

He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.

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

David Wayne Sparks
1953-2013

Survived by wife, Gloria; children, Michelle (Norman) Tavis (Heather), Eli (Suzanne) and Simone; grandchildren, Danielia, David, Christian, Nevaeh, Matthew, Eli, Rose; sister, Terri; nephews, Andrew, Shawn, Dustin, Wolfgang and Robert; nieces, Marcelle, Jennifer, Veronica, Kimberly and Tonya.

Celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at North Shore Christian Fellowship, Upper Lake.

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

Albert Nahmias crossed over from earth to glory on Jan. 28, 2013.

He was born to Isarel and Ventura Nahmias on Nov. 4, 1921, in Seattle, Wash.

He left school at an early age to become a traveling salesman and retired at age 60.

In 1992, he met and married Mae Stewart and enjoyed her two children: Delores Bradford and Bennie Irving. They celebrated 21 years of marriage in 2013.

Al, as everyone knew him and Mae moved to Lake County where they started a small business and he became well known in the community.

He enjoyed being active in senior projects and the NAACP. He was a member of Powerhouse Baptist Church of Clearlake as well as a member of Beit Chavurah of Lower Lake. All of this gave him the joy of life he had.

He is survived by his wife Mae and cousins, Ventura, Israel and Rita.