Hazel M. Shott
Hazel M. Shott, 104, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003 in Ventura. She was born June 14, 1898 in Montana, and had lived in Ojai for more than 20 years.
Mrs. Shott is survived by her son, Charles Shott, of Ventura; daughter Elizabeth Clark of Woodland Hills; grandchildren Theresa McFarland, Steven Shott, Donna Shott, Teryl Miller, Craig Shott; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Shott.
A private family service will be held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Charles E. Lunsford
Charles E. Lunsford, 44, of Oak View, died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 at his home. He was born May 5, 1958 in Ventura, and was a Ventura County resident his entire life.
Mr. Lunsford was a 15-year operating engineer with Local 12.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Edward and Noreen Lunsford, of Missouri; mother and stepfather Marlene and James Vork of Ojai; son Christopher Lunsford of Ojai; grandmother Norma Hargraves of Oak View; uncle Dick Crawford of Oak View; and many other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Foursquare Church, with Pastor Danny Miller officiating. Interment
will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.
Barbara Ann Wheeler
Barbara Ann Wheeler, 68, of Ojai, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003 of cancer in Ojai. She was born on Dec. 26, 1934 in League City, Texas, and lived in Ojai for 32 years.
Mrs. Wheeler was a homemaker and an active member of the Ojai Valley Baptist Church. Her interests included reading and studying the Bible, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Wheeler, of Ojai; daughter Patsy Daniels of Hume Lake, Calif.; sons Douglas Wheeler of Center, Texas, and Rusty Wheeler of Ojai; sister Jackie Lewis of Alaska; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 9, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Services will be held Monday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, with Pastor Scott Harrell officiating. Interment
will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Eddie Brent Colson
Eddie Brent Croson, Ph.D., 66, of Ventura, died Thursday, March 6, 2003 at his residence, following a two-month illness. He was born April 27, 1936 in Bakersfield, Calif., to Eldo and Dorothy Croson. When he was young, his family moved to Ojai, where he graduated from Nordhoff High School.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he graduated from Fresno State University. He then completed his master's in science in 1979, and his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in 1990, at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Mr. Croson spent 34 years of his engineering career at the Point Mugu Naval Missile Test Center, before retiring in 1994. While working for the government, he developed the microcircuit capabilities and facility for the U.S. Navy and holds several patents in that related field. He was selected Federal Engineer of the Year in 1985.
Following his retirement, Mr. Croson maintained his own computer engineering business in Ventura and Oregon. He also taught computer science at UCSB, California Lutheran University, and at the Rogue River College in Grants Pass, Ore.
His children are Cara Teri and Edward from his previous marriage to Dorothy Stallings. Then in September 1987, he married Sharon Johnston and became a second father to Derek, Matthew and Courtney Johnston.
His interests and hobbies included photography, gardening, gourmet cooking, reading, classical music and fly-fishing.
Mr. Croson is survived by his wife of 15-1/2 years, Sharon; daughter and son-in-law Cara and Rob Basile of San Diego; daughter Teri Hartshorn of Portland, Ore.; son Edward Croson of San Diego; stepsons Derek Johnston of Grand Junction, Colo., and Matthew Johnston of San Francisco; stepdaughter Courtney Johnston of Ventura; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Joyce and Don Enders, Rosemary and Norby Beilschmidt, Jeanne and John Hibbs, Hank and Dee Moon, Bonnie and Robert Netteland, Bruce and Boni Moon, and Linda B. Thorn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly, and brother Tom.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.
Eugene Clifford Cliff" Webb
Eugene Clifford "Cliff" Webb, 87, of Whidbey Island, Puget Sound, died in his sleep Monday, March 3, 2003, at home.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was also a civic volunteer during his working years, and even more so in retirement. For more than 20 years, he was a member of the Auburn Noon Lions Club in Auburn, Wash., and a former "King Lion." Mr. Webb worked for Auburn Mental Health, and will also be remembered in Auburn as a prime mover behind the forming of a sister city relationship with Kasuga Cho, Japan.
After moving to Santa Barbara, he was again an active member of the church and a volunteer at the seniors' "Little House," his favorite lunch spot.
Mr. Webb is survived by his fiancée, Alice Hahn, of Whidbey Island; daughter Carmel Chandler; son Mark Webb Sr.; his former wife and lifelong friend, Lucille Hogensen; 10 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, DeloraLee Tindall, his first wife, Beryl M. (Miles); and his later wife, Bertha M. (Pulley).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 15, at 3 p.m. at Whidbey Island Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, Wash.
Pauline Ruth Brandt
Pauline Ruth Brandt, 56, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003 in Ventura, surrounded by her family, after a 10-year battle with lung disease. She was born March 3, 1947 in Washington, Iowa, and was a 43-year resident of the Ojai Valley.
Mrs. Brandt had a child-care center in Ojai for many years and was also known for her pies.
She is survived by her sons, Michael and Gene Miller; daughter Sonja Treder; son-in-law Robert Treder; grandchildren Brayden Ellis, Daisey Miller, Michael Miller, and Paulina Treder; sisters Kaye Burton, Vickie Johnson and Barbara Van Pelt; brothers John Orndorff and Bill Orndorff; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emery Brandt; mother Dorothy O'Rear; and son Bryan Miller.
Her wishes were that there would be no services.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.
Michael Rice
Michael Rice, 19, of Ojai, died Sunday, March 9, 2003 in Chicago, Ill., following a brief illness. He was born Jan. 12, 1984 in Ojai, and had been a lifelong county resident.
He attended Happy Valley School in Ojai, where he played the conga drums in the Jazz Band. He was currently enrolled as a freshman at the Art Institute of Chicago. At age 5, he began his art studies with Kent and Sharon Butler, of The Art Workshop in Ojai. While in high school he continued in art under the direction of Stephen Sylvester, art teacher at Happy Valley School. From ages 15 to 18, he also studied under Eben and Susan Matthews of Infusion Studios. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, Mike studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. He was awarded many scholarships from various Ojai Valley artists' organizations.
Mike also participated in many plays in the Ojai Valley. His interests included mountain biking and road trips with his father.
He is survived by his parents, David and Rachael Rice, of Ojai; fiancée Deanna Kessler of Ventura; and numerous other family members.
Services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Private interment
will take place at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Rachael Rice Memorial Fund for Michael Rice, Ojai Valley Bank, 1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023, or to the Happy Valley School Art Department, 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Ojai, CA 93023, where a celebration of Mike's life will be held in April.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.
Leslie Rennie Johnston
Leslie Rennie Johnston, 78, a 37-year resident of Ojai, died in his sleep Thursday, March 6, 2003, after a long battle with emphysema. He was born March 4, 1925 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to John Smith and Ellen Giles Johnston. He showed an early aptitude for science and engineering, and built his own radios and engines and set off explosions in empty lots.
During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Army. He attended the University of Alberta, where he played defensive tackle on the football team, and graduated in engineering in 1951. One of his early jobs was as a highway engineer for a significant portion of the Trans Canadian Highway.
Mr. Johnston immigrated to Kansas in the early '50s, and then received two job offers, one in California, and one in New York. He decided to take the one in California, because a former girlfriend had moved there years earlier. One night at a folk dance exhibit, he spotted that girlfriend, Vera Goshko. They married Aug. 21, 1955, and were inseparable for 46 years.
Mr. Johnston worked for more than 25 years for Johns-Manville as a civil engineer in their pipe division. He was then a partner in Pipeline Materials, Inc. of Ventura County. He retired in 1990.
His interests included science, classical music, opera, cooking and crossword puzzles.
Mr. Johnston is survived by Valerie and John, Vera's children by a previous marriage, and his and Vera's joint children, Janice, Karen and David; and grandchildren David, Kristina and Isaac Bressler, Renee and Ricky Wallace, and Nathaniel Johnston.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Johnston.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Eddie Brent Croson
Eddie Brent Croson, Ph.D., 66, of Ventura, died Thursday, March 6, 2003 at his residence, following a two-month illness. He was born April 27, 1936 in Bakersfield, Calif., to Eldo and Dorothy Croson. When he was young, his family moved to Ojai, where he graduated from Nordhoff High School.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he graduated from Fresno State University. He then completed his master's in science in 1979, and his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in 1990, at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Mr. Croson spent 34 years of his engineering career at the Point Mugu Naval Missile Test Center, before retiring in 1994. While working for the government, he developed the microcircuit capabilities and facility for the U.S. Navy and holds several patents in that related field. He was selected Federal Engineer of the Year in 1985.
Following his retirement, Mr. Croson maintained his own computer engineering business in Ventura and Oregon. He also taught computer science at UCSB, California Lutheran University, and at the Rogue River College in Grants Pass, Ore.
His children are Cara Teri and Edward from his previous marriage to Dorothy Stallings. Then in September 1987, he married Sharon Johnston and became a second father to Derek, Matthew and Courtney Johnston.
His interests and hobbies included photography, gardening, gourmet cooking, reading, classical music and fly-fishing.
Mr. Croson is survived by his wife of 15-1/2 years, Sharon; daughter and son-in-law Cara and Rob Basile of San Diego; daughter Teri Hartshorn of Portland, Ore.; son Edward Croson of San Diego; stepsons Derek Johnston of Grand Junction, Colo., and Matthew Johnston of San Francisco; stepdaughter Courtney Johnston of Ventura; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Joyce and Don Enders, Rosemary and Norby Beilschmidt, Jeanne and John Hibbs, Hank and Dee Moon, Bonnie and Robert Netteland, Bruce and Boni Moon, and Linda B. Thorn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly, and brother Tom.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.
Saundra Skow
Saundra Skow, 33, of Ojai, died Thursday, March 13, 2003 in Ventura, after a long illness. She was born July 18, 1969 in Ventura, and was a lifelong Ojai resident.
Mrs. Skow was a homemaker.
She is survived by her daughters, Jaiden Skow, of Ojai, and Brittney and Brandalyn Barclay, of Bakersfield; son Joshua Brandolino of Ojai; mother Marilyn Guenther of Ojai; father John Skow of Iowa; brothers Ronald Skow, Edward Skow, Daniel Skow and Eric Guenther; sister Stacy Skow; and grandmothers Hazel Stene and Hazel Skow.
A graveside service is being held today at 1 p.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with Pastor James Lair officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Dennis John Delaney
Dennis John Delaney, 48, died Sunday, March 2, 2003 at his home in Ojai after a 13-year battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 27, 1955 in San Jose, Calif., and had lived in Ojai for 20 years.
Mr. Delaney was a floor covering contractor.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Kim Delaney; daughter Mariah; son Kelly Joe; sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Greg Rogers; sister Sandy Anderson; and brother Pat Delaney.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service is pending.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Hazel "Ruth" Boardman McMillan
Hazel "Ruth" Boardman McMillan, 91, of Ojai, died Thursday, March 13, 2003 after a short illness. She was born April 24, 1911 in a sod hut in Sarben, Neb., to A.B. Boardman and Ethel M. McConnell.
She marred Robert C. McMillan of Santa Paula, Calif., on June 7, 1931. They met in a Christian Youth Group. She graduated from Fillmore High School and he graduated from Santa Paula High School. Their families were pioneers in Ventura County history. The McMillans started out married life in Santa Paula, where Mr. McMillan was employed by Security First National Bank.
Mrs. McMillan was a survivor of the St. Francis Dam tragedy as she left the home of her uncle, G. Boardman, 20 minutes before the flood hit Bardsdale and her cousins and aunt were drowned. (Her death was 75 years to the day from the tragedy.)
Mrs. McMillan was a homemaker and a member of the Ojai Valley Community Church.
She is survived by two children, Esther Ruth Martin of Ojai, and Daniel A. McMillan of Graham, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob McMillan, in 1983; two children, William Robert McMillan and Mary V. McMillan; and her sister and brothers, Viola Allee, Warren Boardman and Lester Boardman.
There will be no funeral as the family will have a private gathering and her ashes will be scattered in Washington along with those of her husband.
The family sends thanks to all the caring staff at Acacias Care Center for her care from December 2002 until her death.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
James A. Mora
James A. Mora, 21, of Ojai, died suddenly Friday, March 14, 2003. He was born May 14, 1981 in Ventura.
He is survived by his mother, Patrice T. Mora, and father James M. Mora, both of Ojai; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and remaining grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Lung Assciation or a charity of your choice. The family sends special thanks to all the local members of A.A., Narcotics Anonymous, and the people at Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
A memorial service and celebration of his life is being held today at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Jesse Richmond Nelson Jr.
Jesse Richmond Nelson Jr., 80, died Friday, March 14, 2003, after his daily walk around the Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Continuing Care Center. He had been a resident of that facility since recovering from a fall in November 2002. He was born Sept. 3, 1922 in Weatherford, Texas, to Mary Ruth Clark and Jesse Richmond Nelson, and was raised in Clovis, N.M.
Mr. Nelson and his wife moved from New Orleans, La., to Ojai, last year to be near their daughters.
Mr. Nelson received his bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico. While stationed in New Orleans, during World War II, he married Noemie Williams Juncker, a native of New Orleans. After he was honorably discharded from the Army, he attended and received his J.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson then moved to Hot Springs, N.M. (now Truth or Consequences) to set up a law practice. He served as the city attorney there and was president of the New Mexico State Bar from 1962 to 1963. He spent time hunting in the Black Range mountains of New Mexico, flying the country in his Navion aircraft, and was a champion chess and bridge player.
The Nelsons then returned to New Orleans, where Mr. Nelson continued his law career as vice president of Lawyer's Title Insurance Corporation. In 1984, he and his wife started their own company, Ticorp Title of Louisiana, which they built into one of the leading title insurance companies in Louisiana. Mr. Nelson was a member of the Louisiana State Bar, and well-known as a real estate lawyer in the Gulf South. He retired in 1997.
Following his retirement, he continued his private consultation practice.
Mr. Nelson was a member of the Pendennis Club of New Orleans, the Krewe of Alexis, Eastover County Club in New Orleans, and Tulane Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Noemie; daughters Judy Katherine and Peggy Claire; and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Nelson, of Lubbock, Texas; aunts Sarah and Parah Clark of Kissimmee, Fla.; mother Mary Ruth Clark; and father Jesse Richmond Nelson.
As Mr. Nelson wished no funeral, a private memorial service will be held at the Continuing Care Center of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation; Help of Ojai, Inc.; Basenji Rescue of Southern California; or your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
David Steele MacKaye
David Steele MacKaye, 92, of Ojai, died Sunday, March 16, 2003 in Ojai. He was born Oct. 12, 1920 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and lived in Ojai for 33 years, coming from Seibert, Colo.
Mr. MacKaye was a lifelong educator and naturalist. He received his bachelor's degree from Fresno State College and a master's from Adams State College. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He served on the Colorado Council of Arts and Humanities and served in the Peace Corps in the Kingdom of Tonga while he was in his late 60s.
Mr. MacKaye is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Noel and Yolanda Williams, of San Jose; son Ivan Kaye of Boulder, Colo.; sister Mary Weiss of Ojai; granddaughter Amy; and great-grandson Jeremiah.
A graveside service will be held Monday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
