Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Steven Craig Cortez
Services will be Saturday for Steven Craig Cortez, who died Sunday at a Watsonville convalescent home. He was 40.
He was born in Santa Cruz and was a lifelong resident. He attended Mission Hill Junior High School and Santa Cruz High.
He was fascinated by big-rig trucks from an early age, and in his younger years frequented truck stops, where he photographed models from the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. He also enjoyed building truck models, and restoring antique and cruiser bicycles.
He is survived by parents Manuel and Barbara Cortez of Santa Cruz; brothers Jeffery Allen, Manuel Earl and Michael Todd Cortez, all of Santa Cruz; sister Margaret Maria Cortez of Santa Cruz; and numerous other relatives.
A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home chapel, 1927 Ocean St.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
December 11, 2002
Jean Johnson
No services will be held for Jean Johnson, who died of cancer Tuesday at her Scotts Valley home. She was 70.
She was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., and worked as a registered nurse at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz before retirement.
She is survived by sons David Johnson of San Jose and Tim Johnson of Scotts Valley; daughter Kay Payne of Ben Lomond; brothers Bill Ashcraft of Arizona and Roger Ashcraft of Ohio; sister Ann Friskney of Florida; four grandsons; and one granddaughter.
Private Burial will be at Mission Mausoleum at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
December 11, 2002
Delaney Marie Mayes
Services will be Saturday for Delaney Marie Mayes, who died Tuesday in a San Jose hospital of respiratory failure. She was 5 months old.
She is survived by her parents, Jeff and Dena Mayes of Watsonville; sisters Makenzie and Cassidy of Watsonville; grandmother Dellene Leeman of Watsonville; grandfather Perry Mayes of Davenport, Iowa; and great-grandmother Helen Ward of Davenport, Iowa.
Friends may call Friday from 4-8 p.m. at Oakwood Chapel. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Crystal Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road. Burial will follow.
Flowers are welcome, but contributions may be made to the family to help defray final costs.
December 13, 2002
Epigmenio Gonzalez
Services will be Monday for Epigmenio Gonzalez, who died Tuesday at Hazel Hawkins Hospital in Hollister. He was 60.
A native of Mexico, Gonzalez lived in Watsonville for 11 years. He last worked for the organic farm of Vince Matulich. He was known for his hard work.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Guadalupe of Watsonville; sons Rafael of Watsonville, Enrique of Oregon, Juan Carlos of Mexico, Filiberto and Sergio Allen Gonzalez of Oregon; daughters Maria Guadalupe Campos and Evelia Campos, both of Oregon, Josefina Campos of Watsonville; brothers Santos, Juan, Ramon, Jesus, all of Mexico; sisters Maria Guadalupe, Basilia and Maria del Rosario Gonzalez, all of Mexico; and 16 grandchildren.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at Valley Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Valley Cemetery.
Friends may call at the family home Saturday after 9 a.m. until Sunday at 4 p.m. Please call 726-1082 for directions.
December 13, 2002
Mary Elizabeth Souza
Services will be Wednesday for Mary Elizabeth Souza, who died Thursday in Sonora. She was 81.
Mrs. Souza was born in Watsonville and lived there most her life. For the past 16 years she and her husband were living in Colombia.
She was active in the Notre Dame Mothers Club and Young Ladies Institute. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sonora. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ed Souza; and sons Steven Souza of Garden Grove and John Souza of Monterey.
Her daughter, Marilyn Souza Leach, her sister, Dorothy Costa and her brother, Manuel Souza, died before her.
Friends may call from 6 - 9 p.m. Tuesday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 999 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial is 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 721 Main St., Watsonville.
Contributions are preferred to the Moreland Notre Dame Memorial Fund, 133 Brennan St., Watsonville, CA 95076.
Arrangements are by Mehl’s Colonial Chapel.
December 15, 2002
Anna Francisco
Private services were held for Anna Francisco, who died of cancer Thursday at her Santa Cruz home. She was 69.
Mrs. Francisco was born and raised in Torino, Italy, and moved to Santa Cruz at age 21 with her husband.
She enjoyed spending time at home, cooking, gardening and sewing.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Joseph Francisco of Santa Cruz; daughters Ann Francisco and Mary Francisco-Hann, both of Santa Cruz; sister Rena Cena of Italy; a granddaughter; a niece and a nephew.
Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel made arrangements for the private service. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery on Seventh Ave. in Santa Cruz.
Contributions are preferred to the donor’s favorite charity.
December 17, 2002
Paul S. Walsh
Services will be Thursday for Paul S. Walsh, who died Sunday at his Santa Cruz home. He was 91.
Mr. Walsh was born in San Francisco, and moved to Santa Cruz after he retired from the San Francisco Fire Department in 1975.
He worked for United Parcel Service for 20 years before going to work for the fire department in 1943.
He was a member of the Retired Firefighters Association and the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall on Frederick Street.
He is survived by longtime friends and caregivers Mary Skelin, Cynthia Alvarez and James Curotto.
His wife, Marguerite Walsh, died in 1988.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Oakwood Memorial Park, 3301 Paul Sweet Road. Services will be in the Crystal Chapel if it rains. Friends may visit from 9 a.m. to noon in the chapel.
Contributions are preferred to the Visiting Nurse Association of Santa Cruz County, 1041 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
December 17, 2002
William H. Rutter
Services will be private for William H. Rutter, who died Tuesday in Henderson, Nev. He was 92.
Mr. Rutter was born in England and had lived in Santa Cruz for 57 years before moving to Nevada in April.
He grew up in Madras, Ore., and later lived in Gilroy and San Martin. He worked for Santa Cruz Lumber for more than 30 years, and enjoyed gardening, fishing and camping. He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge of Santa Cruz-San Lorenzo Valley No. 38 since 1951.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Katie Rutter; son Donald Rutter Sr. of Henderson; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Palm Mortuary in Henderson is in charge of the arrangements.
December 17, 2002
Allen S. Lange
Services will be Saturday for Allen S. Lange, who died Monday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81.
Mr. Lange was born and raised in Chicago and lived in the Los Angeles area for many years before moving to Santa Cruz in 1989.
He attended high school in Western Springs, Ill., and studied aeronautical engineering at the University Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Lange served as a navigator on B-29 bombers during World War II and then worked for the Office of Strategic Services debriefing German scientists after the war.
While stationed in Europe, he visited churches and cathedrals throughout Germany and France, and developed a passion for the organ music of J. S. Bach.
He began a long career in aerospace in the 1950s, working at Bendix and Hughes Aircraft.
In the 1960s, Mr. Lange became active in the civil rights movement and tutored inner city youth at UC Los Angeles.
He was also later active in the anti-war movement, despite working for a defense department contractor. He also volunteered for many years at the Sex Information Help Line in Los Angeles.
After retiring to Santa Cruz, Mr. Lange served on the Civilian Police Review Board, was a volunteer mediator at the Conflict Resolution Center and counseled at Planned Parenthood.
His hobbies included chess, tennis, folk dancing and backpacking. He had a special love for the Southwest and Grand Canyon and Yosemite national parks.
He is survived by wife Deanne Lange of Santa Cruz; brother Burton Lange of Chicago; sons Ron Lange of Simi Valley, Larry Lange of Forestville and David Lange of Highland Park; stepsons David Whizin of Berlin, Germany, Brad Whizin of Sedona, Ariz., Gary Whizin of Santa Cruz and Adam Whizin of Santa Barbara; and eight grandchildren.
His daughter, Nancy Lange, died in 1999.
A celebration of his life will be 3 p.m. Saturday at 902 Modesto Ave., Santa Cruz.
For information, call 459-8379, (805) 522-1790 or e-mail alange_memorial@hotmail.com.
Contributions are preferred to Cindy’s Celebrations, PO Box 1637, Capitola, CA 95010.
December 19, 2002
