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A celebration of life was held on June 15, 2012, for Doris M. Kays at Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa. Doris left us peacefully to join her husband and love of her life, Robert, on June 8, 2012, after a long illness.
Doris was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on Nov. 15, 1930, and moved to California with her husband and oldest daughter, Cheryl, in 1952. She never regretted leaving Minnesota for the beautiful state of California.
She worked as a typist for many years at a letter service in San Mateo, and continued with her typing skills when they moved to Sonoma County where she typed up court transcripts for court reporters. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed not only for her daughters, but also for many of their friends. Later, she took up knitting and crocheting, and made unique sweaters that were sold at craft fairs around the state.
She loved traveling in their motor home, especially when they went to Alaska. When back problems prevented traveling in the motor home, there were several cruises made with children and friends.
She is survived by her three children, Cheryl Ridone (David) of Santa Rosa, Nancy Sanders (Brian) of Graton and Robert B. Kays (Jane) of Winters; grandchildren, Patricia Gatewood of Texas, Daniel and Timothy Martinez of Arizona, Scott Tamayo (Mia) of Guerneville, Todd Tamayo of Santa Rosa, Tony Tamayo of Santa Rosa, Melissa Blankenship (Steve) of Santa Rosa, Jonathan Kays (Suzana) of Alaska and Christopher Kays of Winters; great-grandchildren, Dallas Gatewood of Texas, Payton and Hunter Tamayo of Guerneville, and Riley Kays of Alaska. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. The family would especially like to thank Santa Rosa Memorial Hospice caregivers Ann, Jeanene, Christine, Nancy and Kini Tuibua for all their loving care during her final months.
Donations may be made in honor of Doris (and for her late husband Robert) to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.
June Atherton passed away on June 7, 2012, at the age of 87. She was born in Plymouth, England, on July 17, 1924.
At age 17, she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment of the Royal Navy to assist the wounded from World War II. She spent five years living in Borneo and moved to Winters in 1959 with her husband, John (Jack) Atherton, and their children. Over the years, she volunteered with the Red Cross, Winters Fortnightly Club, and Well Baby Clinic.
She is survived by her children Hilary Atherton, Beverley Atherton-Pierce (Dale), Richard Atherton (Stephanie) and Rosalynd Eldridge (Sean); grandchildren Natasha Franceschi, John Pierce, James Atherton, Lauren Atherton and Bridgette Eldridge; and siblings Diana Mulcock and Maurice Bigden.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years who passed away in January, and brother, Roy Bigden.
At June’s request, no services will be held.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Bernard Lee Boring passed away peacefully at his home in Winters on June 16, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 15, 1939, in Porter, Mich., to Clarence and Estelle Boring.
He graduated from Ohio State and later earned a master’s degree in psychology. He also served his country in the U.S. Air Force while stationed in Bitburg, Germany. He dedicated his professional life to 35 years of helping troubled youths as a juvenile probation officer.
He is survived by his cherished wife, Martha, seven children and 20 grandchildren. He was a generous, clever, humorous and kindhearted man and will be dearly missed by all that knew him, said a family member.
Funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony Parish on Saturday, June 23, at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at the Parish Hall.
A graveside service for Carl B. Allen, 74, of Winters, is planned at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at the Winters Cemetery. He was born in Mississippi on Oct. 30, 1937, and passed away in Lincoln on May 30, 2012. Arrangements are being handled by Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home, (707) 446-3233.
Frank Ramos Martinez Jr. passed away on the morning of June 3, 2012, in Dixon after ongoing medical challenges. He was born in Winters on Jan. 14, 1939, to Frank and Alicia Martinez Sr.
He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1958-59. He graduated from Winters High School. He retired as a heavy machine operator from Operating Engineers and was also a proud lifelong farmer. In his spare time, he enjoyed baseball, bowling (he was a member of the Pro Bowlers Association), golf, karaoke and gardening.
He is survived by his 30-year companion, Linda Vick; daughters, Deanna Martinez-Allen and Mistee Martinez; sisters, Anne Gertz and Irene George; and nine grandchildren, Andreia, Zachary, Elizabeth, Jeffrey, Madison, Christa, Joshua, Caleb and Zoe.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alicia; and son, Frank “E.J.” Martinez.
A Celebration of Life took place on June 11 at Vaca Hills Chapel 524 Elmira Road in Vacaville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Daughters of Destiny, Prison Ministry c/o Deanna 524 Elmira Road, Vacaville, CA 95687.
Ann Bryant passed away at home in Winters on June 8, 2012. Born on April 3, 1938, in Pampa, Texas, to Julia and Cleyts Reid, she was 74.
She held many jobs and had many trades in her lifetime, but it was the last one that gave her such joy: driving a school bus. She loved the children and the smiles on their faces. While she loved her job, there was no job more important to her, than loving and caring for her family. Her family need only mention something they might need or want and she was on a mission to accomplish it.
Her mother, Julia, instilled in her a love of family, and taught her to be a servant to those she loved.
She and her daughter Cindy had a very special bond; they were not just mother and daughter, but the dearest of friends. She taught Cindy to serve and follow Jesus. Her granddaughter Kayla brought back light and laughter into her heart after her beloved Marvin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Kayla was the light of her life.
Her granddaughter Nikki never failed to make her laugh, many times following something Nikki would say, Ann would laugh and say, that kid. Nikki was the laughter of her heart.
Her son-in-law Mike provided great comfort in her last days; Ann many times told Cindy how much she appreciated all he did for her. Mike was a sign of how Ann’s love could change a person’s walk in life.
She would take on the world for her siblings and sometimes did. They were her drive and determination to change the world into a better place.
She loved her friends; they brought such joy and light into her life from coworkers, to bingo buddies, to people she had yet to meet. There were no strangers in her world.
Her church family at First Baptist Church provided her with laughter, food for the soul, joy and peace. They live out daily what being a Christian means: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
She and her husband Marvin had a sweet love and undying passion for serving others.
“I know that when she entered the Pearly Gates on June 8, Jesus met Ann with Marvin and said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; welcome home,’ ” said her daughter Cindy.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Mike Hartwell of Winters; granddaughters Kayla Hartwell and Nikki Hartwell, both of Winters; sisters, Charlene Reid, Donna Myers and Linda Christiansen, all of Sacramento; brother Melvin Reid of Colorado; and sister-in-law Nancy Reid of Davis.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin.
Services are planned on Saturday, June 16, at 1 p.m., at the First Baptist Church, 512 First St. in Winters.
Barbarita Lavalle died May 23, 2012, in Dixon, after a brief illness. Born Dec. 4, 1932, in Durango, Mexico, she was 79.
She worked for 25 years at the Contadina cannery in Woodland.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Antonio Lavalle; her children and their spouses: Ilda Franco (Jaime), Joanna Verette (Chas) and Ignacio Lavalle (Isabel); nine grandchildren: Erika Franco Padilla, Veronica Franco Hernandez, Jaime A. Franco, Christina Lavalle Becerra, Monica Lavalle, Clarissa Maroquinn, Priscilla Maroquinn and Chas and Cameron Verette; and eight great-grandchildren: Deziree Padilla, Roger Padilla, Richard Padilla, Max Hernandez, Ricardo Hernandez, Diego Becerra, Faustino Becerra and Nicolas Lavalle.
A Mass is planned at 11 a.m. June 8 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 105 S. Second St., Dixon. A private interment will take place at a later date.
Frank R. Martinez Jr. died June 3, 2012, in Dixon.
He was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Winters.
A memorial service is planned at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, at St. Anthony Church, 301 Main St., Winters.
Dr. James F. Ransdell, 85, passed away in the morning, after breakfast, on Friday, April 20, 2012, at Courtyard HealthCare Center in Davis. He was born in Paris, Mo., in Monroe County, the youngest of three boys. His mother, Mary Ione Ransdell, was a school teacher, and his father, Thomas Mackin Ransdell, was a farmer.
He was married to Wanda Lee Armistead on June 12, 1949, and received his doctorate of medicine in 1955. He finished his residency in pathology, as assistant chief, in the pathology department at Oakland Naval Hospital in California in 1960.
An avid flyer, he served in the Civil Air patrol for the Sacramento area. After several years as a pathologist for Sutter Community Hospitals, he felt the calling of his youth, and bought the Sackett Apricot farm along Putah Creek, outside of Winters.
Never one to do things by halves, in 1969, he partnered in a Clinical & Forensic practice in Davis. By then Dr. Fred and Wanda had five children: Trinka, Faye, Fred, Tom and Sam, who experienced a bit of culture shock moving from air-conditioned suburbia to an isolated, woodstove-heated farmhouse at the end of a two-mile dirt road.
During the farm years, Fred and Wanda nurtured and raised kids, apricots, navel oranges, horses, dogs, cats and hippies. Although a practicing pathologist for 40 years, he had a longtime interest in nutrition, acupuncture and alternative medicine in general. Well known for his erudition on these subjects, he enjoyed talking with friends and colleagues with similar interests, an avocation he pursued in retirement.
He was also active in the local music community, participating in the Circle Of Singers, and serving as music director of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church. He was a founding member of the Winters Healthcare Foundation, and an active board member. Until his illness, he served as president of the Winters Senior Citizens organization.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Epling; daughters Trinka and Faye; sons Fred, Tom and Sam; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Lee Ransdell; elder brothers, Tom and Sam Ransdell; father, Thomas Macklin Ransdell, and mother, Mary Ione Ransdell.
A celebration of his life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Pioneer Presbyterian Church on 205 Russell St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Yolo Hospice, PO Box 1014, 95617.
