Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!FINLEY
Ellen Hudson Finley
Ellen Hudson Finley died peacefully at the age of 95 on March 1, 2006, at Sierra Healthcare Convalescent Hospital in Davis.
A memorial gathering will be held in Davis at 1 p.m. Sunday. For the location, call the family at 756-4996.
Born April 23, 1910, she was the oldest of five children of Wyoming sheep rancher Frank Hudson and his wife, Harriet. They lived in Lander, a small town in western Wyoming. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming and began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse at an isolated sheep ranch.
During World War II, she worked in both Cheyenne, Wyo., and Burbank, helping to assemble B-17 bombers. In Lander, Wyo., she marriage a traveling court reporter named Leslie Finley. They moved to Southern California, eventually settling in West Covina.
She continued teaching in California and was recognized as an accomplished reading teacher. Throughout her life, former students would recall what an impact she had on them. She had a special talent for pointing people in the right direction and she never raised her voice in anger.
She retired from teaching in 1975 and had a very fulfilling retirement, her family said. She became an accomplished china painter, resumed piano lessons, loved tending her rose garden, enjoyed bird watching and took up knitting.
Her family said she had a special love for Wyoming, the Wind River Mountains and the Tetons, where she hiked and camped. She enjoyed the beauty and solitude of the wide open country.
In 1991, she relocated to Northern California to be near her children. She moved to Davis in 1993 where she lived with her son Bruce and his family. She loved almost 10 years of helping her grandchildren, Tyler and Sarah Ellen, grow up.
Late in life she developed dementia. It took her memory, but it never took away her kindness toward people and her happy nature. During that time, she attended the Yolo Adult Day Health Center, which kept her active with art. She painted pictures, which were chosen for a special exhibition at the California state Capitol.
She also benefited from Citizens Who Care and was befriended by two volunteers, Vera Krom and Vicky Tousignant, who gave unselfishly of their time and love to Ellen for many years. She spent her last three years at Sierra Healthcare, where she was cared for by a dedicated and professional staff.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie; her sisters, Dorothy and Doris; and her brother, Frank.
She is survived by two sons, Douglas of Hamburg, Germany; and Bruce and his wife Deborah of Davis; two grandchildren, Tyler and Sarah Ellen; and her brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Lily Hudson of Patterson.
DRIVER
Eneth "Stu" Driver
Eneth “Stu” Driver died Dec. 6, 2005, at the Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. A resident of the Veterans Home of California in Yountville for five years, he was 84.
Born in Red Bluff to Clarence and Anna Driver, he was raised mostly in Roseville. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, working as a surgical technician in a mobile hospital in Germany. Upon his honorable discharge, he continued his education and earned a master's degree in teaching.
He taught in public schools for many years. In 1974 he went to work as executive director of Cache Creek Lodge Recovery Facility in Yolo County where he helped many people achieve a sober and drug-free life. He retired after 18 years of service.
His family said he loved fishing, skiing and swimming, and especially enjoyed teaching these sports to his daughter and grandson. He loved his dogs and always had one as a faithful companion. He was said to have a great sense of humor, a joy of cooking, and never gave up reading and improving his knowledge.
He is survived by his fiancé, Joanne Baker of Mountain View; his daughter, Lynn of San Francisco; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many longtime friends.
A remembrance service was held Jan. 12 at the Veterans Home Chapel. Arrangements were made by the Neptune Society.
The family requests donations be made in his name to Cache Creek Lodge Recovery Facility, 435 Aspen Way, Woodland, CA 95695; or to a charity of the donor's choice.
FINN
Madelyn Lee Finn
Madelyn Lee Finn died on Feb. 8, 2004, at Sierra Health Care in Davis. She was 93.
Finn was born on May 21, 1910, in Bolinger, La., and lived in numerous places before she met and marriage John Finn. The couple moved to San Francisco where they lived until retirement in 1975, when they came to Davis.
As a young woman, Finn won numerous awards for her ceramics and she was known as an excellent seamstress. She worked most of her life as a homemaker and provided clerical support for her husband's business. She was later employed by Prudential Life Insurance Co. where she worked in the district office as a new business clerk.
In 1979, the couple moved to Austin, Texas, where her husband died in 1982. She worked at the Oakhill Senior Center from 1980 to 1996. She then returned to Davis and lived at Covell Gardens until health problems forced her to move to a bed and care home and later to Sierra Health Care. Her family would like to thank the staff of Sierra Health Care for their thoughtful and professional care.
Finn is survived by her daughter Patricia F. Ernst and her son Douglas L. Finn of Davis. She is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. No services will be held. Private interment will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel.
NICKEL
Cornelius C. "Red" Nickel (1st of 2 obits.)
Red, 88, passed away on Monday, July 4 in Woodland.
He was born Jan. 31, 1917 in Saskatchewan, Canada near the town of Borden to Cornelius A. and Kathie Nickel. In 1923 the family moved to Gladwin, Mich. for a few years and in 1926 they moved to California and settled in the small community of Capay, northeast of Orland. In 1942 he enlisted in the Air Force. His classification was Mechanic. He spent his enlistment time in Casper, Wyo. where he met and marriage Viola Johnston. They were transferred to Hayes, Kan. for a short time. While enlisted, he worked on B-17s, B-24s, and B-29s until he was Honorably Discharged in 1945. They then moved back to the Capay area until 1949 when they purchased a small dairy in the Bayliss area northeast of Willows. While operating the dairy he also worked full-time for a local farmer.
In 1965 Red marriage Barbara Peterson and they resided in Glenn until they moved to Woodland where they became apartment managers and were sent to various cities in California and Arizona. They eventually returned to Woodland where they continued managing apartments until their retirement in 1991.
During retirement, his hobbies were, in his words, "fishing, fishing and more fishing." He took great pride in his vegetable garden between "CASTS"!!! He also enjoyed gatherings with family and friends where he would share his life's experiences in his own unique manner.
He is survived by his three sisters, Tina Prieheim and Mary Landess of Chico; Sue Bennett of Redding; children, Norma Spence of Willows; William "Bill" Nickel, Sandy Otterson, Dick Peterson and Debbie Eads of Woodland; Jo Ann Gray and Chuck Peterson of Lincoln; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Harold, Abe and Jake Nickel; and wife Barbara.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 11 a.m. at the Masonic Cemetery just north of Orland. The Nightingale-Gilmore Funeral Chapel of Sacramento is assisting the family with arrangements.
Cornelius C. "Red" Nickel (2nd of 2 obits)
Cornelius C. "Red" Nickel died in Woodland Monday, July 4 at age 88.
Mr. Nickel was born Jan. 31, 1917 in Saskatchewan, Canada near the town of Borden to Cornelius A. and Kathie Nickel. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a mechanic. He served in Casper, Wyo. and later in Hayes, Kan. While enlisted, he worked on B-17s, B-24s, and B-29s until he was Honorably Discharged in 1945. After the war he operated a small dairy in the Bayliss area northeast of Willows and worked full-time for a local farmer. After moving to Woodland he became an apartment manager working in various cities in California and Arizona. He eventually returned to Woodland where he continued managing apartments until retiring in 1991.
Survivors include Mr. Nickel's children, Norma Spence of Willows; William "Bill" Nickel, Sandy Otterson, Dick Peterson and Debbie Eads of Woodland; Jo Ann Gray and Chuck Peterson of Lincoln; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; his sisters, Tina Prieheim and Mary Landess of Chico; Sue Bennett of Redding; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara; his parents; and his brothers, Harold, Abe and Jake Nickel.
Services: Graveside services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Masonic Cemetery just north of Orland. The Nightingale-Gilmore Funeral Chapel of Sacramento is assisting the family with arrangements.
DREVER
Michelina Marie "Mike" Drever
Michelina Marie "Mike" Drever died in Woodland Memorial Hospital Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, at age 89.
Born Dec. 5, 1912, in Manhattan, New York, Mrs. Drever was the daughter of Giovanni and Maria Guglielmo. Her parents came to the United States from Italy at the turn of the century; passing through Ellis Island and establishing residence in New York. She was one of the 12 children and grew up in a family rich in love and laughter. She marriage Daryl Drever of Guinda, in 1945, after meeting him at a USO dance at the end of World War II and moved to Woodland where she would spend the rest of her life. Longtime Woodland residents remember her from her years of working at Breit's Department Store and Cranston's. She was a member of Business and Professional Women and St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Her greatest joy would come from watching her grandchildren perform in community theater and school musical productions. Friends and family could count on "Grandma Drever" for a smile, an honest answer and just the right amount of New York attitude.
Mrs. Drever is survived by her loving son, Alan Drever and wife Dianne of Woodland as well as granddaughters, Michelle and Kimberly Drever. Other survivors include her stepson, Jerry Drever of Palo Alto and sisters, Helen Arminio of Fairfax, West Virginia and Angie Esposito of Fort Meyers, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Daryl Drever, in 1956.
A private service is being planned.
The family requests memorials be directed to Woodland Opera House Endowment Fund; Woodland High School Band Boosters; or Douglass Jr. High Choral Department.
McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
NINO
Oscar P. Nino
Oscar P. Nino died at his home in Woodland on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004 at age 47.
Mr. Nino was born in Woodland on Nov. 16, 1956 and had been a Yolo County resident all his life. He was a graduate of Woodland High School and had been employed by Greengate School in Woodland.
Survivors include Mr. Nino's parents Juan and Otilia Nino of Woodland, uncle Oliverio Paniagua and family of Zacatecas, Mexico, aunts Celia Morales and family of Mexico City, Irene Dias and family of Zacatecas, Mexico, Chavela Nino and family and Consuelo Fernandez and family all of Woodland, and sister-in-law Norma Nino of Sacramento. He was preceded in death by his brother Gustavo P. Nino, grandmother Manuela P. Lozano and aunt Estella Obregon.
The family requests memorials in Mr. Nino's name be directed to Kaiser Permanente Hospice Program, 2025 Morse Avenue, Sacramento 95825.
Services: A vigil was held Thursday, Sept. 16 at Holy Rosary Church, 301 Walnut St., Woodland. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., today, Friday, at Holy Rosary Church. Interment will be at Monument Hill Cemetery. McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
