Search Archived Marriage Records
Harold J. Packard
Harold J. Packard, died May 3, 2003, in San Jose following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Packard was born in San Francisco, 84 years ago. He was raised in Los Gatos, graduated from Los Gatos High School and San Jose State University. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard (Merchant Marines) from 1941-45. Hal was married in 1950 and moved to Gilroy in 1966. He worked at State Farm Insurance Co. for 25 years as a claims adjuster. He spent many hours on his Ham Radio and WA6YJU says 73’s to all the members of the Garlic Valley Amateur Radio Club of Gilroy. Mr. Packard also enjoyed doing all the family shopping.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, June R. Packard, of Gilroy; daughters and their husbands Karen and Don Christopher of Gilroy and Scherrie and Rick Taylor of Union City; daughter Cindy Gallo of Gilroy; sons Gary Packard of Napa and Christopher Packard of Gilroy; grandchildren Erica and David Romero, Vince and Jessalyn Rizzi, Kevin and Suzie Rizzi, Kim Gonzales and Derrick Packard; great-grandchildren Dillon Romero, Eden Romero, Blake Romero, and Tyler Rizzi; sister Maxine Nelson of Morgan Hill; his brother-in-law Bill Hammonds of Morgan Hill; and many nieces and nephews.
Private family graveside service will be held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Gustine, under the direction of Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to a family respectfully requests that those who wish make donations to their favorite charity in his memory.
Jim Raymond Wright
Jim Raymond Wright died April 26, 2003. He was 71.
Wright was born in Hutchinson, Kan., on Nov. 30, 1931, to Ralph Raymond Wright and Hazel Eufalla Holland-Wright.
He graduated from Reno High School in 1949 and entered the Air Force during the Korean War. Jim loved jazz and fronted several bands throughout his life. His love for jazz went beyond the playing of it, he embodied its playful spirit. This can be seen in the name of one of his jazz quartets: the Sophisticats.
Following this theme of passion and playfulness it is only appropriate that Jim’s other pasttime included a creature that is often thought of as playful and powerful: the horse. Jim trained and rode horses most of his walking life. In fact, there is a family picture of him on a large horse as a 3-year old, and he would often jest about being able to ride before being able to walk. Not content to scratch the surface of horse-and-rider culture, Jim played an active role in reviving the historic Pony Express in Reno through re-riding the trails of the West’s early mail delivery system in the annual rerides. He also spent many years training horses. Consequently, he trained the people that rode horses as well - and even people that didn’t ride horses.
In fact, many of those that knew Jim will remember him for being outspoken and straightforward. Whatever Jim did, he did with honesty, and with such honesty comes integrity.
Disciplined enough to tame a horse without breaking its spirit, and responsive enough to express the intricacies of emotion through jazz improvisation prepared Jim for his greatest art: fatherhood. After his passing, he was canonized as the pillar and beloved dad-and-grandpa (or “papo”) of his immediate family and grandchildren. His love for family far surpassed any other passion in life. His love and presence in the lives of those who loved him can only be understood by the heavy weight of his absence upon their hearts.
After retiring as the head manager of the meat department of Dregor’s in Los Altos he moved with his wife, Dixie, back to Reno. He often referred to Nevada as God’s country; and it is in this valley of God that Jim lay his head to rest in presence of his wife, the woman he thought of as his angel.
He is survived by his wife, Dixie Lee Wright; sister Judith Ann Brooks; daughters Kerin Anne Garrett and Cali Jean Rowland; sons Eric Otto, Jaime Wright and Michael Horsley; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Patricia Jo Ann Kuehne-Delaney.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 17, at Church of the Valley.
Joseph Hammond Sr.
Joseph Hammond Sr. died May 4, 2003, in Santa Cruz.
Born in Providence, Utah, he was 99. Upon leaving Utah, he moved to San Francisco and settled in Millbrae where he met his wife to be, Charlotte Hicks. He managed Millbrae Lumber Co. for many years and later moved to Morgan Hill in 1960. While in Morgan Hill, he owned and operated Hale Lumber. His career in the lumber industry spanned more than 50 years.
Mr. Hammond moved to the Santa Cruz area two years ago. A 32nd degree Mason, he was dedicated to the Masonic life and received his 50-year membership honors from Islam Temple of San Francisco, Scottish Rite Bodies and the Masonic Lodge. He and his wife enjoyed traveling. Mr. Hammond loved wood crafting, where he created many cherished pieces for his family.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Lloyd Larson of Capitola; sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph C. Jr. and Diane Hammond and Robert V. and Linda Hammond of Morgan Hill and Palm Springs; grandchildren and their families JoAnn Persons Baldwin, James Persons and his wife, Debra, Janet Bailey, Jeff Persons, Lori Ann Wells and her husband Wayne, Michael Hammond, Mark Hammond and his wife Carolina, Michelle Hammond, Rob Hammond and Christopher Hammond; great-grandchildren, Jason, Alexandra, Jimmy, Joey, Jacob, Mariah, Ren, Amanda, Mark, Grace, Kevin, Joe, Alisha, Cory, Savannah and Seth; brother Willis Hammond of Salem, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his eight brothers and sisters, his wife Charlotte in 1990, and his grandson, Larry in 1977.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Mr. Hope Cemetery. He will be laid to rest next to his loving wife, Charlotte.
Arrangements are under the direction of Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz.
The family asks that any donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817
Frankie (Blankenship) Naccarato
Frankie (Blankenship) Naccarato died May 5, 2003, in Gilroy following a lengthy illness.
She was born in Stroud, Okla., 57 years ago. She moved to Gilroy as a child, attended Gilroy Schools and graduated from Gilroy High School. She managed several finance companies and retired from Cidco Company, in Morgan Hill as a regional manager. Her passions were her grandchildren and buying jewelry.
She is survived by her husband, Don J. Naccarato of Gilroy; her son and his wife, Lyle and Debra Sosa of Gilroy; stepchildren Joseph Naccarato and Jackie Naccarato, both of Gilroy; mother Lois Blankenship of Gilroy; grandchildren Destiny Sosa of Gilroy, Anthony Naccarato of San Juan Bautista, Taryn Naccarato of Gilroy and Marisa Naccarato of Gilroy; brother and his wife Donald and Linda Blankenship of Gilroy; sister and her husband Anita and Ken Doughty of Burney; mother-in-law Louise Naccarato of Gilroy; sister-in-law and her husband Mary and Carter Rankin of Palm Desert; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Glen Blankenship and her brother Leon Blankenship.
Burial was Thursday at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park, Gilroy, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
The family asks that any donations be made to the Pulmonary and Rehabilitation Program at Gilroy Health Care, 8170 Murray Ave., Gilroy.
John Mulch
Morgan Hill resident and native Californian John Mulch died at age 77 on May 5 of natural causes.
Born in Gilroy and raised in San Martin, Mr. Mulch was a lifelong resident of the Santa Clara Valley. Having grown up here, Mr. Mulch had a special passion for the town of Morgan Hill and South County. He served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. Mr. Mulch enjoyed a 40-year career with PG&E, from which he retired as a line foreman. He was a member of the Morgan Hill Masonic lodge for over fifty years.
Mr. Mulch was a longtime member of the San Martin Presbyterian Church.
John is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, who together would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on May 28. Mr. Mulch is survived by a son and two daughters, their spouses and six grandchildren.
A memorial will be at 1 p.m. May 17 at the San Martin Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the San Martin Presbyterian Church at P.O. Box 203 San Martin, CA 95046
Lida Tells Perry
Lida Tells Perry died May 8, 2003, in Chico. She was 90 years old and was born on Feb. 9, 1913, in San Jose to Frank and Mary Tells.
She is the mother of Floyd and Nadine Perry of Durham and Ron and Ann Perry of Haslett, Mich.; grandmother of Michael and Rafaela Perry, Brian Perry, Christine and Kraig Katzenmeyer, Janelle and Michael Nichols, Aaron Perry and Drew Perry; great-grandmother of Mikayla Nichols and Kyle and Madison Katzenmeyer; sister of Madeline Romano of San Jose; and has many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Perry, sister Dorothy Monk and brothers Frank and Clarence Tells.
Mrs. Perry moved to Gilroy from Santa Clara in 1954 and to Morgan Hill in 1986. She had many years of involvement in their family orchard operations and worked at the Gilroy School District Food Services, Gilroy Foods, SunSweet and Vigna Farms. She was involved with the Flower Lovers Club and Women in Touch in Morgan Hill and a member of St. Catherine Church.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy, followed by Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Gilroy at 1:30 p.m. Entombment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home 4-7 p.m. Wednesday.
The family asks that any donations be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, 346 Cherry St., Chico, CA 95928.
