Los Angeles County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection
(Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Downey and surrounding towns.)
Many of these obituaries do not have the year of death included. Use the Social Security Death Index to determine this information.
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Downey, Los Angeles County, California Obituary Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - Downey, Los Angeles Co., California Obituary Collection - 31
Posted By: GenealogyBuff.com Date: Tuesday, 6 August 2024, at 4:49 p.m.
Andrew Howland Figge
DOWNEY - Memorial funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the California Heights United Methodist Church, Long Beach, for Andrew "Andy" Howland Figge, 48, a graduate of Warren High School and the owner and operator of Tower Technology in Signal Hill, which does tower erection, demolition, maintenance and repair.
He was born Sept. 9, 1950 in Berea, Ohio, and died in a tragic work accident in Huntsville, Alabama, Feb. 10.
He graduated from Warren High School in 1968, and was working on a tower for a client when he died.
He held the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard inactive reserves, and maintained active service from 1974 to 1984. He attended the Coast Guard Academy, and both his parents, Walter Andrew and Marion (Bishop) Andrews, served in the U.S. Army in World War II.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Cal Poly Pomona in 1974.
He attained the rank of Eagle Scout with a Bronze Palm in the Boy Scouts of America, and was active in the Boy Scouts and Explorers for 40 years, starting at the age of eight. He was active in the "Quest Beyond the Eagle" program.
He served for 10 years on the organizing committee of the Long Beach Marathon which began in 1984, and was a member of the California Heights United Methodist Choir in Long Beach.
He and his wife, Susan, recently had celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary.
Survivors included his wife, Susan (Van Wig) Figge of Long Beach; a son, David Anthony; daughters, Candida Lynn O'Dell, Meggan Kristine O'Dell, and Devon Anne O'Dell; father, Walter Andrew Figge; and uncles, Russell Figge, Hank Andrews and Albert Andrews.
His ashes were scattered at sea from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel Wednesday, Feb. 17.
LaVerne Mayfield
DOWNEY - Friends and family mourn LaVerne Mayfield, a 42-year resident of Downey, who died here Feb. 14.
She was 78, born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was a graduate of South Gate High School, who worked for many years at Bullock's in Lakewood.
She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Mayfield.
Survivors include her husband, Lacy, and her son, Greg (Paula), all of Downey; sisters Thelma Flores of Baja, California, Lois DeVaney of Olga, Washington; daughter-in-law Marlene Jefferson of Paso Robles; grandchildren Christy of Huntington Beach, Brian of Downey, Mike of Los Angeles, and Linda Lopez of Las Vegas; great-grandchildren Joshua and Jessica Burns and Shanelle Lopez of Las Vegas.
Lacy and LaVerne would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in April.
Josephine Gessert
DOWNEY - A Funeral Mass was heard Tuesday, Feb. 11, at St. Raymond's Catholic Church for Josephine Gessert, a Downey resident and a homemaker for 61 years, who died at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Feb. 8.
A former resident of South Gate, she was 83, a native of Woodville, Pennsylvania, and attended school in Detroit, Michigan, including the Detroit School of Nursing.
She was preceded in death by husband, Herbert Carl Gessert, Jr., in 1986.
Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Jean Skinner of Downey; grandchildren, Michael D. Gessert, Charles T. Skinner, Joanne D. Skinner, Dianne J. Ostby and Cheryl M. Skinner; great-grandchildren, Christina, Timmy and Whitney Ostby; sisters, Ann Rizo of Michigan, Mary Arnone of Downey; and a brother, Joseph Scavone of Michigan.
The Rev. Monsignor John Fossella officiated.
Burial followed at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.
Arrangements were by the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.
Josephine R. Gugliuzza
DOWNEY - A Funeral Mass was heard Thursday (Feb. 13) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church for Josephine Rosamary Gugliuzza, a Downey resident for 45 years and a former cook for St. Mark's Episcopal Church School.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she was 86, born Dec. 4, 1910, and died at her home in Downey, Feb. 9.
She previously lived in Hawthorne, and was preceded in death by her husband, Salvatore in 1967.
Survivors include her sons, Chuck F. (Gerry) Gugliuzza of Downey, Thomas A., (Beverly) Gugliuzza of Rancho Palos Verdes; brothers, Tony Calabrese of Anaheim, Dick Calabersa and Basil Calabrese of Ohio; sisters, Louise Ruggiero and Margaret Rizzo of Ohio; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Fr. John Maloney officiated.
Burial followed at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach.
Arrangements were by the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.
Mary Ann Davis
DOWNEY - Memorial services were held Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, for Mary Ann Davis, a teacher for 30 years with the Downey Unified School District, who died Feb. 7 in Coto de Caza.
She was born in Bell, Jan. 20, 1939.
The wife of Don Davis, former City Manager and Fire Chief of Downey, her services were attended by more than 500.
Survivors include husband, Don Davis; daughters, Lisa Nordbak and Susan Nordbak; son, John Davis; grandchildren, William Noble, Eric Noble, Blake Noble, Dave Nordbak, Kelsey Nordbak, Haley Nordbak, Elisabeth Davis and Sean Davis.
Pastor Tom Holladay officiated.
In lieu of flowers, Mary Ann requested donations to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (a camp for children with cancer), or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Paul Maddox Leach
BISHOP - Funeral services and burial will be held today in Bishop, California for Paul Maddox Leach, a former longtime Downey resident and a former leader in the First Baptist Church of Downey, who died Feb. 10.
He was 79, born in 1918 in Quincy, Illinois.
He came to Downey with his family in 1924, graduated from Downey High School, and still holds the record for the number of varsity letters earned.
He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, returning here after the war to work at Leach Grain & Milling, where he became vice-president and part owner.
He was a prominent member of several Christian organizations.
Since moving to Bishop, 12 years ago, he stayed involved in business and became active in the Calvary Baptist Church there.
He enjoyed crafts, morning walks and his garden.
He was flown to Long Beach Memorial Hospital last week, where he died.
Survivors include his wife, Jane; two married children; three grandsons; a great-granddaughter; and two brothers, Willis and Roy Leach.
Agnes de Mars
DOWNEY - Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at the Miller-Mies Mortuary Chapel for Agnes de Mars, a 60-year Downey resident and homemaker, who died Feb. 10 at Downey Community Hospital.
She was 81, a native of Minnesota, and a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Downey.
Survivors include her daughter, Theo Hines, of Downey; her son, Donald de Mars; four grandchildren, Desi de Mars, Cori de Mars, Jennifer Hines and Robert Hines.
The Rev. Randy Gardner of First Baptist Church of Downey, will officiate.
Interment will be private.
Roxie Deweese Morris
DOWNEY - Funeral services for Roxie Florence Deweese Morris, a longtime resident of Downey, and a professor emeritus at CSU-Northridge, were held Feb. 11 at the Downey Memorial Christian Church.
She was born July 6, 1907, and died Feb. 7, 1998.
She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College with a B.A. in physical education in 1929.
She attained a certificate in physical therapy from Childrens' Hospital in Los Angeles, in 1940, and she completed an M.A. in physical therapy at USC in 1950.
She married Donald Riley Morris, July 14, 1942.
She was a professor at USC for 25 years, and at CSU-Northridge for 11 years.
Her awards included the USC Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1966; the Award for Excellence in Teaching at CSU-Northridge in 1972; the Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association for contributions to the field of physical therapy in 1972; the Award for Excellence in Physical Therapy Education by the Section for Education of the American Physical Therapy Association in 1977; and she was named Professor Emeritus at CSU-Northridge in 1977.
Survivors include two children; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
