Search Archived Marriage Records
George John Van Buskirk
Crescent City Calif. George John Van Buskirk, 94, passed away at his home in Crescent City, Calif. on Feb. 18, 2009.
George was born on July 19, 1914 in Los Gatos, Calif. As a child, he lived in Josephine and Klamath counties of Southern Oregon and Siskiyou County working alongside his parents and siblings to make it through the Depression.
He attended Klamath Union High School. After high school, he served in the Oregon National Guard at Fort Stevens with D Battery, 249th Coastal Artillery.
In 1935, he married Greta Ruth Lange and they had two sons. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, he worked as a Pioneer Cat operator, building roads in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
During WW II, George served in the U.S. Navy SeaBees in the South Pacific with the First Marine Raiders, where he was seriously wounded in the Solomon Islands campaign.
After the war, George returned to Siskiyou County, where he worked for the Manpower Commission helping to find employment for the returning soldiers, ultimately becoming the Northern California District Manager of the California State Employment Office. He was a life member of VFW Post 3813 and the DAV where he served as an NSO assisting veterans to obtain their veterans benefits. He retired in 1972.
George loved fishing, hunting, rock-hounding and gardening.
George was preceded in death by his wife Greta in 1992, and eldest son, Harlan in 2008.
He is survived by his sister, Ellen Hegler of Ashland Ore.; brother Carl Van Buskirk and wife Marge of Medford Ore.; son L. Roger Van Buskirk and wife Deanna of Central Point Ore.; daughter-in-law Blanche Van Buskirk of Yreka; sister-in-law Lilo Lange of Yreka; first cousin Vivien Henderson of Crescent City; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
At George’s request, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VFW, Post #1381, 810 H St., Crescent City, CA 95531.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wier’s Mortuary Chapel of Crescent City, Calif.
Virginia “Ginger” E. Phillips Zediker
Montague, Calif. - Virginia “Ginger” E. Phillips Zediker passed away on April 15, 2009 surrounded by her family. Virginia was born on Sept. 9, 1923 to Roy and Ethyl Phillips in Fresno, Calif. As a young girl, Virginia was very active in athletics and involved in numerous sporting events. She was an active member of 4-H; raising cattle and doing many home economics projects. Virginia operated a fruit stand on the edge of her family’s ranch for many summers during her youth. Virginia attended and graduated from Reedley College.
Virginia was married to Jack Zediker in November of 1942. She quickly became active in Young Farmers and Ranchers in Fresno County while she and Jack began custom farming to fill the need for agriculture during World War II. They started a Hereford cattle operation in Sanger, Calif. Virginia and Jack had two sons, Phil and Jim and a daughter, Kay. The family moved to Big Springs in 1948 and purchased milking shorthorn cattle, which they shipped from Oklahoma to start a dairy at the Four Corners Ranch in Big Springs.
Virginia became active in the Big Springs Community as a 4-H leader for over 20 years, and a member of the Big Springs Community Club. Virginia drove bus for the Big Springs Union Elementary School, worked at JC Penney’s in the 60s and retired from the Siskiyou County Public Health Department in 1989 after working for 20 years. Virginia was a dedicated bookkeeper for both the ranch and for the Big Springs Irrigation District for several years. Virginia volunteered with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Posse for several years and was a long time member of the Yreka Trail Riders Association. Virginia was also active in the Siskiyou County Retired Public Employees Association. Virginia continued to be active in ranch life even maintaining her own small herd of cattle.
Virginia was very active in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Friday night pizza will be sorely missed at great-grandma’s house.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Ethyl; husband Jack Zediker; sister Arlene Austin; and son Phil Zediker.
Survivors include son Jim Zediker and wife Dianne; daughter Kay Vanni and husband Doug; daughter-in-law Nancy Zediker; and grandchildren, Gary Pepperdine and wife Dorrie, Trevor Zediker and wife Annemarie, Ty Pepperdine and wife Rebecca, Vince Zediker, Tammy Luiz and husband Mike, Darbi Whipple and husband Monte, Jacki Zediker and Vicki Zediker; great-grandchildren, Cody and Chelsea Pepperdine, Britini, Rance, Tristan and Brody Zediker, Emma and Abigail Pepperdine, Dusti and Hailee Luiz and Delaney, Myra, Mattie and Dessa Whipple.
Graveside services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery
in Yreka on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 2 p.m. A community potluck will be held at Virginia’s home in Big Springs following the services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Madrone Hospice in Yreka or a charity of ones choice.
Dean M. Perdue
Montague, Calif. - Dean M. Perdue, also known as Dino, passed away at the age of 61, surrounded by loving family and friends, on April 15, 2009 in his home in Montague after battling lung cancer.
Dean was born March 7, 1948 in Yreka. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was owner and operator of “The Diner” here in Yreka. He worked at Jim Wilson Ford Motors in sales for the past 23 years.
Dean enjoyed R.V. camping, hunting, fishing, golfing and bowling. He loved being outside, grooming the yard to perfection. His Christmas light display was a gift to the whole town of Montague. Dean could make anyone laugh, no matter what was going on around him. He was also a big Raiders fan. He loved spending time with his family, especially his three granddaughters. He was a member of the Yreka Elks Lodge for 25 years and a past member of the Yreka Kiwanis. He recently became a member of the Yreka Berean Church.
Dean is survived by his wife Kathy of Montague; his daughter and son-in-law, Missy and Jose Leyva; and granddaughters, Adrianna, Monica and Erica, all of Yreka; his son Richie Perdue of Yreka; his brother Pastor Don Perdue and his wife Bev of Montague; his mother-in-law Vivian Russell of Grenada; his nieces and nephew, Andrea and Mark Gilman, Melanie and John DeRose, Matt and Rhe Perdue of Yreka and Heather and Ryan Bashor of Silverton, Ore.; his half brother Vaughn Young of Santa Rosa; and his step dad Vernon Young, also of Santa Rosa.
Dean was preceded in death by his mother Lucille Young; his father Dean W. Perdue; and his step-mother Millie Price Perdue.
Dino has left this life, but leaves his family and friends with a lifetime of memories.
A memorial service will be held at the Grenada Community Berean Church in Grenada on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 3 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Cir., Yreka, CA 96097 or to the Yreka Berean Church, 203 Wetzel Way, Yreka, CA 96097.
Girdner Funeral Chapel is in charge of cremation arrangements.
H. L. “Bud” Meiners
Scottsdale, Ariz. - Henry Louis “Bud” Meiners, 78, passed away in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
Bud, born in Long Beach, Calif. on Sept. 13, 1930 to Henry “Hank” Louis and Blandina Meiners, graduated from Montebello High School, Montebello, Calif., in 1949 and the University of California, Berkeley, in 1954.
He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at Berkeley. Following graduation, he served his country as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy.
In the fall of 1955, Bud married Nancy Newton, with whom he had three children. He and Jim Dillon owned and operated the Mt. Shasta Milling Company in Montague for 10 years. In 1967, Bud became a stockbroker in Medford, Ore.
He married Valarie Roller in 1978. In 1985, Bud, his wife Valarie and his two sons, Michael and Jon, founded a brokerage firm, Columbia Pacific Securities, in Seattle, Wash. Bud retired in 1996 to enjoy golf and warm weather.
Bud is survived by his wife Valarie Meiners of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter Kelly Meiners of Salem, Ore.; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Robin Meiners of Bellevue, Wash. and Jon Meiners and Diane Babbitt of Scottsdale, Ariz.; four granddaughters, Anna, Maria and Christine Meiners of Bellevue, Wash. and Claire Meiners of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Linda Jean Smyrnos Ragsdale
Mount Shasta, Calif. - Linda Jean Smyrnos Ragsdale, 58, of Mount Shasta, passed away on June 6, 2009 following a battle with ovarian cancer. She was a resident of Mount Shasta for over 30 years, having re-located from the Bay Area.
Linda’s positive influence and hard work has spanned over 25 years and thousands of miles. Her career as a museum coordinator and later as a project manager allowed her to oversee many innovative assignments, including development of the Turtle Bay Park and Museum. During her time in Mount Shasta, she started a family business, Shastronics, and later was involved with the Secret Santa Sisterhood. Linda was always willing to lend a hand to help the community and her home was always open to anyone in need.
Among her many attributes, Linda’s ability to throw a festive get-together was renowned. From Greek Fests to Gazing Ball parties, her skills as a hostess and in the kitchen were unrivaled: she always left guests with a beaming smile and sated appetite, counting the minutes until the next party.
Linda is survived by her two children, Tristan and Emily; her brothers, John Smyrnos, George Smyrnos and Cris Smyrnos; and her sister Pamela Frizzell. Her memory will also be honored by her multitude of friends, whose love and support never wavered throughout the most difficult of times.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2009 at the Shasta Abbey. Please send donations in lieu of flowers to the Secret Santa Sisterhood, care of Scott Valley Bank.
Joyce Audrey Weiler
Yreka, Calif. - The best day in a Christian’s life is when they go home to be with the Lord. Joyce Audrey Weiler went to be with her Savior on Thursday, June 4, 2009 with her precious husband by her side and surrounded by her family.
Joyce was born in Utah and grew up in Southern California. Later while living in Arabia with her parents, she met and married the love of her life, Lester Weiler. She was only 17. He was a 22-year-old veteran. They knew each other six weeks and then were married by the British Consulate on Bahrain Island. Their marriage was a great love story – full of adventure, sacrifice and commitment. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Joyce cherished her family of six children, 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren – and was very close to her sister/best friend. She also delighted in the fresh ocean air, cooking for her family, crafts, decorating, gardening and she loved to study God’s word. In her day, she stacked a lot of wood and canned a lot of fish. Joyce was handy with a sewing machine and sewed many clothes for her kids. She was there for her family in need and in celebration. Her home was always open and she made everyone feel welcome.
Thinking of others before herself came naturally for her and she will be missed very much.
David Ray Fisher
Montague, Calif. - David Ray Fisher went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at about 10:50 p.m. at his home in Montague.
Dave was just shy of his 54th birthday, and had been battling brain cancer for eight months, after successfully overcoming prostate cancer. After his service in the U.S. Army, Dave worked as a logger, welder and millwright, before finally working for himself in the construction trades. He will forever be missed by his wife of 35 years, Deborah and his children, Dave and Kelly, Allen, Adam, Beth and Matt, Daniel and Zachary. He was also the proud grandpa of six: Matt, Emma, Hailey, Adam, Hunter and Hannah, all of whom will deeply miss their Grandpa. Dave is survived by numerous brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and innumerable friends who were always treated and thought of as family. He was an avid outdoorsman and family man. He loved to hunt and fish, and the time spent with family and friends doing both. Dave made friends and shared the word and love of God with everyone he met and left a memorable impression on all.
His memorial service will be held at the Grenada Berean Church, 512 6th St. in Grenada on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at noon. All who knew him are invited to attend.
Girdner Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Marie Smith
Castella - Marie Smith lived a long, full life and died of natural causes on May 31, 2009 surrounded by her loving family. She was 74.
Marie was born May 15, 1935 in Weed to Bill and Genevieve Lonergan. Marie attended grade school in Weed and was a student of Yreka High School where she met the love of her life, Donald C. Smith. They were married in Berkeley, Calif. on June 15, 1957. They enjoyed many wonderful years together. Marie was a loving and devoted wife.
Marie worked in the field of nursing and public health and pioneered the movement for home health and hospice care in the Bay Area and Northern California. She was respected and admired by her colleagues as administrator for a home health agency, for her leadership and integrity.
In addition to her to incredible expertise in the public health field, Marie was incredibly active in her community, and spent summers alongside her husband, assuming the role of head nurse for various summer camps. Upon her retirement, she assumed a more active role in her community with her husband, founding a nonprofit corporation in order to better meet the needs of school children in their local community.
She was president of the school board, joined the fire commission and water board, and was also active in the Lions Club. She and her husband started a sustainable community garden project in their hometown of Castella and taught the schoolchildren how to grow vegetables. In 2008, she was awarded the Castella Citizen of the Year Award.
Love and compassion were hallmarks of Marie’s character. She cared deeply for all people and was the first to offer help and encouragement to those in trouble. She was always positive and gracious; she would never use harsh language or complain. Her smile and laugh were contagious.
Marie had an enormous impact on her family, particularly her sons and grandchildren. She always made quality time for them and she created a lasting impression. Marie was the perfect example of the importance of character in one’s life.
Marie is survived by her husband Don; her sister Veronica; her sons, Steve and Michael; and five grandchildren, Wesley, Kelly, Will, David and Laura.
Marie will be deeply missed. A private celebration of Marie’s life will be held in September when she is laid to rest in her ancestral home in Castella. The Smith family is requesting that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in memory of Marie T. Smith to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.
Manny L. Ennis Jr.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Manny L. Ennis Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away June 4, 2009 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was 85 years young, born in Petaluma, Calif. to Leota and Manny Ennis on July 20, 1923.
He quit school at age 17, in February 1941, to join the Navy. He served in the Pacific until discharged in 1946. One of his passions was the fire department. He joined the North Highlands Fire Department in Sacramento, Calif. in 1959 and retired after 20 years. He moved to Etna in 1979 and joined the Scott Valley Fire District as a volunteer and became the chief of the district until retirement 10 years later. He taught fire science for the College of the Siskiyous on an outreach program to outlying towns. Another of his loves was his dogs. He raised and showed his terriers to champions in the United States and Canada.
He leaves behind his wife of 62 years Charlotte; his only daughter Marsha Johnson; three granddaughters, Tami Kopf, Kendra Bellomy and Brandi Shelton; and six great-grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ashley, Molly, Brooklynn, Hunter and Emma.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dalmatians, Scott Valley Fire District. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on June 11, 2009 at the Catholic Church in Etna with graveside services at the Etna Cemetery
to follow.
Girdner Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Leo L. Davis
Fort Jones, Calif. - Leo L. Davis, an 89-year-old Siskiyou County native, passed away May 26, 2009 at his home in Fort Jones surrounded by loved ones.
Leo was born June 18, 1919 in Seiad Valley to Leroy and Blanch Davis.
After serving as an engineer for the U.S. Army, Leo returned to Siskiyou Co., where he specialized in bridge construction and was given a service award for constructing 40 bridges in Siskiyou County alone. Leo’s accomplishments were many. Leo was a member of the North Star Masons, chapter 91, for 57 years and was presented the Hiram award by the Masons. Leo loved to hunt, fish and travel. Leo received much joy from his devotion to community services and helping others.
Leo was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Adair Davis.
Leo leaves his brother Don Davis of Fort Jones, three cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leo will be deeply missed by many, who will always remember him as a very kind, caring man, and feel blessed and honored to have been a part of his life.
Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 in the Fort Jones Cemetery
with a gathering of family and friends to follow at the Masonic Hall on East Street in Fort Jones.
