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Lois Jean Dorsey Wrobel Capt. SC USN
retired, 76, passed at her home September 21, 2004, in Big Bear City, Calif. Born August 26, 1928, in Belmont Ohio, Lois graduated from Kent State University in 1950 with a BS degree in business education before moving to California where she continued her education at the San Jose State and Pasadena College. She was a high school teacher for 20 years and also served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years. Residents of Big Bear with another home in Burbank, Lois and her family continued to support several learning and teaching associations, was active in the VFW center as well as the Senior Center locally.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband Stanley in 2001. She is survived by her nephew Tom Dorsey and his wife Nancy and their children, all of Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be sent to Chautaugua High School, P.O. Box 1815, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, attention staff, to help support the youth of the valley.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 30 at the United Methodist Church, Big Bear Lake, Calif.
Arthur S. Stanley
86, passed September 6, 2004, in Victorville, Calif. Born December 16, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio, Arthur was a 21-year resident of Big Bear Valley, a member of AARP and Senior Club and an usher at St. Joseph's Catholic Church where he was a great greeter and hugger.
Arthur is survived by his wife Elaine of Big Bear City; three sons, Michael of Los Altos, John of San Antonio, Texas and Tim of Orange; three daughters, Pamela and Mary Stanley, both of Madera and Susan Eyrick of Newport Beach, plus 11 grandchildren. He loved his family very much and they all knew his enjoyment of fishing and the great outdoors.
A funeral Mass and Rosary was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on September 11, 2004. Interment with honors at the Riverside National Cemetery. Big Bear Mortuary, directors.
Sharon Batts
Our loving mother and grandmother went to be with our Lord, June 22, 2004, after a long struggle with brain cancer. She was at home with her family at her side.
Sharon and her young family moved to the Valley over 30 years ago. For many years she and her husband Richard were loving adoptive parents to three of their ten grandchildren.
Sharon is survived by her sons, Larry Batts and children Angel, Nikki and Tony Batts of Hesperia, Gary Prey, Richard and wife Jennifer and son Ryan Batts of Big Bear Lake, daughter Lori Sue Goetz, her husband Josh Nila and children Brandy Sue Geotz, Shannon, Cody, Bandy Batts, Nick and Amber Nila of Sugarloaf; mother Pat Ray; brothers Bill, Dennis and wife Claudia and Randy Ray, all of Crosby, Texas; the Colmbs brothers, Dale, David and Gene; Aunt Ann Nene Miles of Antelope, Calif. and Uncle Oscar Pearson of Las Vegas, Nev.
Sharon will always be remembered for her avid sense of family and her giant heart. She will be leaving behind a legacy of love and courage and will be forever missed by all her family and friends.
Dave Dickey
70, a long-time Bear Valley resident, passed on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, at Victor Valley Community Hospital, of complicatons related to a stroke. A retired industrial salesman, Dave and his wife, Elke Schliekert, have been full-time residents of the "place he loved most" Bear Valley for the past 18 years.
He is survived by his wife: Elke; sister Cynthia; brother John; two sons, Steve and Jeff; stepson Mark Schliefert; 2 grandchildren, Lauren and Paul and nephew Devin.
The family will hold a private memorial service.
Anthony James Schoonenberg, III
49, passed Nov. 10, 2004, after a valiant battle against Parkinson's Disease.
Born Aug. 15, 1955, in Los Angeles, Calif., Anthony was a respiratory therapist by trade, and after being diagnosed with Parkinson's, he devoted his life to medical research. He was determined to help find the cure for this very ugly disease.
In his final days, Anthony was surrounded by a caring circle of family and friends.
He is survived by his wife and sons. He was loved and he will be missed.
Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at the Gold Mountain Memorial Park.
Helen Harrington
83, passed Nov. 7, 2004, to be with our Heavenly Father. A long time Big Bear resident, Helen Melvina Shaw was born March 21, 1921 to Lotti and John Shaw. One of 12 children, Helen married Charlie Harrington in 1939 in Rifle, Colo. He preceded her in death after 47 years together in 1983, and their son Chuck passed in 1991.
Helen is survived by her loving husband, Ike Gray of nine years; daughter Charlenne Newton; three grandchildren, Carla Peacock, Carleen Shelton, and Jay Newton; plus six great grandchildren, all of Kingman; two brothers, Perry of Alma, Ark. and Jack Shaw of Miss.; sister Betty Portman of Paonia, Colo.
A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, she will be missed. Services were held Nov. 9 in Kingman.
Lucille A. Pettigrew
80, passed Jan. 14, 2005, at San Bernardino Community Hospital. She was born in Akron, Ohio, and was a Big Bear City resident. Lucille was employed by the California Commerce Club in the City of Commerce, Calif., and the Rainbow Casino in Gardena, Calif., for over 25 years. In her retirement years she enjoyed gardening, reading and the company of her family and pets. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Robert. She is survived by her son, David Burke and daughter in law, Mary Burke of Running Springs, her grandchildren, Chastity and Brittany Burke, and great granddaugher, Alexis Burke.
No funeral services will be held, as she has been interred with the Neptune Society, where she will be cremated and her ashes scattered off the coast of San Diego, Calif.
Elizabeth Ann "Liz" Stevens
January 27, 1921 - January 14, 2005
A celebration of life for Elizabeth Stevens will be held at 1p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Calvary Chapel in Big Bear Lake, Calif. with the Rev. Paul Reeves officiating. Liz's family welcomes all who loved her to join them in her remembrance, and share fellowship with them at a reception to follow. Cremation rites have been held. At her request, her remains will be distributed at sea.
Liz was born in Berkeley, Calif., the daughter of Margretta and John C. Ludwick. She died at her home in Big Bear City after a brave battle with cancer.
She was raised in west Lost Angeles, attended University High School and UCLA. In 1940, she married Thomas L. Stevens of Pasadena. They were divorced in 1965.
In her young married years, while her husband served in the Pacific, she taught typing to soldiers bound for active duty in WWII. In 1945, her first son Greg was born. Soon afterward, the Stevens family purchased a house in Westchester, another suburb of Los Angeles. In 1950, son Cal was born, and son Jeff followed in 1955.
In 1956 the family moved to a house on the beach in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Liz was active in local and statewide politics, helping to manage several political campaigns. Urged by several local business owners to assist them with their advertising, in 1965 Liz founded the Elizabeth Stevens Agency, ultimately employing a staff of three and building her active public relations, marketing and advertising accounts to more than 50, including South Bay Hospital and the South Bay Unified High School District. As a sideline, Liz wrote and submitted features and stories to magazines and newspapers. Her work was published in publications as diverse as Trailer Life magazine and The Los Angeles Times View section. In 1976 she closed her agency and joined the staff of South Bay Hospital as Director of Public Relations. In 1981 she accepted the position of Director of Public Relations at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, which she held until 1983 when budget cuts forced the closure of her department.
In 1985 Liz relocated to the family's vacation cabin in Big Bear City, converting it to her full-time residence. Within only a matter of weeks she had introduced herself to Bob Wood, then the owner and publisher of "The Grizzly," and provided samples of her writing. She was immediately engaged as a freelance reporter for the newspaper, for which she worked until resigning in 2001. During her tenure with The Grizzly, many editions contained a dozen or more of her stories, from coverage of public meetings to hard news, features, and her regular first-person columns "Mountain Mama" and recipes she shared in "Mountain Mama's Kitchen."
Almost immediately upon leaving The Grizzly, Liz was engaged as the Big Bear Lake correspondent for the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, and as Senior Reporter for Big Bear's online newspaper, bigbearnews.com. She continued writing for both entities until her illness no longer allowed her to work at her computer.
In addition to writing, Liz loved cooking, photography and travel. But most of all, she loved her three sons. Her affection was returned by each of them, who visited her frequently.
Liz is survived by her sons Greg, Cal and Jeff and three grandchildren, the son and daughters of middle son Cal. She will be especially missed by daughter-in-law Nancy Nylen Stevens, Cal's wife, "adopted son" David Talamantes, dear Big Bear friends Marge McDonald, Pat Miller and neighbor Jack Wands, all of whom were of great support during her extended illness.
Friends and loved ones wishing to express a gesture of remembrance of Liz are welcome to send flowers to her memorial service, or make a donation to the Friends of the Moonridge Zoo (FOMZ), attn: Liz Stevens Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 130666, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315.
