Friday, 29 March 2024

Obits

Lyle La Faver. Courtesy photo.

Lyle W. La Faver
Dec. 25, 1936 — Aug. 21, 2023

Lyle William La Faver passed away Aug. 21, 2023, in Oakland, of Alzheimer’s dementia. He died peacefully with his wife by his side.

Lyle was born Dec. 25, 1936, in Denver, Colorado, to parents Louis La Faver and Anna Mittendorf. He grew up in San Diego under the shadow of World War II and remembers black-out windows and soldiers chasing kids off the beach.

He attended Chula Vista High School where he excelled in Reserves Officer Training Corp, or ROTC. Lyle and a buddy signed up for Marine Corp Reserve. Unexpectedly, the unit was activated, and the boys completed Marine Corp boot camp at Camp Pendleton. Realizing the boys’ ages, they received honorable discharges and returned to high school to complete their education.

Lyle loved airplanes and soloed at 17. Deciding to forgo the Marines, Lyle enlisted in the US Air Force and was shipped to Japan. He worked in radar at Misawa Air Force Base in northern Honshū. Lyle finished out his military career teaching radar and weather at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

After his military service, Lyle completed the Copley News Service editorial program and worked as a journalist for 15 years. He married his wife Barbara and helped raise two stepchildren.

Lyle began his Pacific Gas and Electric career in 1978 as a tour guide at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant being built in San Luis Obispo. His photography skills documented all aspects of the construction, and he wrote executive summaries of reports to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

He later joined PG&E’s corporate communications staff as media representative in San Francisco, Chico and Sacramento. He served as chief spokesperson in Sacramento during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and received the Governor’s Award for work with the state Office of Emergency Services.

He continued consulting with PG&E after retiring and moving to Yuma, Arizona, for his wife’s health. He came out of retirement in 1993 to serve as temporary spokesperson at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant. His wife died after 32 years of marriage.

In 2000, Lyle married former PG&E colleague Susanne Coffey at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Danville. They moved to the wine country when Lyle was hired as tour guide at The Geysers and worked at the geothermal visitor center in Middletown.

He also served as a volunteer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, South Lake County Fire Safe Council and board member for Hidden Valley Lake water district.

He earned Congressman Mike Thompson’s award for community service. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lakeport.

The couple moved to Alameda in 2015 to be near Kaiser Permanente. Lyle became a docent at Oakland Aviation Museum, reader at Christ Episcopal Church and member of a men’s coffee group on Bay Farm.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Susanne; stepson, Tim Coffey (Michelle); and step-grandchildren, Sean and Madeline, all of Alameda.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda. A reception immediately follows in the parish hall.

Those wishing to honor Lyle may make donations to Boys and Girls Club or the shower program at Christ Episcopal Church.

Kevin Mindez. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The descendants of Myrtle Duncan Quintero mourn the death of their beloved Kevin Jon Mindez, loving father, brother, uncle and cousin.

Born Oct. 5, 1967, at age 55, Kevin took his last breath in the ICU of Sutter Lakeside Hospital on Sept. 12, 2023, where he was receiving treatment for cardiac arrest and other serious health issues.

Kevin was born in Lakeport and was raised by his maternal grandmother, Mabel Duncan Knight, due to the untimely death of his mother, Myrtle, when he was 9 years old.

Growing up with his siblings and cousins on their Grandmother Mabel's property taught Kevin a love for nature, the great outdoors in general and fishing. He was an avid fisherman. Fishing was his passion.

Kevin resided and worked happily for years in Laytonville, California. He was employed by the Branscom Mill and it was in Laytonville where he began his life as a young father, lovingly embraced by the Dowd family.

Later in life he moved to Kansas to be with his (recently deceased) wife, and children. While in Kansas he successfully managed his own tree trimming and clearing business, providing services after devastating storms and tornadoes. Unfortunately, health issues arose and he returned to Lake County, California.

Kevin is predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Mabel Duncan Knight; mother, Myrtle Duncan Quintero; infant son, Dalton Jon Mindez; brother, Joe Quintero; and nephew, Joseph Quintero.

Kevin was blessed with five beautiful healthy children and seven amazing grandchildren — eight counting the one coming in October 2023.

Survivors include Mauain Johnson and his children, Joaquin Johnson, Aiden Johnson, Nevaeh Love Johnson and baby, Willow Johnson; Kylie Rose Mindez and her son, Logan Alan Little; Kevin Jake Mindez and his children, Myla Marie Mindez and one coming; Jonnie Mindez; Rosemarie Mabel Mindez and her son, Hudson Lee Castillo.

He also leaves behind his only living maternal aunt, Dorie Timmons; his only sister, Stephanie (Hanson) Rodriguez; nephews, Monty Timmons, Wheat Perez and Reggie Quintero; nieces, Sonya Horne and Mia Myrtle Hoaglen; 13 great nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

We lay to rest a kind, generous soul whose loss will be felt for time immeasurable.

In traditional style, visitation will be held for three days and nights at Robinson Gymnasium beginning Monday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. through Wednesday, Sept. 20.

A graveside funeral will be held on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. at Robinson Cemetery on Mockingbird Lane, a tribal cemetery, with the kind professional care of Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.

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

Melinda Wright. Courtesy photo.

Melinda Sue Wright
Aug. 31, 1954 — Sept. 1, 2023

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Melinda came into this world as the first child to James and Dolores Easter.

The day after her 18th birthday she moved in with her life partner and eventual husband, James Wright. Together they had one child, Matthew.

She enjoyed good music, traveling, gardening, genealogy and, most of all, her grandchildren, who will carry her cherished memories in their hearts forever.

Melinda will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, intelligent and loving woman to everyone around her and she will be dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held at North Shore Christian Fellowship in Upper Lake on Saturday, Sept. 30 at noon.

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

Tana Mulyca. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — We are sad to announce the passing of Tanabelle Arleen Mulyca, or as Grandpa used to call her, “Boomer.”

Tana passed at the young age of 47 on Sept. 5, 2023, surrounded by loved ones after being diagnosed with stage four cancer in Lake County.

She was born in Yuba City, California, on Christmas Day in 1975 and she was raised in Philo, California, by her grandparents, Lilabelle and Arthur Knight Jr.

Tana (Tanabelle) is survived by her little doggies, (her kids), Cheyanne, Bubba and Smokey; mother, Alicia R. Knight and father, Bernard S. Mulyca; siblings, Victor Ruiz, Rolando Ruiz, Angelina Gamez, Mark Mulyca and Melissa Mulyca (Pettit), and (brother from another mother as Tana would say) Travaris Coleman; Uncle Brub and Auntie Ann; cousins, Art, Liz and Jake; all the Santa Rosa Family-Grandfather side, and Marysville Family-Grandmother side; Uncle Evert, Aunt Bernice, cousin, Anthony, Shawn and John John.

Tana’s pride and joy was her niece and nephews, her angel Cassie Girl, Baby Vic, Romeo and Lil Juju.

She loved to share her love of food, making homemade lasagna, spaghetti, tacos, cakes and pies. She could make any cheese cake at your request, we, the family would challenge her to make new cheesecakes, and she would be up for the challenge. She always looked forward to cooking for the ones she loved and getting us all together.

Tana had the heart to help others, she would help anyone that needed a place to stay, there are many of us that have lived with her once or twice. She loved to drive around with her dogs, be with family, she was the glue of the family, the closest thing to the grandparents, after they passed.

Celebration of life will be a private ceremony with close family members and friends. Tana, will be missed dearly …

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

Paula Johnson. Courtesy photo.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — A longtime Middletown resident, Paula Johnson, passed away peacefully on Aug. 20, 2023, after a brief illness.

Paula is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Anita Montmarquet; brother, Skip Montmarquet; husband, Roy Alyn Johnson; and daughter, Lisa Johnson.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Middletown, with a celebration of life to follow at the Middletown Lions Club.

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

Paula Johnson. Courtesy photo.

Shirley Howland. Courtesy photo.


Shirley May Howland
March 26, 1929 to Sept. 7, 2023

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Shirley Howland was born in Sacramento on March 26, 1929, and was raised in Oakland, the only child of Arthur and Neva Howland.

Her parents bought a summer cabin in Clearlake where she learned to sail with her father, later winning many races as the lone female entrant.

This sparked her lifelong passion for sailing and took her on many trips including to the Caribbean, Hawaii and New Zealand.

She graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 1950 and began her career in teaching in the Bay Area.

She never lost her love of Clearlake, visiting often, and eventually moving back to the expanded cottage of her childhood.

She was a strong and remarkable woman, a trailblazer, who cared deeply about social issues including peace and justice.

She stood firmly against war and for climate change action. She became a vocal supporter of the rights of the citizens of Clearlake and online searches will still find many of her strongly worded letters to the editor.

As a long-time member of the Lake County Democrats, she worked to elect women to local office, and never missed a chance to set up a voter registration table or help a stray animal. She had a strong cadre of friends who supported her to the end.

In 2019, the Lake County Silver Foundation honored her with its Inspirational Senior Award at its Senior Summit.

In 2021, she sold her house in Clearlake, gave up her beloved Prius and moved to the Edelweiss Guest Home in Lakeport where she was lovingly cared for.

She died gracefully at Rocky Point on Sept. 7, 2023, after a brief stay at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. She will be sorely missed.

In her honor, please consider modeling her courage, commitment and perseverance in speaking up for what is right.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. at the Kelseyville United Methodist Church located at 3810 Main St.


Shirley Howland learned to sail on Clear Lake with her father, Arthur Howland. Courtesy photo.

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

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