Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Margaret M. Hilsz
Margaret Mary Hilsz died April 1, 2001, at Courtyard Health Care in Davis. Born Feb. 7, 1908, in Fortress Monroe, Va., she was 93.
She came from a military family and grew up on army bases throughout the East Coast. At age 14, she came with her family to the Presidio in San Francisco, where the family lived until moving to the city of San Francisco in 1926.
In 1933 she marriage William August Hilsz. She worked for General Electric Co. in San Francisco in the payroll department for more than 25 years and was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in San Francisco. She came to Davis about four years ago to be near her family as her health started to fail.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1971.
She is survived by her brother, Allyn Hutter and his wife Verna of Davis; two nephews, Daniel R. Hutter and his wife Deborah of Davis and Gregory Hutter of Belmont; and grandnieces and nephews, Aaron, Mark and Claire Hutter of Davis and Scott, Danielle and Nicholas Hutter of Belmont.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial Mass Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 200 W. 14th St. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Chapel.
Beatrice Schlepp
Beatrice (Watterson) Henley Schlepp died March 29, 2001, at the age of 88. Born in Clarita, Okla., on July 6, 1912, to Gerald and Martha (Harris) Watterson, she had been a Yolo County resident for the past 60 years.
She worked as bookkeeper for the city of Woodland for 20 years and at her son's construction firm for another 15 years.
Her family remembers her as a loving mother who was devoted to her grandchildren. Her hobbies included gardening, needlework and cooking for family and friends. She was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church of Woodland during her entire residency in Yolo County.
She is survived by her children, Roger Henley and his wife Maria of Davis, Gary Henley of Bend, Ore., and Wanda Harling of Sacramento; grandchildren, Diana Houston of Davis, Keryl Nash of Shelby, Mont., Michelle Burris of California, Daniel and Roger Henley of Davis and Jess and Boyd Harling of Sacramento; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Monday and graveside services were held this morning in Woodland. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
Fiona M. Reed
Fiona Monaghan Reed died April 1, 2001, in San Rafael, following a long illness. She was 89.
She was a native of Kansas and a 45-year resident of Davis. She worked as an elementary teacher in the Davis Unified School District for 20 years until her retirement. She was a 4-H leader, Girl Scout leader and a member of the Oregon Trails Society, Yolo County Historical Society and Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority. She and her husband were avid world travelers.
She is survived by her husband, A. Doyle Reed of San Rafael; daughter, A. Doyleen Reed McMurtry of San Rafael; grandson, Rian A. McMurtry of Davis; grandson, A. Lee McMurtry of Sacramento; sister, Mae Tincknell of Kansas; and sister, Naomi Mcllvain of Arizona.
At her request, no services will be held.
Those wishing to do so, may make contributions to a charity benefiting children's educational programs of the donor's choice.
Mary Lou Perry
Mary Lou Perry died March 28, 2001. Born Nov. 17, 1918, to the late Ray and Julia Ames Perry, she was 82.
She was born in Seattle, Wash. and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1936. She received an A.B. in zoology from UC Berkeley in 1941. She worked as a research assistant at the California Academy of Sciences from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s, where she was a writer and animal handler for the television series, "Science in Action" on KGO-TV in San Francisco. She joined the staff of UC Davis in 1953 and retired in 1988, having worked in the School of Veterinary Medicine, the department of veterinary microbiology and in cooperative extension. She was a lifelong animal lover and student of nature. She described two new species of parasitic worms as well as wrote several popular articles about bats. She also enjoyed music, sketching and writing verse.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Miriam Perry; nephews, Warren and Don Perry; niece, Diane Griffin; three grand-nieces, two grand-nephews and three beloved cats.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Ames Perry.
A private Burial was held at Davis Cemetery. Davis Funeral Chapel handled the arrangements. Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to the Yolo County SPCA, P.O. Box 510, Davis, CA 95617 or Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA 95617.
William R. DeRosa
William R. DeRosa died April 2, 2001, in his Granite Bay Home. Born Aug. 16, 1937, in Oakland, he was 63.
He was raised in Oakland and Concord. He owned DeRosa Candy Company in Concord for many years. He moved to El Macero in 1979 and started DeRosa Sales, a snack-food company, which is now located in Woodland. He lived in El Macero until moving to Granite Bay in 1991. He was very devoted to his family and loved his work.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Gail P. DeRosa, on March 24, 1991.
He is survived by his mother, Peg DeRosa of Concord; his beloved companion of many years, Mary Powers of Granite Bay; his children, Jeff DeRosa and wife Kathy of Manteca; Denise O'Brien and husband, Bob of Dixon; Tracy Freeman and husband, Dave of Dixon and Paul DeRosa of Sacramento. He is also survived by his sister, Diana Martin of Concord, nine grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 200 West 14th St. Burial will follow at the Davis Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel in Davis.
Leo E. Paxton
Leo E. Paxton of Davis died on March 27, 2002, in Davis. He was 79.
He was born on Nov. 5, 1922, in Cedalia, Mo., and was a 19-year resident of the Sacramento and Davis area.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Delsie Paxton.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Frances Lyon-Paxton of Citrus Heights; two daughters, Cindy Paxton of Southern California and Jeanne "Mike" Carey of Santa Rosa; a son, Leo Paxton of Livermore; and stepchildren Craig Lyon of Woodland, and Christine Catie and Courtney Collins of Placerville.
His family would like to thank Sierra Health Care in Davis for its 2 1/2 years of tender, loving care, and is sending special thanks to E Station nurses Rachel and Diane. The family also thanks hospital aides Abel, Julio, Adolpho, Amanda, Gladys, Maria, Aurora and Lulu.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Arcade Creek Manor Clubhouse, 6546 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights. A potluck will follow the service.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes in Sacramento.
Charles N. Harris
Charles Nelson Harris died at his Davis home on Memorial Day, May 28, 2001. Born to Donald Frederick Harris and Mary Lauretta Walker in Berkeley on June 1, 1914, he was 86.
He had five older siblings, Cecil Harris Coyle, Donald Edward Harris, Mary Lauretta Harris, Brady Newman and John Frederick Harris, who preceded him into death. He also has a younger sister, Annabelle Harris Palmer of Fillmore.
Having many animals around the house turned into a lifetime love of his. He always remembered fondly his collie, Rex, who was the first dog of his own, and his sheltie, Sherry.
The family fell on hard times in the late 1920s and the three youngest children were moved to the Masonic Home in Covina. He attended Covina Union High School and at the age of 18, joined the Marine Corps. He completed four years of service, which was followed by four years in the reserve, where he became a rifle marksman.
While serving in the reserves, he worked in a variety of jobs, including selling perfume for the Owl Drugs Store in Oakland. During this time, his younger sister introduced him to Sylvia Jean Sale, known as Jean to those close to her. They courted and were marriage on June 18, 1939. With the assistance of his brother-in-law, Daniel Coyle, he became employed at the California Corrugated Pipe Company in Berkeley.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he re-enlisted in the marines and was assigned stateside training troops for battle. By 1944, he was sent into the Pacific Theater, participating in the initial landing on Guam on July 21, 1944, and on to Iwo Jima on Feb. 24, 1945, where he suffered serious injuries to his right arm. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, certificates of satisfactory service, honorable service button and an honorable discharge button. Upon his discharge on Dec. 27, 1946, he was made a sergeant.
He returned to work in the pipe company, which by this time was known as Armco. With the help of the VA bill, the couple purchased a house on Richmond Street in El Cerrito. He and his wife had a son, Edward Charles on Jan. 9, 1954, and a daughter, Sandra Jean, on Jan. 18, 1960. In 1956, his company moved his family to Davis, where they purchased their second home on 12th Street. He retired from Armco in 1977 after working for the company for 35 years. He and his wife joined the Lazy Loafers RV Club and traveled monthly to a variety of locations around California.
He spent his vacation time hunting, fishing, camping and instilling in his children and grandchildren a love for the outdoors. After retirement he took up golfing and for many years he was seen on 12th Street mowing lawns to pay for his new hobby.
Tragedy touched his life in 1979 when his only son, Ed, died in a motorcycle accident just outside of Sacramento. Part of the healing process for him came one year later in the form of a trip to Mount St. Helens in May 1980. He traveled with his longtime 12th Street neighbor, Frank Bauman. They returned to Davis just days before the mountain erupted.
He was a member of the Athens-Silveyville (Davis) Masonic Lodge No. 201, the Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and the Davis Senior Center.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean on Feb. 19, 2001.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Jean Harris and Michael Patrick Horn; grandchildren, Michele Jo, Scott Charles, Shannon Jean and Marni Patricia Horn of Truckee; brothers-in-law and spouses, Harry and Lena Sale of Richmond; Edward and Virgina Sale of Rydal, Pa.; nieces, Judith Coyle Janes of Ventura; Cynthia Sale Bonds of Pinole; nephews, Jack Brady of San Jose and Stephen Harris of Santa Rosa. He is also survived by numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews and some "adopted" grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent, in his name, to The Masonic Home, 1650 East Old Badillo, Covina, CA 91724 or The Truckee Community Foundation, P.O. Box 366, Truckee, CA 96160.
Delbert L. True
Delbert L. True, professor emeritus of anthropology at UC Davis, died June 20, 2001. Born in San Pedro on Aug. 31, 1923, he was 77.
A devoted field archaeologist even in his youth, prior to his formal studies he had investigated prehistoric settlement along the coast and in the hills of southern California and eastward to the high desert. After serving in the army air force during World War II, he moved with his wife and children to northern San Diego County, where he started an avocado ranch, but at the same time he continued to pursue archaeological investigations in the region.
With the formation of a program in archaeology at the department of anthropology at UC Los Angeles in the 1950s, he commenced his formal studies at that campus. He received his bachelor's degree in 1961, entered the graduate program at the University of Arizona and subsequently completed his doctorate degree at UCLA in 1966. During this time he was a recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship at the University of Arizona and of the Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship at UCLA.
On completing his degree at UCLA, he began his academic career in the department of anthropology at UCD.
Initially he spent several years of archaeological investigations in the mountains and high deserts of northern Chile under a program established by scholars from UCLA and Chile.
He subsequently returned to Davis and to a long career of distinguished teaching and research.
His legacy includes not only his research and publications on the prehistory of the Chilean Andes and of southern California but also investigations into the prehistory of the interior foothills and adjacent valleys of northern California. These studies have contributed new and important data to the archaeological record of the area. He worked closely with a host of graduate students, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions to the discipline.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Juanita True; his children, Douglas, Dianna and Jack and their spouses; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services were private.
Ruth M. James
Ruth Michael James died June 8, 2001, in National City. She was 90 years old.
She was born in Davis to Fred and Marie Michael. Preceding her in death were her husband, George James and her brother Warren Melvin. She is survived by her brother Laurence of Davis and numerous relatives and friends.
Graveside services have been held.
Eleanor M. Jackson
Eleanor May Jackson of Woodland died May 25, 2001, at the Palm Gardens assisted living residence. She was 81.
Born June 30, 1919, in Stockton, she was the first of two daughters of Charles Henry Nazro, an executive with an industrial pump manufacturer, and the former Nell Shew, a homemaker. She grew up in Stockton and Berkeley with her parents and her sister Jeanne, graduating from Berkeley High School in 1937. After graduation, she attended Pomona College, where she met her future husband in a freshman history class.
She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in psychology in June 1941, and she and Hal were wed the same month. After graduation, the couple moved to Arizona and had two daughters, Anne and Catherine. When World War II intervened, she and her daughters moved to San Marino to live with parents, while Hal served in the U.S. Navy. After the war, the young family settled in Arcadia where their three sons, Christopher, Lee and Harold Jr. were born.
She returned to college while her two youngest children were still in high school and earned a teaching credential. She taught elementary school in the Rosemead school district for 15 years. When the couple retired in 1980, they moved to Ukiah to be near their daughter Catherine and grandchildren, John, Charles and Aileen Boyd.
In February 2001, she and Hal moved to Woodland to reside in the Palm Gardens assisted living residence. She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, crossword puzzles, and, especially, her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Hal Jackson; her children, Lee Jackson and his wife Christa of Davis, Anne Jackson of Davis, Catherine Tanaka and her husband Sanford of Ukiah, Christopher Jackson and his wife Lorelei of Mohnton, Pa., and Harold Jackson Jr. and his partner T Santora of Washington, D.C.; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Allison and Tim Jackson of Davis; Jessica Wright-Jackson of Davis, John Boyd and his wife Erika of Pasadena, Charles Boyd of New Haven, Conn., Aileen Boyd of San Francisco, Christopher Jackson of Medford, Mass., and Kate Jackson of Washington, D.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Katrina and Luke Boyd of Pasadena.
A memorial service was held May 27 in Davis, followed by a Burial service on June 3 at the Davis Cemetery. The family would like to express its gratitude to the Palm Gardens assisted living residence and to Yolo Hospice for the kind and excellent care provided to Eleanor during the last months of her life.
Clay R. Brooks
Clay Reed Brooks died July 7, 2000, at his Davis home. He was born on March 20, 1936, in Ripon.
Brooks graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1961 with an engineering degree. He was an agricultural engineer for UC Davis for 28 years and lived in Davis for 35 years.
Brooks was a member of Yolo County American Red Cross, Good Sam's ``Sylvan'' Yolo County and numerous other recreational vehicle clubs. He was a member of the University Covenant Church in Davis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Verda Brooks, and his sister, Ona May Brooks.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Beverly A. Brooks of Davis; his children, David A. Brooks and his wife Marlo of Las Vegas, and Yvonne A. Burau and her husband James of Woodland; two sisters, Norma Lehr and her husband Marshall of Manteca and Joyce Brooks of Manteca; four grandchildren, Shari and Sierra Brooks of Las Vegas and Evan and Dylan Burau of Woodland; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Monument Hill Memorial Park in Woodland. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the University Covenant Church, 1715 Anderson Road in Davis.
Remembrances may be made in his name to Mount Hermon Association, Santa Cruz, CA 95041. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel.
Evelyn G. Russell
Evelyn G. Russell died July 5, 2000, at Woodland Memorial Hospital. Born Sept., 27, 1917, in Boden, Ill. to James and Grace Kasenberg Docherty, she was 82.
She lived in the Boden, Matherville, Milan area of Illinois nearly all her life, and moved to California with her husband last year to be close to their son Rick and his family.
She will be remembered by friends and family as a woman of great spiritual strength, selflessness and compassion. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Milan, Ill.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard (Dick) Russell; their son Rick and his wife, Sharon, of Woodland; sister, Maxine Byron, of Milan, Ill.; a step-daughter, Cherie Peterson of Alexis, Ill.; three granddaughters, Carrie Russell Lewis of Woodland, Lori Lemon Messerschmitt and Lisa Lemon Chambers of Ottumwa, Iowa; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Micaela Lemon Peterson; a son, William Lemon; a sister, Alice Drake; and a brother, Peter Docherty.
In fulfillment of her wishes, no services will be held in California.
Donations in her name may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Kathleen Barsotti
The agriculture community mourns the passing of Kathleen Barsotti, 51, who died July 2, 2000, after a valiant nine-year battle with breast cancer.
Barsotti was a member of University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program's Program Advisory Committee from 1991-93, and served as a grower cooperator on the UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems comparison project for many years.
The proprietor of Capay Valley Fruits and Vegetables, Barsotti brought innovation to her 100-acre organic farming operation for more than two decades.
She received a master's degree in ecology in 1974 from UC Davis and started farming organically with four partners on a small plot of land in the Capay Valley northwest of Davis. A pioneer in organic farming and small-scale marketing, she sold her organic produce to wholesalers, gourmet restaurants, at farmers' markets and to a network of subscribing consumers.
Last year she was honored with the University of California Small Farm Program's 1999 Pioneer Agriculturist Award for her lifelong commitment to organic farming, her dedication to helping other organic farmers and her efforts to establish the Davis Farmers' Market.
She will be remembered as an inspiration to the organic farming community, and to female growers in particular.
She is survived by her husband, Terry Schroeder, sons Che Barnes, Noah Barnes, Thaddeus Barsotti and Freeman Barsotti, and her parents, Frank and Lillah Barsotti.
Wilbur E. Kroeger
Wilbur Everett Kroeger, 96, died on July 11, 2000. He was born in Miles, Iowa, on Jan. 13, 1904 to Hans and Christina Kroeger.
Kroeger spent his young life in Corsica, S.D., and then moved to Davis in January 1926, where he lived the rest of his life. He worked for UC Davis for 40 years, and retired in 1966. He then worked part-time stringing tennis rackets for the Davis Sport Shop until his eyesight failed in 1993.
Kroeger enjoyed walking, swimming, tending his garden, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. For 30 years, he had a pilot's license and enjoyed flying over many of California's hills and valleys.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann; sister, Esther Pattison of Armour, South Dakota; cousins Helen Sambucetti of Woodland and Robert Jacobson of Grass Valley; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Marie; his brothers Elmer, Albert, Richard, Frederick and Woodrow; and his sisters, Hilda Litz and Gladys Symens. His sister Frances Dierks survived him by two days.
A private graveside service is being held for Kroeger. Remembrances may be made to the Easter Seal Society.
