Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 06 July 2022 02:13; 06 July 2022

Wesley Shawn Thaxton

Wesley Shawn Thaxton
“Wes”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Wesley Shawn Thaxton was born March 14, 1996, in Clearlake, California.

Wes passed unexpectedly in his sleep on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Wesley is predeceased by his father, Michael Shawn Thaxton. He is survived by his momma, Angelina Arroyo; stepdad, Rob Young; siblings, Dustin Thaxton, Kai and Maddy Young; nephew, Deegan Thaxton; uncles, Jamie Thaxton, Carlos, Tony; auntie, “Crissy” Arroyo; cousins, Samantha and James Thaxton, Jordan, Ashley, Anthony, Jessica and Jay Arroyo; grandmother, Kathy Maynor; and most notably his best friend and life partner, Magdalena Rodriguez.

Wesley graduated from Upper Lake High School where he played football, basketball and baseball.

After high school Wes tried his hand at continuing his education at Mendocino College and working several different jobs.

He loved the outdoors and grew fond of fishing and spent much of his free time at it.

Wesley was a very compassionate person and had a charming personality and he loved being around people.

He touched many lives in his 26 years, and his warm smile and puppy dog eyes will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

Wes will be laid to rest on Wednesday, July 6, at Upper Lake Cemetery at 1 p.m.

A celebration of life dinner will follow at the HPUL Community Building at 9460 Main St in Upper Lake.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 01 July 2022 03:54; 01 July 2022

Mary Turner

Mary Elizabeth Turner (Best) was born in Morristown, N.J. on Feb. 1, 1927, to Walter E. Best and Agnes R. Best.

She was 95 when she passed away peacefully on May 13, 2022, in Santa Rosa, California.

Thomas W. Turner, her beloved husband, died in 2004.

She is survived by four children: Michael Turner, Mary Francis Boster, Mark Turner and Margaret Brown. She has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mary was independent from an early age. Living in the backwash of the Depression years, she attended a one room school house until high school and lived in a house without electricity until the 1940s when the house burned to the ground.

Caught up in the excitement of the pharmaceutical innovations of the 1940s centered in New Jersey, Mary wanted to be a biochemist. Against her father’s will, Mary supported herself while attending Douglas College at Rutgers University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in zoology and bacteriology in 1948.

After marrying Tom and having her four children in five years, Mary was a mother par excellence to her children.

In addition to supporting her children in school and their interests, she and Tom continued their love affair with horses owning several, breeding and showing horses for over 40 years.

Mary did not return to education until the late 1960s. Having found herself drawn to English literature and, with enough credits from her bachelor’s degree to qualify for the master’s program, Mary attended Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. She obtained her master’s degree in English literature in June of 1968.

After a move from Arizona, where the family had lived for 20 years, to California, Mary found her way into librarianship. First as head librarian at a small town library and then moving to children’s librarian in Bakersfield, California.

Mary built a 20-year career in the library. There she developed her lifelong ability for storytelling into a master skill and added puppetry to her repertoire as she inspired children to read and love stories.

After retirement Mary and Tom moved to Lake County, California, and settled for 20 years in Lakeport. They were both active in St. John’s Episcopal Church, holding many positions of responsibility and respected and admired in the community.

She continued a lifelong love of creating, especially knitting and belonged to the Lake County Knitting Guild. She was also an accomplished needle worker, winning second place in the embroidery category at the California State Fair.

Mary moved to Brookdale Paulin Creek in Santa Rosa in 2010. She was active in the community, helping new residents as an ambassador, a leader in the knitting group and a good friend to all she came in touch with.

In 2021 she moved to Forestville, California, to live with her daughter’s family.

Mary believed there was goodness in everyone and she always tried to bring that out. Her quick intelligence, optimism and faith were the tools with which she navigated her life. These uplifting traits will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Mary’s funeral service is on Saturday, July 9, at 1:30 p.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 Matheson St., Healdsburg, with a reception to follow.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 29 June 2022 02:48; 29 June 2022

Joshua Robert White

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — It is with deep sadness that our families announce the passing of our dear son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and most importantly, father, Joshua Robert White.

Josh passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on the morning of Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the young age of 43, at his home in Kelseyville.

Josh was born in Ukiah, California to Barry and Kim White.

Josh is a fourth generation Kelseyville resident. He attended Kelseyville schools and graduated in 1997.

He attended Heald Business College and graduated with a degree in business computer administration.

He worked for George Peterson Insurance Agency in Santa Rosa for several years. He then attended West Coast Training in Washington state and received certifications in heavy equipment and obtained a commercial driver's license.

Because of his love for Lake County, he never truly left Kelseyville and started work at Calpine Geothermal Corp. and worked there for 15 years until his passing.

Josh leaves behind two adorable sons, Braydon and Jameson, who were the center of his universe. He absolutely cherished his two sons, and loved playing RC trucks/cars with them, coaching Braydon’s baseball team, showing them how to fix things and listening to music with them. Josh was a responsible, loving and caring father to his sons.

He was a bright light in our lives and he will be remembered for his generous spirit, modesty, gentle manner, his style, fun loving attitude, endless patience, great sense of humor and for his ability to be prepared for any situation.

Josh enjoyed being outdoors hunting, fishing, shooting and he had a love for all things cars. He was a lifelong learner of many subjects.

Josh is survived by his sons, Braydon and Jameson White; father, Barry White; mother, Kim White; sister, Jessie Walker and brother-in-law Dylan Walker; nieces, Eliza and Alex Walker; former wife, Jami White; uncles and aunts, John (Carol) White, Rick (Stephanie) White, Judy (Bill) Baker, Steve (Cindy) Chisoholm, Dave Chisholm, Aunt Barbara Chisholm and Jack (Renee) Dixon; numerous cousins, Darcie (Johnny) Polan-Lockwood, Ryan (Pilar) Russell and Robert White, Lindsay Nielson, Tammy Cream, Christy and Stacey White, Rachel White, Katee (Will) Vega, Jared (Christy) Norton, Thom (Sheela) Evan and Troy Baker, Bill (Melody) Tommy, Kaitlyn, Cody, Caitlyn and Chloe Baker, Steven, Kevin and Jeffrey Chisholm and his cherished relatives, Jim Kollenborn, Dave and Jeri Treadaway, Jeremy (Jolene) Jeremy and Maverick Treadaway, Sara (Eric) Charlee and Ben McBurney, and Trevor (Kinderlynn) Kollenborn.

Please join us for a celebration of life in Josh’s honor at the Big Valley Grange in Finley on Saturday, July 16, at 1 p.m. Please consider bringing an appetizer or dessert to share.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 06 July 2022 02:11; 06 July 2022

Rory Butcher

Rory Butcher passed at his home in Texas last June 2021.

He is survived by his wife, Gwynne; daughters, Janeen, Janelle, Sarah and Chelsea; grandchildren, Tyler, Alannah, Jake and Otto.

We will celebrate his life at 11:00 AM with a graveside memorial service at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, California, on July 9, 2022. All are welcome.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-334-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 30 June 2022 02:43; 30 June 2022

Travis Garcia

Travis Garcia was born Oct. 31, 1982, at St. Helena Hospital in Deer Park, California, and was raised in Middletown, California.

He died on June 10, 2022, from a tragic accident in Calaveras County, at the age of 39.

Travis attended grades K-12 in Middletown schools and graduated in June 2000. Travis played football, basketball, baseball and golf. He loved horses and was active in gymkhana, high school rodeo, team roping, 4-H and FFA.

He went on to college at Santa Rosa Junior College, then to DeVry University where he graduated cum laude, received four prestigious senior project awards and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 2004.

Travis worked for Marriott Western Mountain Pacific Sales Office in San Francisco until 2011. During that time, he advanced to senior sales office specialist/event manager/ sales manager one. He enjoyed managing large events for sports teams and major company conferences amongst many other clients.

When he left Marriott, he went into the hospitality industry. Travis loved people and got along with everyone. His social, energetic and enthusiastic personality allowed him to succeed and make many friends along the way.

In 2003 his son Makai was born. Travis was a proud Dad and loved spending time with his son. He encouraged his education and course of study in college pursuing the movie industry at Sac State. He loved when Makai passed him up in height and laughed when he had to look up to him. He was so proud of the young man Makai is becoming.

Travis also entered the construction field. He loved learning that trade, which he had worked a bit in his earlier years. This led him to his last job working in his hometown, for Calpine Corp. Travis described this as his “dream job,” where his father had worked all during Travis’s upbringing. He loved Middletown, had many lifelong friends here and was proud and excited to be back.

Last summer Travis met Becky, fell in love and they were married in August 2021. He was proud and happy to have Becky in his life. He loved her very much and looked forward to their life together. Becky gave him something he longed for, a partner to love and enjoy life with. Living in Middletown kept them apart more than he wanted so he had recently relocated to Valley Springs to be with his wife.

Travis was a generous, kind and energetic soul with a bright smile who touched many lives. He lived life to the fullest and experienced more than most in his short life. He had fearless confidence. He loved movies; especially comedy, sci-fi, and westerns. He was always repeating his favorite quotes.

He is preceded in death by his father, Donald Garcia Jr.; grandparents; uncle, Michael Garcia; and cousin, Trevor Gonzalez.

He is survived by his son, Makai Garcia; wife, Becky Garcia; stepson, Ashton Kelly; mother and stepfather, Glenda and Robin Loudermilk; his brother, Josh Garcia; and many extremely loved aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of life event will be held at 1 p.m. July 23 at the Lions Club, Central Park, Middletown.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Sunday, 26 June 2022 00:11; 26 June 2022

Joanne Campbell

Joanne Marilyn Ross Campbell
June 11, 1931 — June 21, 2022

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Joanne Campbell passed away peacefully on June 21, 2022, after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 91 years old.

Joanne was born at home in Lakeport, California, on June 11, 1931, to Joseph and Anna (Santos) Ross.

Soon after, Joanne and family moved to their beloved ranch on Big Valley Road in Finley, California. It was a place where she fondly remembered growing up in the family’s orchards surrounded by siblings Kenneth, Leona (Newman), Lois (Thorne) and Judith (Davidson). She and her sisters also comprised the entire choir at St. Mary’s Church in Lakeport with Joanne eventually taking over piano duties as well.

Joanne, always the stellar student, graduated school in Lakeport at the top of her class receiving a Doyle Scholarship to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. It was there she started her career with a pre-nursing program, graduating in 1952.

Upon graduation, she was accepted at both Stanford University and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) nursing schools, choosing UCSF for practical reasons — she would graduate six months earlier than the Stanford program with both RN and PHN (Public Health Nurse) degrees. She graduated in 1955.

At the end of her nursing internship, she attended a six-month position at the Queen’s Hospital of Nervous Diseases in London, which began in 1958. This would lead to her lifetime passion for traveling.

After the internship, she joined three of her eventual lifelong friends in a Volkswagen bug and toured Europe for six months — it was the trip of her life. Upon her return, she turned down a nursing position in Connecticut and accepted a position with the city and county of San Francisco as a Public Health Nurse in 1960. She would make San Francisco her home for the rest of her life.

It was during this time she met her future husband, James (Jim) Campbell, a third-generation San Franciscan. They married in December 1961.

The next chapter of her life began when she gave birth to her oldest son Timothy in 1962, Brian in 1964 (a short move south to Daly City in 1965), and Robert in 1967. Her boys were her pride and joy in life and became her sole focus after the untimely death of Jim in 1973.

She raised the three boys by herself in Daly City attending as many baseball, basketball and band concerts as humanly possible, eventually putting all of them through college. She retired from nursing in 1992, but she did not stay idle for long.

As a tribal citizen of Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, she was elected to the Tribal Council in 1998 where she served multiple terms over 18 years, retiring in 2016 to spend more time with the second love of her life, Young Smith. While serving on the Tribal Council she was passionate about the tribe’s federal restoration, cultural revitalization projects including tribal language learning programs (Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo) and sharing traditional basketry skills.

She served on the initial boards of directors for the California Indian Basketweavers’ Association (CIBA) and the San Francisco Quilting Guild. She was an avid quilter as well as a Giants, 49ers, and Warriors fan throughout her entire life. She was also a great friend, aunt, mother and grandmother.

She never stopped being a nurse and continued to look after and help many families and friends right up until her passing.

She is survived by her three sons, Timothy (Bonnie), Brian (Carla) and Robert (Tina); her sister, Leona Newman of Oak Harbor, Washington; as well as her six grandchildren, James, Ethan, Kayla, Miles, Emily and Chase; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends.

A Rosary will be held at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary in Daly City on July 7 at 6 p.m. (visitation starts at 3 p.m.) followed by a funeral Mass at Church of the Good Shepherd in Pacifica at 11:30 a.m. July 8. Private burial will follow at a later date.

A celebration of life gathering in Sonoma County will be held later this year.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Mateo County at www.svdpsm.org or 50 North B St., San Mateo, CA 94401, 650-373-0622.

Obits

Wesley Shawn Thaxton

Mary Turner

Joshua Robert White

Rory Butcher

Travis Garcia

Joanne Campbell

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