Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Derald A. Gibson
Derald Andrew Gibson of Modesto died Jan. 9, 2002. He was 87.
A native of Scotts Valley, Lakeport, he was born 1914. He attended Modesto Junior College in the 1930s and became editor of the Collegian. He worked with Kodak in Honolulu and helped establish the hula shows. He also joined the Hawaiian Mountain and Trail Club and enjoyed climbing island mountains.
He served in the U.S. Army on Pearl Harbor and on the island of Guadacanal during World War II. He became a warrant officer and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, the American Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was CEO of the Davis Chamber of Commerce for 20 years and of the Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce during his retirement. He marriage Betty Allen Turner in 1984, and the couple moved to Modesto, where they had met 50 years earlier.
Gibson was a member of the Forward IV Planning Committee and of Modesto's Growth: Orderly, Affordable and Livable (GOAL). He was a member of SIRS #144, Clarantina Golf Club, the Modesto Bridge Center, the Modesto Courtroom and the Centenary Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife; stepson, Richard Turner of Maryland; stepdaughter, Carol Turner of San Jose; step-grandsons, Shawn and Aaron Nunes of San Jose; step-granddaughter, Sarah Turner of Cheyenne, Wyo.; cousins, Pauline Hanson and Maxine Jones of Lakeport; and nieces, Donna Gordon of Dixon and Burney Gibson of Cottage Grove, Ore.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Centenary Methodist Church in Modesto. A private service will be held at a later date in Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport.
Donations may be made to Centenary Church, Community Hospice in Modesto, the American Red Cross, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Memorial Hospital in Modesto.
George J. Guirsch
George Jeffrey Guirsch of Roseville died Jan. 15, 2002. He was 44.
He was born Sept. 8, 1957, in Brawley and was a Snap-On tool dealer in Davis, Dixon and Fairfield for eight years. He enjoyed woodworking, football, camping and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include two daughters, Michelle Marie Guirsch and Kristen Louise Guirsch of Meadow Vista; six siblings, Janet Hoffman of Vallejo, Julie Allison of Riverside, John Guirsch of San Jose, Joan Hossack of Orangevale, Laurie Huss of Roseville and Jean Louise Jeffress of San Francisco; his father, James Jeffress of San Jose; and his ex-wife, Kathleen Guirsch-Valeu of Meadow Vista.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Jane Jeffress.
A prayer service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in Sacramento, and Burial will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the George Jeffrey Guirsch Memorial Fund, for Michelle and Kristen Guirsch, U.S. Bank account 253450897710.
Chapel of the Valley mortuary in Roseville is assisting the family with arrangements.
James K. Slover
James Kleven Slover of Davis died at home Jan. 15, 2002. He was 52.
He was born in Bartlesville, Okla., Sept. 10, 1949, and was raised in the Texas Panhandle. He was an Eagle Scout and was awarded the highest scouting honors in the Order of the Arrow. He attended UC San Diego and served in the Peace Corps in Mali, Africa. He was a 10-year resident of Pine Tree Gardens.
Survivors include three sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan and Michael Slover of Woodland, Anita and Patrick Trieweiler of Merced and Betsy and Jim Coonfield of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, John Slover of Oakley; three nieces, Megan Murphy and Katie and Maggie Trieweiler; and two nephews, JD Slover-Murphy and Matthew Trieweiler.
A private Burial will be at Monument Hill Memorial Park in Woodland, and a celebration of his life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Unitarian Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Tree Gardens at P.O. Box 988, Davis, CA 95617.
Cherrie Cox
Esparto resident Cherrie Cox died at home on Jan. 12, 2002, of cancer. Born in Long Beach on Sept. 17, 1953, she was 48 years old.
She spent her youth in Long Beach, Phoenix and Palos Verdes. After graduating from Palos Verdes High School in 1971, she attended Redlands University's Johnson College, spending her junior year in Boston and graduating with degrees in women's studies and modern dance.
After graduation, she moved to New York City, where she had a successful business manufacturing leather garments for women. She later returned to California, settling in Oakland and working in the small press and specialty printing business. She was highlighted in Printer magazine as only one of two women in the United States running a traditional press.
Her passion for art, gardening and plant studies later brought certification in both surface design and master gardening. Her second career was in nursery work, which she began after coming to Guinda about 10 years ago. She was employed by Full Belly Farm, Cache Creek Nursery and Morning Sun Herb Farm, along with private individuals in the Capay Valley.
She volunteered at the UC Davis Arboretum, and just participated in its annual fall plant sale. An accomplished seamstress, she worked several years for a local parachute manufacturing company. Books and reading were extremely important to Cox, and she worked for the Davis, Esparto and Woodland libraries.
As a student of Zen, she spent many Saturdays at Green Gulch Meditation Center in Marin County, studying and practicing meditation. She also was a strong athlete and swimmer. Competing regularly, she held a national record in the butterfly stroke at age 10, and was slated for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
At age 29 she was again a medal winner, this time in the Gay Olympic Games. She went on to compete twice more in the Gay Games, saying the Vancouver Games in 1990 represented the happiest time of her life because of her teammates and their highly inspirational coach. While in Oakland, she used her love of swimming to teach adults to overcome their fear of the water.
She never gave up her passion for learning and expanding her experiences. She took up bird watching and pottery, and loved photography. In the last months of her life she participated in hospice training, toured Italy for the first time, took a watercolor class and volunteered at Alderson's Convalescent Home in Woodland.
She leaves behind many loving friends and family members. At her request, no services will be held. Memorial donations may be sent to Breast Cancer Action, 55 New Market St., Suite 323, San Francisco, CA 94105, or to Yolo Hospice.
Wenona W. Warren
Wenona Wynne "Winnie" Warren of Davis died Jan. 13, 2002. She was 85.
She was born Dec. 18, 1916, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to John Edward Wynne and Frances Isabel May Padgett. After her family settled in California, she attended schools in San Leandro and earned an anthropology degree from UC Berkeley in 1939.
She marriage James Earl Warren on March 8, 1941. After World War II, they moved their young family to Humboldt County, where he worked for the California Division of Beaches and Parks. In 1965 they moved to Davis, where she worked for the Davis Branch of the Yolo County Public Library. She was an active member of the Friends of the Davis Public Library after her retirement.
She enjoyed gardening and traveling with her husband to Mexico, Spain, South America and the red rock country of the American Southwest.
Survivors include daughter Melissa Warren of Davis; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Pam Warren of Reno; daughters-in-law Mary McGrath and Kimberlee Warren; grandchildren Lisa Raw and John, Keith, Rachel, Megan and Scott Warren; step-grandchildren Kristen and Alex Herter; and great-grandchildren Bailey and Nik Raw and Kennedy and Abigail Warren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; sons James Talfourd and John Rogers; brothers Stanley, John and Talfourd; and sister Nina.
A private graveside service will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, at Pioneer Cemetery in Columbia.
Donations in her memory may be sent to the Friends of the Davis Public Library at P.O. Box 91, Davis, CA 95617.
Robert F. Reiff
Robert "Bob" Frederick Reiff died of congestive heart failure on Jan. 16, 2002, at Woodland Memorial Hospital. He was 89.
Born Feb. 2, 1912, near Esparto to William and Mary (Plocher) Reiff, he was a farmer and lifelong resident of Yolo County. He attended Clover Elementary School and graduated from Esparto High School.
Reiff was a second-generation member of one of the founding families of St. John's United Church of Christ. He was a member of the church choir for more than 65 years, served as superintendent of the Sunday school for about 20 years, was past president and member of the various church boards.
He was also past master of the Yolo Masonic Lodge, past president of the Yolo County Farm Bureau, past director of the Production Credit Association board, past director of the Sacramento Valley Livestock Association, and a 4-H community leaders.
Following his retirement from farming, Reiff worked as a security guard at Contadina and as a salesman for local farm and automotive parts businesses until he retired at age 82.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Ruth Bender Samborsky Reiff; daughters Marilyn Mitchell and her husband, Chuck, of Woodland; Carolyn Reiff of Woodland; Barbara Cantrell and her husband, Bob, of Vacaville; Mary Ann Samborsky of Sacramento; Dawn Samborsky of Pacifica; and son Kurt Samborsky and his wife, Rita, of Woodland.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Sheri Mitchell, Scott Mitchell, Kim Cantrell, Mark Alman, Jill Alman, Dawn Alman, Rene Samborsky and Susan Samborsky; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Reiff was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanette Reiff, in 1961; brother William Reiff; and sisters Matilda "Tillie" Barth and Marie Whitaker.
A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. today at St. John's United Church of Christ, as 432 Cleveland St., Woodland.
The family requests memorial be directed to the St. John's United Church of Christ's memorial fund or property fund.
McNary's Chapel is assisting with arrangements.
Alice L. Unger
Alice L. Unger of Davis died on Jan. 16, 2002, a day after her 91st birthday, at Sierra Health Care Convalescent Hospital.
Unger was born Jan. 15, 1911, in Honolulu. She was a homemaker and mother to two children.
She was a fifty-year life member of the Order of Eastern Star in San Carlos. After extensive travel throughout the world, she and her husband moved to Davis from El Dorado Hills in 1990.
She was preceded in death in 1995 by her husband of 55 years, Dorren J. Unger.
Alice is survived by her children, Barbara Jordan of Austin, Texas; and Dorren F. Unger and his wife, Uta, of Davis; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and another on the way.
A memorial was Saturday at the Davis Funeral Chapel. Internment will be private.
Remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 601068, Sacramento, CA 95860-1068
Addie M.L. Molson
Addie Mae Logan Molson of Woodland died Jan. 16, 2002, Woodland Memorial Hospital. She was 87.
She was born Feb. 3, 1914, to Alvin and Hattie Logan in Guinda, the fifth of 10 children. She was a 1940 graduate of UC Berkeley, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish, with a minor in French. After raising two children, she returned to college and obtained an elementary school teaching credential from Sacramento State College.
She was the first African American to teach in the North Sacramento school district, and she retired in 1972. Teaching was her greatest passion, and she was a substitute teacher in the Woodland School District for nearly 15 years, retiring in 1989 when she was 75.
She was a life member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., having pledged in 1932; a member of the Eta Gamma Omega chapter in Sacramento; a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; a member of Kappa Chapter of California; an honorary life member of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc.; a member of the Yolo County Historical Society; a member of the Yolo County Historical Museum committee that saw the Woodland Opera House become a state historical landmark; a member of Town and Country; and a charter member of the Esparto High School Alumni Association.
She enjoyed accompanying her husband, a truck driver, on his trips. She became a member of REACT. Her citizens band radio handle was Blue Bird, and her husband's was Early Bird.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James T. Molson Sr., on Feb. 12, 1997; three brothers, Alvin A. Logan Jr. in 1988, Henry Booker Logan in 1978 and Aaron C. Logan Sr. in 2000; and three sisters, Grace Logan Patterson in 1990, Estella Logan Earl in 1995 and Nellie Logan Lewis in 2000.
Survivors include son James T. Molson Jr. of Woodland; daughter Jeanette L. Molson of Woodland; granddaughter Michˇle L. Davenport of Woodland; grandson and granddaughter-in-law William Thomas and Jennifer Davenport of Sacramento; sister Lorena Logan Taylor of Woodland; brothers Roderick A. Logan of Sacramento and Carver D. Logan of Honolulu, Hawaii; and sister-in-law Norma Logan of Oakland.
Others are nieces Brenda Jones-Smith, Irma Logan Pendleton, Carmelita Logan Prince, Roberta Logan Hung, Margo Lewis, Carolyn Logan Lewis, Estella Logan Hodge and Azalea Logan Whittaker; nephews Lorin Lewis, Stephen Lewis, Carl Logan, Bill Logan Rodney Logan, Hugo Logan, Jorge Logan and Aaron Logan Jr.; and numerous cousins, grandnieces, grandnephews, other relatives and friends.
A private graveside service will be held at Monument Hill Memorial Park. A memorial service will be Friday at 2 p.m. at McNary's Chapel in Woodland.
Donations may be made to the Heart Association, American Stroke Association and charities of choice.
Shirley A. Speckman
Shirley A. Speckman of Champaign, Ill., died Jan. 20, 2002, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Ill. She was 66.
She was born June 4, 1935, in Ottawa, Ill. She was an assistant to the director of financial aid at the University of Illinois and retired last summer. She marriage her husband, Ray Speckman, on Feb. 15, 1956, in Ottawa.
Survivors include one son, Barton Speckman of St. Joseph, Ill; one daughter, Laura Garcia of Dunnigan; one brother, Robert Rockford of Red Bud, Ill.; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one son.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the chapel, and a graveside service is set for 11 a.m. Monday in the Davis Cemetery.
John M. Murphy
John M. Murphy of St. John's Retirement Center in Woodland died Jan. 20, 2002, at Woodland Hospital, after a short illness. He was 91.
A Bloomington, Ind., native, he was born Feb. 13, 1910, to the late Joe and Laura May Murphy. He was the sole proprietor of Murphy Masonry. He began his career in Bloomington and also worked in Michigan, Fresno and Morro Bay before settling in San Luis Obispo in 1961. He retired in Esparto in 1989 and was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Survivors include his wife of more than 17 years, Marjorie Jesser-Murphy of Woodland; one son and daughter-in-law, Bob J. and Vicki Murphy of Brooks; one daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn M. and Norman Thomas of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret E. Murphy, in 1981; and one brother, William Murphy, in 1957.
A private service will be held.
Memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Esparto Library, St. John's Retirement Center or charities of the donors' choice.
Grace MacDougall
Grace MacDougall of Sacramento died Jan. 19, 2002, at home. She was 33.
She was born Jan. 20, 1969, in Torrance. Her later father was Scottish-Hawaiian, and her mother was of Belgian descent.
She moved to Davis when she was 18 and worked as a nurse. Within a few years, she opened three locations of a retail and resale clothing business called Now and Again in Davis, Sacramento and San Francisco. She closed the business in 1995 -- a year after her father's death -- and focused on her family.
More recently, she had worked for Tower Records in Sacramento, The Wardrobe in Davis and Newsbeat in Davis. She was raised to be a spiritual, family-oriented person.
Survivors include her mother, Mommy Mari MacDougall; her siblings, AnnaMaria MacDougall Chu, Joseph MacDougall, Mary MacDougall, Francis MacDougall and Brendan MacDougall; and her nieces and nephews, Kevin, Andrew, Jasmyn, Joslyn, Kelly, Ryan, Christopher, Adina and Tristan.
She was preceded in death by her father, George MacDougall, on Sept. 9, 1994.
A funeral will be held Friday at 12:30 p.m. at St. James Church, 14th and B streets in Davis. She will be buried
next to her external partner, Hun Chheang Truong.
Condolences may be sent to Mommy Mari MacDougall at P.O. Box 1688, San Pedro, CA 90733.
Sandra E. Charter
Sandra Elizabeth "Sandy" Charter of Woodland died Jan. 9, 2002, at Alderson Convalescent Hospital in Woodland. She was 56.
A Berkeley native, she was born July 21, 1945, and was a retired computer programmer.
Survivors include one son, Mark Baysinger of San Diego; one brother, Ron Alder of Chico; and her stepmother, Virginia Charter of Paradise.
A memorial is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Stepping Stones in Woodland.
The Neptune Society assisted with final arrangements.
Charmin Lanier Knock
Charmin Lanier Knock of Davis died of lung cancer at her home on Jan. 23, 2002. She was 84.
She was born Oct. 24, 1917, in Waukesha, Wis. She was an artist and enjoyed traveling, adventure, camping and food.
Survivors include her husband, David Knock of Davis; one daughter, Danielle Lanier Shelley of Kensington; and one son, Christopher Lanier of Los Angeles.
Her family will attend a private celebration of her life.
Donations may be made in her name to Yolo Hospice at P.O. Box 1014, Davis, Calif. 95617.
Thomas C. Marchal
Thomas C. Marchal of Citrus Heights died Jan. 26, 2002, at Kaiser Hospital in Roseville. He was 46.
A Marysville native, he was born Nov. 16, 1955.
Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Bigelow-Marchal of Citrus Heights; his parents, Bud and Carol Marchal of Davis; his brother, Donald Marchal of Sacramento; three aunts and uncles, Charlene and Robert Stassi of Yuba City, Lorraine and Richard Hill of Meadow Vista and Marion and Tommie Tipton of Red Bluff; and numerous cousins.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Davis Funeral Chapel. A private Burial will be in Davis Cemetery.
Argie B. Hodge
Argie Bell Sparks Hodge of Woodland died Jan. 26, 2002, at Cottonwood Health Care in Woodland. She was 92.
She was born in Newton County, Ark., on May 23, 1909, and was the ninth of 10 children in her family. She marriage Abel Hodge in 1928, and they had six children. The family moved to Knights Landing in 1937, where she was a member of Knights Landing Community Church. In 1951, the family moved to Woodland, where she was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
She enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends, as well as gardening. She cherished her family, friends and faith.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Lilah Hodge of Brookings, Ore., and Vernon and Matilda Hodge of Woodland; her daughters and sons-in-law, Josephine and Norman Storm of Dillon Beach, Ardith and Bob Disney of Woodland, Imogene and Paul Schmidt of Grants Pass, Ore., and Dianna Lopes of Woodland; one niece, Imogene Austin and her husband Dwight of Woodland; numerous other nieces and nephews; 14 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and their spouses.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1946.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at McNary's Chapel in Woodland. A funeral is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church, and Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.
McNary's Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
