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Leamon H. Lambert
July 12, 1919 - March 01, 2005
Birthplace: Pocatello, Idaho
Resided In: Chico, California
As supervisor of lookouts aboard a Pacific Fleet light cruiser, Leamon H. Lambert, boatswain’s mate second class, USNR, has been in most of the major engagements of the last two years.
Lambert, is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Lee H. Lambert of 318 Walnut Street, Chico. Before joining the Navy four years ago he was a cabinet maker , employed by the Diamond Match Company. Two brothers, Meredith and William, are in the army.
Lambert served at a submarine base and aboard a destroyer tender in the Pacific before being assigned to the cruiser when she was commissioned more than two years ago. Aboard her he has steamed more than 200,000 miles to take part in major actions, ranging from Wake Island to Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Truk. His battle record also includes Bougainville, the Philippine sea battles, Palau, Yap, Saipan, Kwajalein, Tarawa and Hollandia.
Lee was a past member of Elk’s, VFW and American Legion. Private Family services are planned. Lee died March 1, 2005 at a Chico Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, two sons, Larry and Gary, a daughter, Sharalee Booth, a brother, Bill and two grandchildren, Emory Booth and Elana Booth.
Michael Darrell McEnespy
January 12, 1945 - March 01, 2005
Birthplace: Chico, California
Resided In: Chico, California
Lifelong Chico resident and well known civil engineer, Mike McEnespy, 60, passed away Tuesday, March 1, at his home in Chico after a year long battle with brain cancer.
Mike was principal and founded Northstar Engineering with his partner, Myles Pustejovky, in 1983. The firm is continuing under Mike’s partners, Jim Stevens and Mark Adams who are carrying on with Mike’s plans and wishes.
Mike was an avid “wheel-turner” and loved riding motorcycles, driving sports cars, and going on road trips. He went on international motorcycle trips to New Zealand and Europe, and several extended trips in North America. His interests also included camping, fishing, and organizing weekend motorcycle outings for his friends. He will always be remembered as a very outgoing, caring and personable individual that lived life to the fullest.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held at Durham Park, Sunday March 6 at 1pm. Information can be obtained from Karen Ritchey of Northstar Engineering at 893-1600.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mike’s name to the Enloe Hospice Program in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home.
Jo Ann Howsden-Alsey
April 12, 1950 - March 02, 2005
Birthplace: Holdridge, Nebraska
Resided In: Chico, California
Jo Ann Alsey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister, was taken by her Heavenly Father to share in his love on March 3, 2005.
Jo was born to Arley & Vivian Howsden on April 12, 1950 in Holdridge, Nebraska. She spent two years in American Samoa where her father was the Director of Education. The family relocated to Chico in 1958.
Jo graduated in 1968 from Chico Senior High School, where she met, fell in love with and married her life long partner, Daniel L. Alsey, her husband of thirty-seven years. They were married on August 24, 1968 in Reno, Nevada. Jo & Dan moved to San Francisco both landing jobs with then Standard Oil Co. of Calif. They relocated to Burlingame, CA., in 1971 then to Martinez, CA until June 2001.
Jo enjoyed many exciting and rewarding positions, which fit her great loving personality. She was a stay at home mom, den mother and committee chairperson with the cub scouts. She went on to work directly for the Boy Scouts of America in the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council. Jo became a Librarian Technician for the John Swett Elementary School, in the Martinez Unified School District. She enjoyed this position for eight years.
Jo and Dan returned to Chico in June of 2001, where Jo secured a position of Librarian for Chico Country Day School. She loved working with children. Jo found joy through her many friends, loved ones and co-workers.
She was a member of the Orchard Church of Chico. Jo was a devoted mother and grandmother. She always said that her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her only son, Dustin, of whom she was so proud.
Jo is survived by her husband, Daniel L. Alsey, a son, Dustin Charles Alsey, granddaughter Makayla Lynn Alsey, daughter in law, Joslynn Jarrett-Alsey, her father, Dr. Arley L. Howsden, siblings, Jean Howsden-House, Scott Howsden, Karen Howsden-Aragon, Kathie Howsden-Rose and Jan Howsden-Bishop, numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her mother Vivian May Howsden in 1998.
A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, 2005 at Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. A visitation will be held 5 – 7 on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at the funeral home. Private Inurnment will take place at Chico Memorial Mausoleum. Memorial Donations may be made to either the American Diabetes Association or the Boy Scouts of America in care of the funeral home.
Dwight Ben Zimmerman
May 28, 1955 - March 02, 2005
Birthplace: San Bernadino, California
Resided In: Chico, California
Dwight Ben Zimmerman, age 49, entered into rest March 2, 2005, at his home. He was born in San Bernadino, CA, to Dwight and Barbara Zimmerman, and later the family moved to Chico to join the family business of Forest Lumber Company.
He attended Chico schools and was active in sports. Dwight was employed in construction and was a journeyman roofer by trade until he was forced to retire due to cancer, which he continued to battle. Dwight was a friend to all and always found time to be with his many friends and his family. If needed, he was there with his gentle spirit and willingness to assist wherever and however he could. He always had a smile and a sense of humor ready to share.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dwight and stepbrother, Pat Rupp. He is survived by his mother, Barbara Rupp and stepfather, Duane Rupp; sister, Lisa Wagner and husband. Monty; stepsister, Jenny Lewis and husband, Gary; stepbrother, Bob Rupp; nephews, Scott and Eric Lewis and Zeb and Ethan Wagner and companion Michelle. Rest peacefully, our beloved Dwight.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday March 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Chico. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dwight's name to the Jesus Center in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home.
Justin Paul James Steele
July 04, 1985 - March 05, 2005
Birthplace: Englewood, California
Resided In: Magalia, California
Justin Paul James Steele died March 5, 2005 in Magalia. He is survived by his mother, Victoria Ann Steele, a sister, Melessa Nicole Steele, a brother, Jordan Andrew Steele, and grandparents, Will and Orpha Goudron.
Services will be held Friday, March 18, 2005, 11:00 a.m., at the Magalia Community Chruch.
Otis Sam Kimbler
July 06, 1924 - March 05, 2005
Birthplace: Aurora, Missouri
Resided In: Chico, California
A funeral service for, Otis Sam Kimbler, 80, of Chico, will be held on Friday, March 11, 2005, 1:00 p.m. at Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. Otis passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2005 in Chico. He was born to John and Jessie Kimbler on July 6, 1924 in Aurora, Missouri. Otis enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during WWII. On June 11, 1951 he married Ruth Barnes in Bentonville, Arkansas, they have lived in Chico since 1963. Otis was a very giving person, always ready to help out anyone in need. He was very proud of his family. Otis is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Ruth Kimbler; four sons, William, Dennis, Larry and Sam Kimbler; four daughters, Edna Ching, Elizabeth Thomas, Debra Valdovinos Kimbler and Mary Kimbler; sister, Maxine Hensen; eighteen grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren. A visitation service will be held on Thursday, March 10th from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Chico Cemetery.
Miriam Leola Hitt
September 11, 1909 - March 12, 2005
Birthplace: Chico, California
Resided In: Chico, California
Miriam Hitt, fourth generation Chicoan, died peacefully in her home Saturday March 12.
She was born September 11, 1909 into two Butte County pioneer families. Her father was Winfield MacGregor Riley of the Cherokee MacGregors. Her mother was Alice Leola Hannah Riley, whose father owned Hannah’s grocery store at the corner of Fifth and Broadway for over 30 years.
Her husband Cecil Hitt, who predeceased her in 1979,was co-owner of Collier Hardware in downtown Chico for twenty-five years in mid-twentieth century.
Her life span covered most of the 20th century in Chico, which she recorded in her memoirs, “My Life in Chico”, detailing the small shops she was familiar with as a child in the downtown area, events and persons important to the town’s development.
She attended Chico schools including Rosedale, Central and Chico High School. She graduated as co-valedictorian with Ted Meriam, who went on to become one of Chico’s political and business leaders.
She started college at Chico State the year the administration building burned just before classes started. She attended for two years, pledging Alpha Chi sorority and participating in student theatrical productions and Pioneer Days activities in addition to her studies.
Her marriage to Cecil Hitt March 1, 1928 was followed by the birth of two daughters, Sharron (Mathans) and Nanon (Buchell). She was very active socially, belonging for over sixty years to the Tuesday bridge club. She and Cecil were also members of the long-running Chico Dance Club. She was very active in Omega Nu. After she was widowed she was a member of Prime Timers.
She was a skilled homemaker, using her artistic abilities to decorate her home, make flower arrangements (she always had fresh flowers from her garden in the house) and entertain graciously. She used the Food Pyramid as early as the 1940’s to prepare nutritious meals for her family, always using the latest information on healthy living.
She designed and supervised construction of the home she and Cecil built and moved into just a few weeks before Pearl Harbor in 1941. She then put the whole back yard into a Victory garden and raised all the vegetables herself. She loved gardening and put in several dozen flats of annuals every year to create a beautiful surrounding for the home.
She managed the housewares department at Collier Hardware for a few years after her husband bought it in the late 1940’s.
In later years she was loving matriarch of the family, showing all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren unconditional love, which was returned by all. Her charm, interest in people and sense of humor endeared her to all her friends, neighbors and acquaintances.
She was able to take several cruises and land trips with her daughter Sharron and spent most of her birthdays in her last years at the Donner Lake vacation cabin of her daughter Nanon and husband Carl Buchell. For the past several years the entire family has gathered for a Mothers’ Day brunch in her honor at Butte Creek Country Club.
She leaves her daughters Sharron Mathans of Chico and Nanon Buchell (Carl) of Fair Oaks, California; grandchildren Fred Kessler of Carmichael, Therese Stefanson (Randy) of Medford, Oregon, Mimi Riley of Chico, Lynn Buchell Patchin (Gary) of Reno, Nevada, Jennifer Buchell Santiago (Paul) of Walnut Creek; ten great-grandchildren, Ryan Stoker of Eugene, Oregon; Jesse Harloff of Oceanside, California; Yarrow Kessler of Springfield, Missouri; Maddie Kessler of Carmichael; Kelsey and Spencer Stefanson of Medford, Oregon; Emma Riley of Chico; Hannah Buchell of Reno, and Nicholas and Christopher Santiago of Walnut Creek and her two loving caregivers from Enloe Home Health, Jackie Sbragia and Paula Dilbeck.
The family wishes to thank Enloe Hospice for the care given in her final weeks, particularly nurses Yasue North and Trish Puterbaugh and her physical therapist Rich Briggs.
Newton-Bracewell is handling funeral arrangements. The funeral service will be Saturday, March 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home with graveside services to follow in the Masonic section of the Chico Cemetery. A reception will be held at her home immediately following the services.
Memorial donations may be given to Enloe Home Care and Hospice in care of Newton-Bracewell.
