Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Joseph Tracy
7/4/2000
Joseph “Bud” Tracy, a licensed vocational nurse for 15 years at Enloe Hospital, was known as a gentle, caring practitioner.
“Everyone loved to see Joe coming to help them,” said co-worker Edie Fisher, a registered nurse.
He was also “the best darn IV-starter that we had.”
Mr. Tracy was working to become a registered nurse, specializing in surgical techniques.
A world traveler, he was also licensed as a nurse in Queensland, Australia.
He loved Australia and had hoped to move there at one time. Just before he was diagnosed with cancer, he had put his house up for sale.
“He had made friends there, and he loved the climate and the culture,” Fisher said.
Mr. Tracy died June 27, less than a year after his diagnosis.
He was born in San Gabriel and moved to Paradise from Napa 21 years ago. He traveled often to Europe and visited England and Ireland, among other places.
He loved animals and enjoyed working in his garden.
Co-workers said he will be remembered for his willingness to help in any situation.
A bachelor, Mr. Tracy is survived by his father, Monte Tracy of California; his mother, Sharon Malatt of Washington; a brother, Lawrence Stephenson of Washington; sisters, Shannon Stultz and Michele Ratliff, both of Washington, and Debbie Boulant of California; and grandmother Merrie Finch of Washington.
A service was held yesterday . He was buried
in Paradise Cemetery.
Linda Holzwarth
7/4/2000
Linda C. Holzwarth, 96, moved to Paradise from Redwood City.
A homemaker, she enjoyed gardening.
She was born in Germany, the daughter of Karl and Lena Scharfe.
Mrs. Holzwarth was preceded in death by her husband, Max Holzwarth, in 1995, and by a daughter, Betty Arnn, in 1994.
She is survived by a son, Art Holzwarth; a daughter-in-law, Pat, of South San Francisco; two grandsons, John and Steve Holzwarth of Paradise; and five great-grandchildren.
The family request donations be made to Paradise Hospice and Homecare.
No services will be held at her request. She will be buried
in Paradise Cemetery.
Pete Carbonaro
7/6/2000
Charles “Pete” Carbonaro, a Paradise resident since 1981, “always had his golf clubs with him,” said his family.
He had golfed most of his life, but more and more it had become his passion.
He golfed at courses around the country.
Mr. Carbonaro, 51, died Sunday in an auto accident while returning from a golf trip in Mammoth. His truck hit soft sand and rolled in Bakersfield.
A member of the Canyon Oaks Country Club, Mr. Carbonaro golfed three or four times a week, said his family. “He was almost obsessive.”
He also enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii, where he visited a couple of times a year. While there he enjoyed snorkeling and life on the beach.
He was always in good shape, tan and thin - the envy of the family.
He was born to Charles and Grace Carbonaro in Alameda.
Mr. Carbonaro was self-employed as a general building contractor in Paradise and Chico.
He came to Paradise the first time to build a house for his parents, where they still live. He liked the area and later moved here.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, whom he marriage 24 years ago; his daughters, Lara and Amy of Paradise; his parents, Charles and Grace of Paradise; his brother, Rich of Paradise; and his sister, Mary Cook of Mountain View.
A memorial service will be held today at 2 p.m. at Paradise Chapel of the Pines. He will be cremated and placed in Paradise Cemetery.
Ivy Norman
7/6/2000
A resident of Paradise for 25 years, Ivy Norman died in her home Monday.
She was 88.
Born in Handsworth, England, to Samuel and Elizabeth Gould, Mrs. Norman came with her family to the United States when she was 16.
She marriage Maurice Norman on Feb. 27, 1938, and lived in South Pasadena for 25 years. She and her husband enjoyed camping, hiking, swimming, ice skating and traveling in the United States.
Mrs. Norman especially liked gardening and flowers, reading and working crossword puzzles.
She was a member of the local National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Maurice; her sister, Rita Young; and her brother, Sam Gould.
She is survived by her daughter, Maureen Whiting of Magalia; her son, Peter of Roseville; her granddaughters Dina, Kay and Jennifer; and six great-grandchildren.
Private family services were held, and she was cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Mortuary.
Mrs. Norman will be buried
next to her husband in Paradise Cemetery.
Geneva Kennedy
7/11/2000
A U.S. Army nurse during World War II, Geneva Martin Kennedy died Saturday at age 84.
A resident of Paradise, she died at Twin Oaks in Chico.
Mrs. Kennedy achieved the rank of first lieutenant while serving as an Army nurse from 1943 to 1945.
She went on to work for Burbank Hydro Air Co., from 1945 to 1953, and worked in industrial nursing as well.
Mrs. Kennedy was born to William Martin in Spartanburg, N.C. Her mother’s name was unavailable.
She graduated from Pacoet Mills High in South Carolina.
She marriage Dudley Kennedy Sept. 10, 1945.
She is survived by her husband, Dudley of Alamo; and sister, Ruby Ellison of South Carolina.
A memorial service will be held in South Carolina, where she will be inurned, at a later date.
Paradise Chapel of the Pines is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.
Lois Hedrick
7/11/2000
An avid bowler and a resident of Magalia, Lois E. Hedrick died Saturday in her home.
She was 75.
She bowled in various leagues for 30 years.
Mrs. Hedrick was an active member in the Paradise Lutheran Church.
She worked as a secretary for 20 years for the Anaheim Union School District and moved to Magalia in 1979.
She enjoyed the outdoors, crafts and sewing.
She was born to John and Elenore Moyer in Minneapolis, Minn.
On Feb. 11, 1946, she marriage Robert Hedrick, who survives her.
Mrs. Hedrick is also survived by son, Steve of Magalia; daughter, Arlyss Hanosh of Magalia; sister, Ann Hauff of Minneapolis, Minn.; and three grandchildren.
At her request, no services will be held, and she will be privately inurned. Rose Chapel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Edward Boultbee
7/11/2000
Edward Boultbee journeyed far before he lived in Paradise. He was born in England. Then he lived in Canada before he moved to Paradise 12 years ago.
Mr. Boultbee died Thursday at age 79.
For 30 years he owned and operated a business maintenance company.
He was a member of the Paradise Elks Lodge and enjoyed gardening and square dancing.
He is survived by his brother, Eric of Canada.
At Mr. Boultbee’s request, there will be no service, and he will be privately inurned. Arrangements are being handled by Rose Chapel Mortuary.
Manuel Quadros
7/11/2000
A former member of the Paradise Moose Lodge, Manuel Souza Quadros Sr. died Thursday at age 87.
He was raised in Nord and graduated from Chico High School in 1931. He was a resident of North Highlands when he died.
He was born to Antone and Magdalina Quadros on St. George Island in the Azore Islands of Portugal.
In 1946, he marriage Evelyn Ferry in Reno, Nev.
He owned and operated the Drop In Bar on Broadway from 1944 to 1947 and was a Teamster for 26 years.
Mr. Quadros was a member of the Elks Lodge for 51 years.
He enjoyed traveling and playing golf.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn of North Highlands; sons, George and Manuel III of Hermiston, Ore., and Jerry of Oxnard; daughter, Rosalyn Christopher of American Canyon; sisters, Marie Williams of Crescent City, Elidia Hecht of Novato, Madeline Porter of Tahoe and Gertrude Kaiser of Chico; eight grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held today at 10 a.m. at Chico Cemetery, where he will be buried.
Bidwell Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the National Kidney Foundation in care of Bidwell Chapel.
Marie Gunter
7/11/2000
The Gunters, a family that has long lived on the Ridge, lost a relative Friday.
Marie Gunter of Livermore died in Milpitas at age 69.
She marriage Ernest Gunter on June 14, 1950 in Reno, Nev.
She was born to Lawton and Lettie Wooton in Confluence, Ky.
Mrs. Gunter was a manager in retail sales for Payless and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Milpitas.
She is survived by her husband, Ernest of Livermore; sons, Gordon of Milpitas and Lonnie of Greenville, S.C.; and daughter, Sandy Grish of Milpitas.
A graveside service will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Paradise Cemetery.
Chapel of the Pines is handling the arrangements.
Patricia Hurst
7/13/2000
Hummingbird feeders hung from every house Patricia Kathleen Hurst lived in.
When she returned last year to Para-dise, where she was raised, she couldn’t get enough of watching her favorite birds and other animals visiting her home.
“Her face would light up when she talked about them,” her family said.
Mrs. Hurst died in her home Sunday at age 72.
When traveling, she had binoculars at her side, ready to view her beloved animals up close. She especially liked visiting Yellowstone National Park.
She was born to Edward and Annabell Walker in Gridley. She graduated from Chico High School. After being raised in Paradise, she moved back and forth between California and Utah.
Returning to the beauty of Paradise in 1999 pleased her. A gardener most of her life, she immediately planted flowers, especially sweet peas. Roses were also a favorite. She grew an abundance of house plants, and some family members said every plant in their homes was raised by her.
“She got everyone started,” said her son, William. “She just had a green thumb.”
He said when his mother visited him in Colorado, he took her to a Denver Broncos game, and she became a “die-hard fan.” Craig Morton was the quarterback at the time, but later John Elway was her hero.
She watched the games on television “religiously.”
Her children and grandchildren remember her as someone who enjoyed spending time with them doing what they liked most.
One granddaughter, Kimberly, said Mrs. Hurst would play dress-up with her, and they made banana splits together.
Mrs. Hurst was known for her cooking. She baked cakes and pies - the best ones being coconut, Kimberly said.
While Mrs. Hurst didn’t belong to any one church, Kimberly said her grandmother was spiritual.
Kimberly said her grandmother refrained from swearing. And Mrs. Hurst expected girls to be prim and boys to be proper.
She did some hands-on work in the robotics and computer industry. She soldered parts for Eaton Kenway.
She enjoyed working with computer chips - but she didn’t own a computer.
“That’s the funny thing,” Kimberly said.
One time, her job offered her a chance to see New York again, and she jumped at the chance.
She saw the Statue of Liberty, and she talked about the trip for years.
She is predeceased by her sister, Rosie Rupe of Roy, Utah.
She is survived by sons, Thomas of Paradise and William of Magalia; daughters, Diana Alford, Debbie Hurst and Rhonda Blakey, all of Layton, Utah; brother, Ted Walker of Placerville; sister, Darlene of Placerville; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
A memorial was held yesterday at the Pinecrest Mobile Park Club house. Chapel of the Pines is handling the arrangements.
She was cremated and will be inurned in Paradise Cemetery.
George Stevens
7/13/2000
As a cement mason, George Washinton Stevens helped build one of California and the nation’s great monuments: the Golden Gate Bridge.
Mr. Stevens, a former Paradise resident, died in Grants Pass, Ore., July 6. He was 88.
Building the famous suspension bridge in San Francisco was only one of the projects he worked on in the city’s public works department.
After 40 years, he retired in 1976 and moved to Paradise.
He was born to Abe Stevens and Lena Shaw in Adairsville, Ga. He graduated from Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Ga.
He marriage Marian Louise Fuller on Oct. 24, 1990.
While in Paradise, he was a member of the Moose Lodge. He also belonged to the Cement Mason Union Local #580 in San Francisco.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Stevens is survived by a son, Charles “Buddy” of Hot Springs, Ark.; daughter, Georgette Smith of San Antonio, Texas; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held yesterday at the Chapel of the Pines in Paradise. Memorial contributions may be made to any favored organization.
He will be buried
in Paradise Cemetery next to his first wife, Mildred, who predeceased him Aug. 2, 1988.
J. Wheeler Wetz
7/15/2000
J. Wheeler Wetz met his wife, Kathryn, while taking the same bookkeeping class in night school.
“I guess it was pretty much love at first sight,” Mrs. Wetz said.
They celebrated their 62nd anniversary on Monday.
On Wednesday, Mr. Wetz died in his Paradise home.
He was 81.
Their secret to long marriage was doing everything together, Mrs. Wetz said.
They traveled frequently, going to Hawaii, Mexico and Canada.
Mr. Wetz was born in Bracken, Texas. He graduated from Draughons Business College in 1937. A year later, he marriage Kathryn in San Antonio, Texas, on July 10.
He was a sales representative for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. He worked out of San Antonio and Wichita Falls, Texas, and out of Los Angeles. During World War II, he escorted U.S. troop transports. He retired in 1982.
In 1989, the couple moved to Paradise from Glendora.
Mr. Wetz enjoyed working with stained glass. In the door of his home, he created a picture of the river walk in San Antonio. He also made chairs and tables and painted oil on velvet. In one picture, he painted a lion. Its eyes follow the viewer around the room. He made pictures out of dyed rice as well, creating an owl and sailing boat.
Mr. Wetz was a member of many local organizations, including Our Savior Lutheran Church in Paradise; S.I.R.S. #52 in Paradise, where he was dine-out chairman; the Paradise Senior Citizens Association; the Elks Lodge; the Railroad Club; and the Paradise Collectors Club.
He also worked 19 years with the election board. In Texas, he led Boy Scout trips.
Besides his wife, Mr. Wetz is survived by a son, John E. Wetz of Durham; daughter, Kathy Koch of Magalia; daughter-in-law, Troyce; one grandchild; four step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and special friends, David McDonald of Magalia and Betty Driver of Paradise.
A service, handled by Rose Chapel Mortuary, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday. Visitation will be tomorrow from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rose Chapel. He will be buried
in Paradise Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Valley Ridge Hospice.
Leslie Bassi
7/15/2000
Leslie Albert Bassi, a veteran of the Korean War and a member of the Para-dise Alliance Church, died Monday at age 71.
Mr. Bassi was a resident of Yankee Hill.
He was born to John and May Bassi in Berkeley. He served in the U.S. Army.
He worked 22 years as a butcher and enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling.
He was a member of the Butchers Union in Oakland.
On June 1, 1987, he marriage Judith Ann Warner in Reno, Nev.
Besides his wife, he is survived by son, Anthony of San Leandro, Michael of Pinole and Eric of Pinole; stepson, James Mumma of Dayton, Ohio; step-daughter, Mara Lee Terrian of Cincinnati, Ohio; and 12 grandchildren.
A graveside service was held yesterday in the Paradise Cemetery. He was cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to any favorite charity.
Richard Steffen Sr.
7/15/2000
Richard R. Steffen Sr., an auto racing enthusiast, got to work in pit crews for stock and sprint car teams.
Mr. Steffen, 85, died Wednesday in his Paradise home.
A self-employed carpenter for 40 years, he enjoyed watching all sports, especially football and baseball.
He was born to Rutherford and Martha Steffen in Kerman. He moved to Paradise in 1985.
He is predeceased by his wife, Mabel Steffen, in 1992.
He is survived by sons, Dutch of Paradise, Leon of Pleasanton; daughter Christine Collins of Roswell, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The service will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.
Memorial contributions may be made to Paradise Hospice and Homecare.
Violet Davis
7/15/2000
Violet May Davis, 98, a Paradise resident known for her lemon meringue pie and upside-down berry cobbler, died Thursday.
A resident of Paradise since her husband’s retirement in 1970, Mrs. Davis enjoyed knitting, playing Bunco and cooking.
She was born to Ernest and Bessie Wilcox Crooker in Manton.
She marriage David Flood in 1923. They moved to the Pit 1 Powerhouse, a PG&E community near Burney in 1939. Mr. Flood died in 1950.
In 1951, she marriage James Davis and moved to Storrie. Mr. Davis died in 1994.
She is survived by son, Daryl Flood of Arroyo Grande; daughter, Lyla Mae Bower of Paradise; brother Albert Crooker of Daly City; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at a later date. Mrs. Davis will be buried
at Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, handled by Brusie Funeral Home.
Danny Crafton
7/15/2000
Danny Crafton, a resident of Paradise who enjoyed fishing with his son, died July 8 in Chico with family and friends at his side.
He was 53.
Mr. Crafton was born to Naomi and William Crafton in Sebastopol.
On May 8, 1984, he marriage Sharon “Shar” Ivey, who predeceased him two weeks ago.
Mr. Crafton was a carpenter for many years. He attended Calvary Chapel Church.
He is survived by sons, Jon-Michael of Paradise, Kent of Anchorage, Ala., and Danny Crafton-Lewis of Florence, Ore.; brother, Joe of Paradise; and sister, Virginia Eldridge of Paradise.
A memorial service will be held Friday at the Magalia Calvary Chapel Church at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Danny Crafton Memorial Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Cremation & Funeral Service of Magalia.
Mary Underhill
7/18/2000
Mary Anna Underhill, a teacher and a member of the Paradise Genealogical Society, died Friday at age 85.
Since 1958, she taught second and third grade in Los Angeles until her retirement in 1973, when she moved to Paradise.
She was born to Anna Bee Frost and George Frost II in Mason City, Iowa. She lived in Clear Lake, Iowa.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition in 1938, she went to work for Cook County Hospital in Chicago and John Hopkins University in Boston.
Then she moved to the San Fernando Valley.
On April 5, 1947, she marriage Jay Hoyt Underhill, who died Sept. 14, 1998.
Besides genealogy, Mrs. Underhill enjoyed reading, writing, crocheting, sewing and officiating at organizations she joined.
She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter W, The American Association of University Women, the California Retired Teachers Association, The Underhill Society of America and The Daughters of the American Revolution.
She is survived by her sons, John Jay of Paradise and Larry of Los Angeles.
A memorial service will be held at Craig Memorial Church at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Arrangements will be handled by Rose Chapel Mortuary. Contributions may be made to the Craig Memorial Church, Friends of the Paradise Library, The Paradise Genealogical Society or The National Parkinson Foun-dation.
Lawrence Harness
7/18/2000
Lawrence M. Harness, a Paradise resident who enjoyed fishing, hunting and gold panning, will have his ashes scattered at sea after a private family service in Fort Bragg.
Mr. Harness died July 12 at age 50.
He moved to Paradise two years ago from Oroville, where he was the production coordinator supervisor for RCBS, an ammunition reloading plant. He worked there 25 years.
He was born to Lawrence and Lydia Harness in Salem, Ore.
He is survived by his wife, Sue of Paradise; sons, Michael of Oroville and Christopher of Paradise; mother, Lydia of Oroville; brothers, Joseph and Robert of Oroville, and Paul of Sweetwater, Texas.
Ralph Anderson
7/18/2000
A self-employed general building and hardwood floor contractor for 70 years, Ralph H. Anderson, 92, died Tuesday at Feather River Hospital.
The Paradise resident was born to Harry and Ora Anderson in Laton.
He is survived by his son, Gary Wayne Anderson of Paradise. No service is planned. A private inurnment will be arranged by Chapel of the Pines.
Lois Matlock
7/20/2000
Robert Matlock remembers the day he met his future wife, Lois, in high school.
He was walking down the hall when he saw a beautiful girl coming the other way.
“Boy, I wish I could go out with a girl like that,” he thought. But they didn’t meet until they were attending Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
That was a couple of years later, when Mr. Matlock went to the house of a woman he was dating to see if she knew someone who could be a date for his friend.
Maybe my sister, she said, and she called to a woman baking lemon pies in the kitchen. Out stepped Lois.
“Here came that girl … covered in flour,” Mr. Matlock recalled.
He devised a plan quickly.
I want to make sure my friend has a good time, he told the woman he was dating.
He asked her, how about you go out with my friend, and I’ll take your sister?
But it was awhile later after that date that the future Mr. and Mrs. Matlock’s fate was sealed.
One day on campus, he saw her studying on the steps in front of chemistry class and talked to her.
“From then on, we were inseparable,” he said.
They marriage April 10, 1936, in Caldwell, Kan., and celebrated their 64th anniversary this year.
Mrs. Matlock, 83, a resident of Paradise since 1977, died Monday in Enloe Medical Center.
She was born to Louis and Effie Wickline in Enid, Okla.
After her children were old enough to attend school, Mrs. Matlock returned to school at the University of California, Los Angeles. Before it was time to graduate, doctors discovered she had cancer.
“The doctors took me aside and said, ‘She has six months to live - no more,’” Mr. Matlock said.
But she graduated on the dean’s honor roll.
Seven operations later, Mrs. Matlock beat the cancer. She went on to teach at schools in Southern California for about 10 years, including five years in Newhall. She also was a substitute teacher in Paradise for a couple of years.
Mrs. Matlock enjoyed traveling with her husband, Robert, in their trailer all over the United States and staying in elder hostels.
She also enjoyed the warm beaches of Hawaii, where they bought a condominium and visited a daughter.
She played tennis despite a disability in her left leg.
“She beat me once in awhile, and I’m not bad,” Mr. Matlock said.
Mrs. Matlock volunteered at Feather River Hospital for five years and was a member of American Association of University Women of Paradise.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Roberta Clark of Roseville and Chris Chang of Honolulu; brothers, Louis Wickline of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Alvin Wickline of Fresno; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from noon to 7 p.m., handled by Rose Chapel Mortuary. The graveside service will be 10 a.m. tomorrow at Paradise Cemetery.
