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Gordon Johnson
Retired
OAKHURST - Gordon L. Johnson, a resident here for 14 years, died on January 14.
He was 73.
Services were held Saturday at the Little Church in the Pines at Bass Lake.
Burial services followed at Oakwood Cemetery
in Chatsworth.
Mr. Johnson was born in Burbank on January 30, 1924.
He served with the Army for two years and then worked as a machinist for the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station for 20 years.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Lenore.
He also leaves his son, Gordon L. Johnson Jr. (and wife Liz); his daughter, Marina Stafford (and husband Michael).
Mr. Johnson is also survived by a large extended family consisting of his stepsons Joseph, Gilbert, Ernesto, Mario, Avelino and Conrado Gonzales; and Kenneth, Thomas and Jonathan Prettol.
Also, his stepdaughters, Fe Gonzales and Michal Russel.
He was the brother of Charlotte Apuzzo of Arizona; Gene and Phillip Johnson (and wife Martha).
He was the stepbrother of Harold, Jim, Bill and Marvin Asbury.
Arrangements were under the direction of Sierra Funeral Chapel of Oakhurst.
Rachelanna Mathews
Homemaker
COARSEGOLD - Rachelanna Mathews, 90, died at her home on January 14.
Memorial services were held at Yosemite Lakes Community Church on Saturday.
Mrs. Mathews was born at Manhattan, Kansas, on April 21, 1907.
She married Merton (Doc) Mathews in Colorado and they came to California in 1935.
Known as "Pep" to friends and family, it was a name given to her by her father when she was very young because she was always cheerful, bright and peppy.
Mrs. Mathews came to Coarsegold area in 1974.
She is remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother and friend.
She was the mother of Marilyn (Mari Kay) of Coarsegold and Cynthia Carter (and husband Lee) of Carson City.
She was the grandmother of Scott Carter, Studio City; and Richard Carter, San Jose.
Mrs. Mathews was the sister of Sylvia Austin, Oakhurst; Kathryn Flick, Florida; Maxine Young, Pennsylvania; and Jean Farrell, Kansas.
Remembrances: American Heart Association, 1495 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno 93711, or a charity of choice.
Arrangements were under the direction of Sierra Funeral Chapel of Oakhurst.
Ople Lee Smith
Guest home owner
OAKHURST - Ople Lee Smith, a long-time resident of Oakhurst and proprietor of Ople's Guest House, died on January 14.
Services were held Tuesday at Oakhurst Community Church.
The eulogy was offered by Mrs. Smith's son-in-law, Ted Reese, with music and song performed by her grandson, Lance Reese.
Mrs. Smith was laid to rest alongside her husband, Julian, at Oakhill Cemetery.
Mrs. Smith was born in Texas on April 2, 1911.
After graduating high school in Oklahoma, she married Julian (Smitty) Smith on May 21, 1932.
They migrated to California, where they owned and operated Smith's Complete Market at Five Points.
Mrs. Smith became the first postmaster in the town, a position she held for 15 years.
In 1945, the Smiths purchased the 4B Ranch that included a cafe, bar and Union 76 gasoline station at Oakhurst.
After retiring the grocery business in 1955, they moved to Oakhurst, built the family home and opened the 4B Ranch Feed Store.
Years later, the Smiths owned and operated the northern Madera County garbage franchise until their retirement. "Smitty" died in January 1987.
At age 75, Mrs. Smith opened the family home to visitors as a bed and breakfast.
She kept active operating Ople's Guest House until her death.
Mrs. Smith enjoyed visiting with her guests from around the world.
Guest books placed in each room speak high praises of Ople and her hospitality.
Always active, Mrs. Smith enjoyed hunting and fishing. Family gatherings were common at the Smith family home.
Years ago, Mrs. Smith was also well-known in Oakhurst as the "Avon Lady," and was recognized as the top salesperson in the county.
Throughout the years, Mrs. Smith was active in the community.
She participated in many activities and organizations, such as the Sierra Trail Riders Association, Oakhurst Grandmothers Club, Sierra Mono Museum in North Fork, election polling place clerk, Fresno Junior Philharmonic, Oakhurst Home Department, and, most recently, Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Smith died without pain or suffering and surrounded by her loving family.
She was the mother of Clydie Reese; LaVeda Bevis, Madera; Geryl Smith and William (Pete) Smith, Oakhurst; and Julian (JD) Smith, Lodi.
Also surviving are grandson Todd Smith and many other grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her extended family.
Louise Wagner
Retired
OAKHURST - Memorial services have been held for Louise Wagner, 97, who died here on January 12.
Mrs. Wagner was born in Patterson, New Jersey, in 1900. She came to California as a young bride of William O. Wagner in 1926.
The Wagners settled in Inglewood. Later they moved to Eagle Rock, where they resided together for more than 50 years.
After her husband's death in 1988, Mrs. Wagner came to Oakhurst.
She has been a member of Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Wagner is the mother of William Wagner (and wife Janet), Oakhurst; and Lois Wagner (and her husband Howard), Spokane, Washington.
She was the grandmother of Martha Wiens, Oakhurst; Matthew Wagner, Fresno; Colleen Peterson, Sunnyvale; Calvin Redmond, Louisville, Kentucky; and Peter Wagner, Boise. Also surviving are 16 great-grandchildren.
Remembrances: Louise Wagner Memorial Fund, care of Sierra Vista Presbyterian.
Arrangements were under the direction of Sierra Funeral Chapel, Oakhurst.
