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Marie Findley
Former longtime Blythe resident, Marie Faye (Hansen) Findley, passed away Sept. 2, 2000. She was 85.
Mrs. Findley was born Oct. 16, 1914 in Edgar, Montana to John and Patty Hansen. She graduated from Edgar High School in 1933, then graduated Eastern Montana Normal School in Billings, Montana. She taught school on Indian reservations in the Billings area. She met and married Earl "Budd" Findley Dec. 1, 1938 and the couple operated a ranch outside of Edgar. They moved to Madera, California in 1940, then to Santa Monica. After WWII, the couple moved to Blythe and operated a small farm in the Palo Verde Valley. After six years, they moved back to Madera, where Mrs. Findley attended Fresno State College. In 1959, she and her husband returned to Blythe and she continued teaching at elementary schools in the Palo Verde Unified School District. She retired from teaching twice, the first time being called back to teach by her love for her students. Even after retiring a second time, she was still involved with reading programs for PVUSD.
In 1994, she and her husband moved to Santa Paula. After the death of her husband in 1995, she moved to Ventura to live with her daughter, in 1997. During the 45 years she lived in Blythe, Mrs. Findley was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Brad Talbot of Ventura; two granddaughters; one niece; one nephew; and four cousins.
She was buried in September next to her husband, Budd, at Rockvale Cemetery, near Edgar, Montana.
In lieu of flower, the family suggests donations be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Blythe or the American Cancer Society.
Martha Ward
Martha June Ward passed away Monday, Nov. 20, 2000 at Blythe Nursing Care Center. She was 93.
Mrs. Ward was born June 30, 1907 in Mt. Sterling, Illinois. She came to Blythe in May of 1940. She is survived by daughters, Myrt Griffin, Ann Vineyard and Frances Wellman; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Ward, in 1969; daughter, Junalee Underwood, in 1978; son, James Ward, in 1983, and granddaughter, Vicki Griffin, in 1994.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Palo Verde Cemetery. Pastor Louis Gerdes of the First Southern Baptist Church officiated.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Wayne Hand
Former Blythe resident, Wayne Herman Hand, passed away Oct. 28, 2000 at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, California. He was 59.
Mr. Hand was born Nov. 27, 1940 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He lived in Blythe for a time, and was active in Little League and 4-H. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. At the time of his death he resided in Rosamond, California.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; sons, Cleve Johnson and Curt Hand, both of Rosamond; daughter-in-law, Lori Johnson of Rosamond; brothers, Bobby Hand of Blythe, Ray Hand of Fort Bragg, California, and James Hand of Athens, Alabama; sisters, Jackie Feigen of California and Johanna Sades; three grandchildren and 13 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Nov. 2 at the Lebec Community Church in Lebec, California.
Chapel of the Canyons Motuary assisted the family with arrangements.
George Bryant
Former Cibola resident, George Leland "Buddy" Bryant, passed away Monday, Nov. 6, 2000 at his home in La Quinta, California. He was 78.
Mr. Bryant was born Jan. 15, 1922 in Grier, New Mexico. He served in the United States Army during WWII and moved to San Marcos, California in 1948.
A resident of San Marcos for almost 30 years, he founded Bryant Equipment Rental and co-founded Southern Contracting. After retiring in 1976, he moved to Cibola and did some farming. He had recently moved to La Quinta.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Betty Jane of La Quinta; sister, Sylvia Colonello of Escondido; aunt and uncle, Myrtle and Roy Coats of Escondido; and many other family members and friends.
A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at The Barn in Walnut Grove Park, 1950 Sycamore Ave., in San Marcos.
FitzHenry Mortuary of Palm Desert assisted the family with arrangements.
Verna Littrel
Verna M. Littrel passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 at Blythe Nursing Care Center. She was 85.
Mrs. Littrel was born July 29, 1915 in Gresham, Nebraska. She married Howard Littrel June 10, 1933 in Kansas. The couple came to Blythe in 1952 from Washington. She worked at Blythe Florist for nearly 25 years and enjoyed cooking and sewing.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna L. Littrel of Blythe; sister, Velma Matzner of Gresham, Nebraska; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 8, 1973.
A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at Palo Verde Cemetery. Jere Allan of the Church of Christ will officiate. Interment will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alzheimer's Research and Treatment Ramsey Foundation, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2545.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Daniel Perez
Daniel R. Perez passed away Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 62.
Mr. Perez lived in Blythe for 58 years and worked for the Palo Verde Irrigation District for 15 years.
He is survived by his sons, Martin Guillen and Jorge Guillen, both of Blythe, Daniel Perez, Jr. of Modesto, California, and David Perez of Ceres, California; daughters, Eleanor Roman of Palm Springs, Diana Perez of Modesto, and Debbie Riley of Riverside, California; brothers, Robert Alvarado of Blythe, Mike Alvarado of Chino Hills, California; and Frank Alvarado of San Diego; sisters, Helen Poffenbarger of Blythe, and Celia Ferguson of Sierra Vista, Arizona; and 10 grandchildren.
Visitation will be held tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. at Frye Chapel. A funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. Private interment will be held at Palo Verde Cemetery.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Josephine Valenzuela
Josephine Valenzuela passed away Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 in Blythe. She was 87.
Ms. Valenzuela was born Feb. 13, 1913 in Globe, Arizona. She had been a resident of Blythe for 20 years and was a homemaker.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dolores and Ray Cierley of Blythe; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001 at 6 p.m. at Frye Chapel. Father Ron Rusk, Chaplain at Ironwood State Prison, will officiate. Interment will be held at Rose Hills.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Anna Sesko
Anna Marie Sesko passed away Monday, Dec. 25, 2000 at Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe. She was 84.
Mrs. Sesko was born Sept. 19, 1916 in Germany. She was a homemaker and moved to Blythe from San Diego, California 11 years ago to be near family.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Maryann and Jim Bradshaw of Blythe, and daughter Doris Rosenberger of Muskego, Wisconsin; sister Freida Lucas of Greenbay, Wisconsin; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Seigfried, in 1991.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, Dec. 30 in Glen Abbey Memorial Park in San Diego. Interment will follow in the family plot.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
