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Evelyn F. Carroll Sweeney, age 97, passed away at peace on May 25, 2013 in San Luis Obispo at Garden Creek Assisted Living. She was born to John and Frances Carroll and raised in Edna Valley on her parent’s ranch. She was a lifetime resident of San Luis Obispo and one of seven siblings, all who preceded her in death. She was very proud of her Irish heritage on both sides of her parents.
Upon graduating from SLO High in 1933, she went to Beauty College and worked a short time as a beautician. She married her high school sweetheart, Edward Sweeney, in October 1939 and had two children, Georgianna and Tom. Their lives were always surrounded by family and friends, celebrating life with barbecues, parties, travel and days at the beach. Evelyn and Ed were avid sports fans, most of all football.
Evelyn will be remembered for her love of family, ready smile and positive attitude to all things in life. She was always first in line to help if needed and appreciated all things she received. She was an exceptional lady who will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edward, her daughter Georgianna Mariani and her son, Tom Sweeney.
She is survived by her son-in-law Dennis Mariani; daughter-in-law Susan Sweeney; grandchildren Dennis Mariani (Bridget) Mark Mariani (Shannon) of Winters, Molly Louer (Tom) of Phoenix, Arizona, Tim Sweeney (Vickie) and Amanda Sundstrom (Eric) of San Jose; 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held at the The Old Mission San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, June 5, at 10 a.m.

Jose Escarsega Jr., known around town as “Joe” by his friends and family, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Winters on April 22, 2013. He was surrounded by loved ones during his passing.
Joe was born on Feb. 6, 1931 in the town of Smelter Town, Texas to his parents, Presiliana Licon and Jose Escarsega, who preceded him in death. His younger brother, Armando Escarsega, also preceded him in death. He spent his childhood living with his grandparents after the tragic passing of his parents. He lived in Villa Ahumada, Mexico with his grandparents before subsequently living with an aunt and uncle in Juarez, Mexico. He then moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he encountered his life partner, Josephine Dominguez. Joe and Josephine were married and subsequently moved to San Jose before finally setting down roots in Winters.
Joe was a man of many talents despite limited education. He was a mechanic, ranch-hand, truck driver, welder, farmer, and carpenter amongst many other things. He loved to raise chickens, pigs, sheep, and many other animals. He was known as the town mechanic often fixing the vehicles of the locals for little money or a trade of goods. He worked for Gaddini Top Soil and Ramos Orchards for most of his employment while living in Winters, and worked until he no longer was able.
He loved travel to Texas, New Mexico and Mexico annually to visit family. He enjoyed fishing, billiards, and above all, gardening. He had a green thumb and his garden was filled with chilies, tomatoes, watermelon, and squash.
He is survived by his beloved and dedicated wife of 62 years, Josephine Escarsega; daughters, Patricia Escarsega and Betty Chavez; only living sibling, Juan Escarsega; eight grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
The memorial services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, in Winters, beginning with a mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church; followed by a burial ceremony at the Winters Cemetery. The services will end with a memorial reception at the St. Anthony Parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jose “Joe” Escarsega Memorial Fund at First Northern Bank in Winters.

Wilma “Willie” Keith abruptly passed away on March 13, 2013, while recuperating from a hip fracture.
She was born at home with the assistance of a mid-wife in Omaha, Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. She spent her youth there before moving to Winters with her family during the Depression. She then met and married her life-partner, Elton Keith, who passed in 2006. She then moved to Oregon with two of her daughters.
She was a devoted stay-at-home mother when her children were in school. After her children left, she and Elton traveled in their motor home throughout the United States, particularly in the Midwest. After the traveling bug came and went, they accepted the responsibilities of pastoring The Faith Tabernacle Church in Winters for the next 10 years. She was a deeply spiritual woman and relied upon her faith to help herself and other’s when life’s inevitable adversities occurred. She often knew of other’s needs before they did.
Along with the daily duties of the church, she and the ladies groups worked endlessly with the elderly. She gave freely and tirelessly of herself. She often said, “God had given her the strength and the hands of eight people to do the work required her.” She was a member of several Christian organizations, participated in missionary work and was very supportive of The La Grande Orphanage in San Luis, Mexico. She and her soul-sister, Betty Oldeneas, made annual trips to deliver clothes, supplies, etc. They stopped, without fail, in Sun City, Arizona and Bakersfield to visit. The years co-pastoring the church were one of the happiest times of her life.
She wasn’t all work and no play, however. She loved her kitchen, cooking, baking or canning fruits and veggies from Elton’s garden. She could hold her own with a fishing pole and had a great appreciation of the outdoors. She loved music and attended many concerts and music festivals. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling. She went to most of the U.S., cruised throughout the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, and visited several cities in Mexico and Hawaii. She moved to Oregon to retire, and visited the coast and other natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Wilma was the mother of Phyllis Keith, twin-daughters Rhonda Keith-Gonnella-Kimball, Linda Estepa (Frank) and surrogate mother to many. She was blessed with six grandchildren, Sherry Mack (Bob), Ron Gonnella, Joey Seigel, Carrie, Angela and Ryan (Leslie) Estepa. She also had six great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Elton; stepson, Daniel; infant daughter, Lela; sisters Pauline Tate, Lucille (Pete), Bounty and Vivian Nelson; several in-laws and friends.
“She leaves a legacy of being a loving mother, friend, wife, confident and counselor. Although her physical presence leaves a huge void in many lives, she will be remembered for her graciousness, wisdom, compassion and wit,” says a family member.
A graveside service is planned for Friday, May 3, at 11 a.m. Pastor Ted Selby will officiate. Memorial Contributions may be made to Sunny Valley Ministries, P.O. Box 79, Sunny Valley, OR, 97497.

Joe Zane was born Sept. 13, 1955 in Woodland. Surrounded by family and friends, he passed away on April 11, 2013.
Raised in Woodland through his junior high years, Joe moved to Winters and attended Winters High School, graduating in 1973. Joe attended Cosumnes River and Butte colleges before starting his career in agriculture.
Joe was a farmer’s son and had a great love of the land. He was a fifth generation farmer and was extremely proud of the family legacy.
Among the companies he worked for were Petoseed, Nunhemseed and most
recently Capay Canyon Ranch.
Joe had many passions, including coaching his sons’ hockey teams and entertaining and barbecuing for family and friends. He was a sports fan for all seasons.
Joe will always be remembered for his kindness and good cheer.
Survivors are: his loving wife of 29 years, Wendi; his devoted son Stuart; brother Neil Zane; sisters Rebecca Ewert (Corky) and Mary Parrish (Dennis); mother-in-law Doris Warden; brother-in-law Dean Warden (Linda); and many loving nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his son
Logan, sister-in-law Alice and parents, Joe and Louise Zane.
Because of Joe’s loving and generous nature, he also leaves many friends and loved ones in the area and throughout the state.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 17, at the United Methodist Church of Woodland. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Logan Zane Memorial Scholarship Fund at Woodland High School, 21 N. West St., Woodland, or the donors’ favorite charity.

Jose L. Escarsega was born Feb. 6, 1931, and died April 22, 2013, at home in Winters.
Services will be announced later.

Irene Campos Ramos, 83, of Woodland, passed away on March 29, 2013, with her two sons at her bedside. She held fast to her faith in Christ during her illness.
She was born on April 19, 1929, to Arturo and Joaquina Campos. Born and raised in Winters, she grew up on her parents’ ranch, off Olive School Lane. She attended Olive School and Winters High School. After marrying Jack Ramos, on June 22, 1947, they lived in Winters until 1958 when they moved to Davis and bought and managed the Davis Motel and raised two sons. She was devoted to her family, and especially loved her three grandchildren.
One of her great passions was developing real estate; she built several homes, acting as her own architect and general contractor. Her proudest project was a Spanish-style home she built near the ocean in Morro Bay. She also loved to travel with family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Arturo and Joaquina Campos; brothers, Joseph, Eleutario and Clarence Campos; and sisters, Juanita Campos Martinez and Jeanette Campos Hayes.
She is survived by her children, Edward Ramos and wife Margaret of Woodland, and John L. Ramos of Woodland; grandchildren John R. Ramos of Sacramento, Joseph R. Ramos of Oak Harbor, Washington, and Samantha J. Ramos of Woodland; sister, Pearl McCullough of Hemet; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. A reception will follow at St. Anthony’s Hall, also in Winters.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Vitas Community Connections, 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95833.

Frank Martin, Jr., 80, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather died peacefully on Monday, March 25, 2013 at Woodland Memorial Hospital after his battle with blood cancer; Multiple Myeloma.
Born in Winters to Frank and Amalia Martin on Oct. 29, 1932. He grew up in Winters and graduated from Winters High School in 1950.
He served in the Army and was stationed at the San Francisco Presidio and then Alaska for eight months.
He started farming with his older brother Antonio Martin & brother-in-law Tony Jimenez after being discharged from the Army. He served on several boards including the Land Bank and Sunsweet Growers. He continued farming in Winters all of his life.
He married Ramona Ramos on Nov. 15, 1953 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Winters.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ramona, daughter, Kathryn, son, David, son-in-law, Michael Massman, and grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Massman. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, up to the third generation.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Antonio and Joe Martin and his sister Madeline Jimenez.
A vigil was held at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2013, and a funeral Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Burial was at the Winters Cemetery, followed by a reception at St. Anthony Parish Hall in Winters.

Janet Darlene Ferrell passed away on March 1, 2013 at 5:50 a.m. in Tecumseh, Oklahoma after a three-year battle with a liver and kidney disease. Born on Dec. 26, 1945, she was 67 years old. She lived in Winters for six years, and was co-owner of Curves for Women and a member of First Baptist Church of Winters.
She came from a military family; her father (the late Robert T. Aliff) retired from the Marine Corp in 1971. Her husband also served in the Marine Corp and most family members served in the armed forces in some fashion. She had an unwavering loyalty to her family, country and to those who serve or served her cherished United States of America.
She is survived by her son and his wife, Jeffery and Melinda Ferrell, grandchildren Alyssa and Ethan Ferrell, all of Norman, Oklahoma; sister and her husband, Linda and Sam Masteller of Winters; sister and her husband, Bonnie and Tom Hrinya of Salem, Virginia; brother Roger and Marylynn Aliff of Mechanicsville, Virginia; and several nephews and nieces.
Her family takes comfort that she is now in heaven with the God she so loved and served and has been reunited with her beloved husband Larry, sons Christopher and Michael and many other family members and friends.
In her words, “Please do not grieve for me once I go, I will be where I want to be”.
There will be a memorial service celebrating her life at 3 p.m. on April 7, 2013 at First Baptist Church in Winters.

Connie DeLeon of Medford, Oregon, and formerly of Winters, died on March 9, 2013. She was 79.
She was born in El Centro on Aug. 26, 1933.
She worked at U.C. Davis for 28 years, retired, and became very active in the Winters community. She volunteered with Pop Warner football cheerleading and Meals on Wheels for many years. She remained in Winters until moving to Oregon in 2009.
She is preceded in death by her husband Inocencio and her parents Eugeno and Librada. She is survived by: her children, Larry, Frank Sr. and Delia; her siblings Genie, Jane, Ramona, Michael Sr. and Vera; and her grandchildren Kasandra, Mann, Aaron, Connie, Michael, Frank Jr., Isaac and April.
A funeral service is 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 301 Main Street, Winters. A graveside service will follow in the Winters Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Connie DeLeon Memorial Fund at First Northern Bank.

Gussie Bee Fridae, mother of Woody Fridae, former Mayor of Winters, passed away Wednesday morning, March 6, 2013. Gee Bee, as she was known by friends and family, was three weeks away from celebrating her 94th birthday in April.
Gee Bee was born to Beatrice and Agustus (Gus) Peterson, hence her nickname, on April 1, 1919 in Helena, Arkansas. When she finished high school she worked as a clerk and waitress in various shops around El Dorado, Arkansas. She met her future husband, Don Fridae, there in 1940, and they were married in September of 1941. He told her she had the prettiest lips he’d ever seen. They spent the war years in Vallejo California, where Don was a recruiter for the Navy.
After returning to El Dorado, the couple started a family. They had three girls and a boy, Dona, Dixie, Gracie and Woody. In 1955, the family moved to Doyle, to live near Gee Bee’s brother, Harold Peterson, who lived in Chester at the time. Two years later, they settled in Willits, where Don took a job teaching English at the Pine Street School.
Don and Gee Bee enjoyed golfing when the golf course was first built at a local resort, Brooktrails, in 1960. She won several trophies in her early years playing golf. Gee Bee was well known as a seamstress and cake decorator, making wedding dresses and wedding cakes for many brides in the Willits area.
For a dozen years, she was a cook at the Willits Boy Scout Lake. She also worked as a lookout for the California Division of Forestry and worked at Two Rock Lookout for nearly 20 years. Gee Bee was an avid bridge player and was part of many bridge groups that met regularly in Willits.
When Don retired in 1976, they began a tradition of spending the early spring of each year at their son’s condominium in Moloka’i for a couple of months. They made a cadre of friends there, and enjoyed their honorary “kama’aina” status with many locals.
Gee Bee remained active after the passing of Don in 2001. She continued their annual trips to Moloka’i in Hawaii for several years, and she travelled to Vermont and New York last June to see her grandson, Andrew Fridae, graduate from Bennington College. After suffering a stroke last August, she came to live with Woody and Rebecca Fridae in Winters. She made a remarkable recovery from her stroke and made acquaintance with many people in Winters and played bridge with a local group occasionally. She had moved to an assisted living facility in Ukiah at the time of her death.
Gee Bee lived a long and fruitful life. She is survived by Dona Fridae, of Willits; Dixie Southwick, of Winnemucca; Gracie Fridae, of Willits; and Woody Fridae, of Winters; 14 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by many friends and family members.

Patricia Lynn Ireland was born Nov.16, 1945 in Sacramento to Wayne and Winona Ireland of Winters. She graduated from Winters High School in 1963, attended UC Davis for two years and went on to receive her BA in physical education and English from Sacramento State University in 1968.
In the fall of 1968, she became an English and physical education teacher at Esparto High School. She also coached varsity tennis, field hockey, and basketball.
In 1970, she married Jim Naekel, and moved to Woodland. She gave birth to daughter Heidi in 1973, and to son John in 1977. She also helped start a family-owned self-storage business in 1973.
In 1986, Pattie and her children moved to Missoula, Montana. She fell in love with western Montana, and bought a home in the Lincolnwood neighborhood on Rattlesnake Creek in 1987. She lived at her home on Fox Farm Road for 26 years, and cherished her neighbors and her beautiful backyard. She never took her surroundings for granted, and loved to walk in the woods with her dogs almost every day, throughout the Rattlesnake wilderness.
Pattie married CJ Tornabene on May 26th, 1991. The pair met playing tennis, where they became a successful mixed doubles team for years. They won countless tournaments in mixed doubles and on their respective USTA teams. They loved spending time on their sail boat at Flathead Lake, as well as sailing anywhere they traveled. They scuba dived in Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, The Cayman Islands, Honduras and Hawaii. They attended both the US Open in New York and the French Open in Paris together. No matter where they traveled throughout the years, most every vacation was an appropriate balance of tennis, the outdoors, and water.
Pattie was an exceptional athlete in high school, where she competed in field hockey, tennis, track, basketball, and volleyball. She played collegiate field hockey and tennis at UC Davis. She was an active tennis player, golfer, and skier her entire life. She was immensely competitive and never ashamed of her love of winning. She returned to tennis coaching in Missoula- running the Loyola Sacred Heart tennis program from 1993-98.
When Pattie wasn’t out enjoying the beauty of Montana or playing sports, she enjoyed nothing more than hosting guests at her home. She was a gourmet cook and an incredible hostess- someone who always took great joy in pleasing and providing for others. Pattie had an innate ability to connect with everyone she met, and simply loved to learn about people. She was an exceptional listener and contagiously upbeat. Even when her health wasn’t cooperating, she maintained a unique gift to put others at ease the moment they stepped through her front door.
Pattie was an active volunteer in various organizations through the years. In her life, she was a proud PEO member, a volunteer for Camp Mak-A-Dream, Meals on Wheels, the Missoula Battered Women’s Shelter, the University of Montana foreign exchange program, Loyola BASH, and was a contributor to countless other causes.
Pattie loved Montana Grizzly Football from the day she arrived in Missoula. She first attended games in the fall of 1986, and was a season ticket holder at Washington-Grizzly stadium the following year. She attended nearly every home game in the past 26 years, many road games, and the 2001 National Championship game in Chatanooga, Tennessee, her proudest moment as a Griz fan.
Pattie Ireland Tornabene passed away in her home March 11th, 2013, after an incredibly courageous and hard-fought two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend CJ Tornabene, her daughter Heidi Schreiber, her son John Naekel, her grandson Owen, step-daughter Dana Tornabene, step-son Tyler Tornabene, and her two beloved dogs Brewster and Buckley.
She leaves the world a better place than she found it, as a remarkable wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, coach, mentor, volunteer, hostess, cook, neighbor and friend. A celebration of Pattie’s life will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, March 17, at The Holiday Inn in downtown Missoula.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Camp Mak-A-Dream or the cancer center at Missoula’s St. Patrick Hospital.

Betty J. Biasi, 81, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 from a rapid progression of Alzheimer’s at the Solano Life House in Dixon. She was born Aug. 22, 1931 in Kennett, Missouri. She lived in Dixon for 30 years and previously raised her four children in Winters for 33 years. She was loved by all and enjoyed being a homemaker. She loved to sing, sew and paint in her spare time.
She is survived by her husband, Pasquale “Pat” Biasi; daughters Teresa Gloege (spouse James) and Patti Callahan (spouse Scott); son Michael Biasi; grandchildren, Dominic Biasi II, Lindsey Dunn (spouse Kevin), Betsy Guerrero (spouse Victor), Matt Callahan and Brittney Biasi; six great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her son, Dominic Biasi, and grandson, Eric Speegle.
Graveside services were held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road in Dixon on March 1. A reception followed at the Dixon Moose Lodge. Memorial contributions will be
accepted by the Yolo Hospice and/or Solano Life House, which the Biasi family would like to thank at this time for their
patience, support and loving care.

James Ralph Barker was born in Ashington, England on Sept. 25, 1921 and died on Feb. 19, 2013.
He came to the United States with his parents, Fred and Ruth Barker, when he was 1 year old. Fred Barker was hired by PG&E and the family moved to Winters — where Jim spent the rest of his life.
He graduated from Winters High School with the class of 1940. While in high school, he maintained good grades and excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track.
He attended UC Davis for three semesters, but went to work at Mare Island after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and until he was called into service. He finished basic training and then transferred to pilot training and was commissioned in 1943 and
assigned to a B-17 flight group.
On Sept. 24, 1943, he married his high school sweetheart, Mildred Thomson, at the Presbyterian Church in Winters.
At the end of the war, he returned to Winters where he and his father opened an appliance store and started Barkers Electric. He remained in the Air Force Reserve and was recalled into service during the Korean Conflict. He retired from the Air Force in 1980 at the rank of Lt. Col. after fulfilling 20 years of service.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, his daughter Joan Lopez (John), his daughter Jill James (Lyle), four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Respecting his wishes, there will be no public service.

Carl Junior Branscum was born on Nov. 2, 1925 in Calico Rock, Arkansas. He was the second of 11 children born to Albert and Beulah Branscum. His early days were spent hunting and fishing with his brothers in the Ozark Mountains. He left Arkansas and headed west the age of 16.
In 1949, Carl married Lillie Mae Berry and together they made their home in Dryden, Washington, where Carl worked as a farmhand and foreman in the apple orchards. In 1960, they settled in Winters to raise their growing family. Carl worked hard at a variety of jobs and settled at the UC Davis as an animal lab technician from where he retired.
Among Carl’s favorite activities were spending time with his son hunting and spoiling his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Carl passed away quietly in his home
after a brief illness on Feb. 18, 2013. He will be remembered as a loving husband,
father, grandfather and kind and generous friend.
Carl is survived by his daughter, Brenda Webb of Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas; son, Lester “Butch” Branscum of Winters; stepdaughter, Darlene Linley of Winters; numerous grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Lillie Mae; son, Stephen Branscum; and step-daughter, Wyetta Johnson.

Juanita Lorenzo Skaggs was born on July 27, 1935 in
Vacaville. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Winters, where she lived happily for 70 plus years.
She met her husband, Charles Skaggs, at the theater in Davis. They were married on a hot July evening in 1955 in her lifelong church, currently known as the Main Street Church in Winters. They moved to Long Beach for a short time, where Charles completed his Naval service. Upon returning, they started their family and he joined her family’s business, California Market.
Following in their parents’ footsteps, their three children also enjoyed serving their community at the market. Juanita balanced her family, business and community beautifully. Believing one should always give back, she enjoyed serving her church congregation and was a longtime member of Soroptimist International filling many leadership positions. In the early 1960s, she was one of the founding members of a group of friends who were affectionately called the “Fatty Club.” They met monthly to discuss weight loss strategies, the latest diet and exchanged recipes while snacking on sweet treats and coffee. They shared many laughs and friendship.
As an act of love and support, Juanita made over 80 pink scarves for family and friends who were also diagnosed with breast cancer. Crocheting, traveling and her Wednesday Lunch Group were just a few of her favorite things. The greatest joy of her life was her family, which included her extended family, whom she deeply loved.
She joined her husband Charles, grandson Nathaniel Skaggs, parents Juan and Ana Maria Lorenzo, sister Dolores Martinez, brother Aladino Lorenzo and other loved ones on Feb. 15, 2013. She passed away at her home in Winters at the age of 77.
Those who will always miss her are her daughter Julie Skaggs-Campbell (Bob) of Winters, son Andrew Skaggs (Ann) of Davis, daughter Marian Skaggs of Winters, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, all her nieces and nephews, and loving friends.
On Feb. 19, Juanita’s life was celebrated in her childhood church where she was married and raised her children. A luncheon was held at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Winters. Her final resting place is beside her loving husband and parents at the Winters Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Main Street Church Building Fund or Yolo Hospice in memory of Juanita Lorenzo Skaggs.

Gertrude (Trudy) Cody, formerly Trudy Robinson, passed away on Feb. 19, 2013 at home in Sacramento.
Trudy lived a long, full life. She was involved in various organizations such as Girl Scouts, Little League Baseball and supported her children and grandchildren as they participated in their many events. She also enjoyed playing Mrs. Claus at many events throughout the years. One of her favorite activities was traveling. She was able to visit places such as Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Mexico, Arizona and Canada. In recent years, Trudy and Bill have spent their summers salmon fishing on the north California coast in Trinidad.
Trudy passed with her family at her side including her devoted husband of 14 years, William (Bill) Cody of Winters. She was the daughter of Dorothy (Dot) Smith and sister to Stephen Smith, and cherished mother of Karen Bassford (Travis), Jerrie Kepler, and Dave Robinson (Jaci Jones); stepmother to Bill Cody (Maura), Ed Cody, Annette Schimmel (Leon), and Theresa Linton (Rory). She was devoted to her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 47 years, Harold (Bud) Robinson.
A celebration of her life will be held at the home of Travis and Karen in Elverta on Sat., Feb. 23 at noon. Call Karen, (916) 802-2956, for directions.

Carl J. Branscum passed away Feb. 18, 2013, in Winters. He was born Nov. 2, 1925 in Arkansas.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Winters Cemetery. Arrangements are by Wiscombe Funeral Home.

Gerald R. Darby passed away on Jan. 14, 2013 after a long illness, and 2 1/2 years after the passing of his beloved wife, Susanna “Channing.”
Gerald was born on July 26, 1930 in Chicago, Ill. to Charles Darby of Nebraska and Violet Carlton Darby of Chicago, Ill.
Gerald is survived by his two daughters, Marion and Dorothy Darby; his sister,
Virginia Darby Gessler from Mountain Home, Arkansas; and his brother, John Darby from Chicago, Ill.; Gerald’s niece, Janet Kozak Horst from Barrington, Ill. and her daughter Cheryl-Ann Horst from Chicago, Ill.; from Nebraska, his cousin, Jean Darby Large, who lovingly keeps the current news of the family, for which
Gerald was grateful. He’s also survived by Jean’s brother, Phillip Edward Darby, Jr., her sister Joann Darby Smith and her cousins Carolyn Darby Smith and Richard Darby.
Marion and Dorothy were serenaded by beautiful music when their dad played the piano or his other musical instruments in the house. Throughout their lives, their mom would accompany their dad by singing. Gerald told them his mom, Violet Darby, showed him how to play the violin and his dad, Charles Darby, gave him a small accordion. His Aunt Florence
Carlton Fletcher, introduced him to the
piano and reading musical notes. Dad’s love of his music spanned through his schools and eventually graduation, from Northwestern University, majoring in
music and until his passing.
Gerald’s love of words, which led him to be an avid reader of the classics in many languages and travels, was natural from his grandfather Carlton. On his graduation from Northwestern, he just traveled to the blue-grass region. His love of blue grass and banjo were among many musical
influences and instruments he brought to his family and friends.
Gerald continued to travel when he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed to Cavite City, Philippines, where he met his wife.
Upon his retirement after 30 years in the Social Security Administration, he and
Susanna decided to drive about the area. Upon seeing Winters, they fell in love with the town. The things they found on Main Street, the seasonal theatrical plays and music, the residents and especially their neighbors and their walks gave them the perfect retirement home they were looking for.
A graveside service will be at Winters Cemetery at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.

Virginia Sue (Wells) Pilkinton passed away in her home in Davis on Jan. 7, 2013. Born in Oakland on Feb.17, 1942, she spent most of her time in Solano and Yolo counties. She was a dental hygienist and worked in Vacaville and Winters. She was also involved as a gymnastics instructor for the City of Vacaville in the early 1970s.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Grant and Donna (Phillips) Wells, and her sister Beverly (Wells) Watkins.
She is survived by her four children Bambi (BJ) Reed, Tiffany Zander, Jereome Epling, Brodie Wells, and one niece, two nephews, and two grandchildren. She will be remembered by friends and family as a person who was thoughtful and kind to those that she could help.

Victor Arthur Ish passed peacefully on Dec. 31, 2012, in Roseville, California, at the age of 91 after a period of failing health.
He was born on March 6, 1921 in Winters to Carrol and Louisa Ish. After his mother died when Vic was 2, he was raised by his father and grandma, Sally Wolfskill, on the family ranch along Putah Creek, which was part of the original Wolfskill Spanish Land Grant that dates back to the mid-1800s. He graduated from Winters High School in 1938.
After studying pharmaceutical science for a time at UC Davis, Vic was called back to work the family farm during WWII in Winters before serving in the U.S. Army from October 1945 to April 1946. He was honorably discharged as a personnel technician at Camp Beale, California. He was married to Lydia Burak of Yonkers, New York on November 15, 1947 in Phoenix, Arizona. They later lived in Denver, Colorado, as well as Sacramento, Monterey and Auburn.
After several years as a radio announcer, including KFBK in Sacramento, Vic worked in retail office supply sales in Sacramento and Monterey, where he developed a loyal following of many customers who also became his friends. He and Lee were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. Upon retiring in Auburn, Vic enjoyed developing new friendships at the First Congregational Church of Auburn, while retaining his lifelong activity of gardening.
He is survived by his brother Jim Ish of Yuba City; son David Ish and wife Mary Helen of La Jolla; daughter Carol Belanger and husband Ron of Rocklin; son Tom Ish and wife Jennifer of Auburn; grandchildren Melanie Belanger, Ryan Belanger and Melissa Ish. His friends and family will greatly miss his sense of humor, his loyal adoration toward his wife of nearly 65 years who pre-deceased him by exactly two months, as well as his simple, humble, and caring approach to life.
A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Auburn, 710 Auburn Ravine Road in Auburn, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vic’s memory to the American Lung Assoc. of California, 1531 I Street Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments can be posted at www.legacy.com/obituaries/auburnjournal/

Karen Sue (Pence) Hill passed away at her home on Dec. 31, 2012 at the age of 57. She was born in Glendale on Dec. 14, 1955. She graduated from Napa Valley High School in 1974 and went on to work many jobs through the Winters School District including student aid, crossing guard, yard duty, secretary for independent study, and most recently, attendance secretary at Waggoner Elementary School.
Karen enjoyed being outside; she loved her country property and animals, and took full advantage of it, having many animals to welcome her home all the time. She loved riding horses, swimming and spending time with her family and friends. She was a woman full of life and energy with a contagious smile and laugh. She could light up a room in a split second just by walking through the door.
She leaves behind her husband of 26 years, David R. Hill. They were married at their home on June 21st 1986. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, and daughters, Janet and Amanda Hill; mother and father, Pat (Pence) and Carl Botenhagen; brothers, Dan and Wayne Pence; brother- and sister-n-laws, nieces and nephews, son-in-law, Nick Walters, all those to whom she was a second mom, and many more.
She is predeceased by her brother, Mark Pence, and father, Jim Pence.
Karen’s celebration of life was held on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. The family appreciates all who attended on such short notice, and appreciates all the love and support shown to them, and apologizes to anyone unaware of Karen’s passing. In lieu of flowers, those with photos of Karen are asked to send copies to the family to keep for a lifetime of memories at 209 East Main Street, Winters, CA, 95694.

Melvin Leroy Harrison passed away at his home in Winters on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. Born June 24, 1934 in Messa Ariz., he was a Winters resident for 60 years
He is survived by his wife, Berta Sue Harrison of Winters, his son, Michael Anthony Harrison of Winters, his daughter Vicki Lee Harrison, and grandson Tommy William McDaniels III.
He was a barber, truck driver and jack of all trades.
Services will be private.

George Daniel (Dan) Coman passed away at his home in Winters, on Sunday, December 09, 2012. He was born on March 21, 1958, the son of Bert and Betty Coman and a descendent of the DeVilbass, Griffin and Vasey families. He attended local schools, serving as Associated Student Body President during his senior year at Winters High School. He attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and returned to Winters where he worked for the Winters School District, Kimes Hardware, and various jobs in Winters and Yolo County, most recently at Barker’s Electric.
Dan was well-read and interested in a variety of different kinds of knowledge, frequenting the library on a regular basis. He was legend in his family for having an answer to almost any question posed. He was a kind and thoughtful son and neighbor, often delivering some of his own home cooking or helping with assorted chores and tasks without being asked. He was interested in having a purpose.
Dan was preceded in death by his father George Bertram Coman. He is survived by his mother Betty Vasey Coman of Winters, his older brother Rob and wife Liz of Winters; his older sister Nancy Lege and her husband Steve of Davis; his older brother John and wife Constance of Woodland; and his younger brother Phillip of Selma; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Winters on December 29 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at the Parish Hall. Contributions in memory of Dan may be made to Winters Friends of the Library, P. O. Box 963,
Winters, California 95694 or a favorite charity.

On Dec. 6, 2012, Steve Mack lost his battle with cancer. He ended this part of his journey in the loving arms of his wife, Kim Mack, in their home in Grenada. Steve was a long haul truck driver for many years, and enjoyed the time that he drove trucks.
He leaves behind his wife, Kim; daughter, Candice Mack; son, Bert Mack; two stepsons, Sean and Daniel Snow; and four grandchildren, Olivia, Matthew and Caiden Mack and Alice Snow.
No services are scheduled. Online
condolences can be made at www.girdnerfuneralchapel.com. Girdner Funeral Chapel in Yreka, California is in charge of arrangements.

Socorro Zarate, 81, of Winters, passed away on Dec. 13, 2012 at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.
A longtime Winters resident, she was born March 4, 1931 in Guadalajara, Mexico. She retired from Contadina Foods cannery in Woodland after 30 years of employment. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, traveling overseas and fun trips to Reno, Lake Tahoe and Cache Creek. She was a longtime member of St. Anthony Parish of Winters.
She was preceded in death by her husband Andres Zarate.
She is survived by her children, Edward (Christine), Andres (Christine), Martha (Matthew Singh), Victor (Jil), Rogelio (Genny), Maria Elena (Oscar Chaveste), Maria (Karl Hockman); grandchildren, Carson, Morgan, Mason, Nathan, Andrea (Kellen Graves), Sienna, Amanda, Aiden, Mia, Jacob, Emma, Yesenia, Veronica, Arleth, Nicole, Jacob Lee, and Kai; one great-grandchild Savannah; siblings, Jesus and Jose Rodarte; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are welcome for visitation (Rosary) on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 at St. Anthony Parish, 301 Main Street, Winters, CA 95694 at 7 p.m. A celebration of her life is planned on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Parish, followed by a burial at Winters Cemetery located at 415 Cemetery Drive in Winters.

Ilona Mae (Herrala) Nelson died suddenly on Nov. 2, 2012 at her home in San Jose. She was 69 years old.
She was born on May 24, 1943 in Virginia, Minnesota to parents Leo and Vera Herrala. She spent her early childhood in Minnesota and Oregon. The Herrala family moved to Winters in the summer of 1954. She attended the local schools from the 6th grade through high school.
Ilona was a fun-loving individual and enjoyed many school activities and friends. After graduating from high school in 1961, she trained and entered the business world. She always had a fond affinity for Winters where she always kept in touch with many close acquaintances.
She is survived by her husband Gary, to whom she was married to for nearly 49 years; children, Sigrid and Erik, Sigrid’s fiancé Matt Paquette and grandson Leo; older sister, Marcia Jensen, and husband Barry; younger sister Alta Hyland and husband Greg; niece, Erica Hyland and nephews Cameron and Matthew Hyland, and Brian Jensen; numerous relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Lilienthal (George) and niece Karen Jensen.
The family misses her greatly.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a
donation to Alternative Family Services in support of foster kids in Northern California counties. Donations can be made
online at http://www.afs4kids.org/personalgiving.

Howard Ray Brown, 75, passed away on Dec. 1, 2012 at his home in Winters, surrounded by his family. He was born on Nov. 16, 1937, the son of Clifford and Nina Brown, and was named after a very dear friend of his parents.
Howard’s early years were spent in Platte County, Missouri. He attended and graduated from North Kansas City High School. He went on to graduate from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, with a degree in chemical engineering, with honors, and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
He was a self-made man, putting himself through college, working full time and raising a family. When he was very young, his parents lived on a farm in rural Platte County, Missouri. He loved to be out with his father and grandfather doing the farm work. He was his grandfather’s pride and joy being the first grandchild. Grandpa called him “Sonny Boy.”
Howard worked for Chevron, a career that took him all over the world, until his retirement. He then settled in Winters, where he was introduced to his wife Camile by close friends. After their marriage, he began his second career as an accountant. Both Howard and Camile were very involved in their church family, where Howard served as an elder, led Bible Studies and mentored younger men.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother and one sister, Mary Jane Brown. He is survived by his wife, Camile of Winters; six children, Ken (Anne) Brown, Randy (Sandra) Brown, Lisa Thayer, Dawn (Jonathan) Edwards, Sunshine (David) Eddy, Shane (Charlene) Yhuriaga; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sister, Janet (Mel) Stevenson and brother, Steven (Heather) Brown.
Family and friends are invited to join in a celebration of Howard’s life on Monday, Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Valley Church, 5063 Maple Road in Vacaville.

Mary Elizabeth McCoey Graf, 87, passed away peacefully after a brief illness in Woodland on Nov. 25, 2012. A native Californian, she was born in Watsonville, and eventually settled with the McCoey family in Winters.
She attended Holy Rosary Academy in Woodland. She was a graduate of Winters High School, where she met Charles E. Graf. She married Lt. Graf while he was on leave from England and serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They had three sons: Robert Charles, Richard Edward and Thomas Scott Graf.
Mary Liz was devoted to her family and community. She was a fine example of the Greatest Generation. She was a courageous woman who survived a severe attack of polio at age 21. She fought successfully to walk again, when doctors had thought that accomplishment to be impossible.
Her strong faith made her a loyal parishioner of St. Anthony Catholic Church and a member of the Altar Society. She enjoyed her affiliation with the Winters Fortnightly group and Bridge Club. She was a receptionist for Dr. Ernie Young, and after working several years for Brinley’s Real Estate, she retired. One of her strongest undertakings was her involvement with Alanon; she prayed for and helped many people within the organization.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James J. and Mary Larkin McCoey, her brother, John, and her husband, Charles E. Graf.
She is survived by: her brother, James D. McCoey (Janet), her sister, Dorothy Ann McCoey, her sons Robert C. Graf (Joanna), Richard E. Graf (Annette), Thomas Scott Graf (Michele) along with five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She had a very special relationship with her niece Dawn Barrera, husband Willie and children Mateo, Miah and Joel.
The family is grateful to St. John’s-Stollwood and Woodland Memorial for the fine care given to Mary Liz Graf. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations in her memory to be given to Saint Anthony’s Building Fund in Winters California.
There will be a Rosary held on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Winters. Services including Mass will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Fred Rojo, 74, of Woodland died on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Woodland. A 26-resident of the community, Mr. Rojo was born on June 11, 1938, in Suisun. He worked as a barber for more than 50 years and was a bowler as well as a sports enthusiast, according to his family. Mr. Rojo served in the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. Rojo is survived by daughters Michelle and husband Randy Matsumoto, and Jessica Horgan-Rojo; son John Rojo; grandchildren Briana Rojo and Spencer Matsumoto; and great grandchildren Elijah, Laylah and Dallas; and by four sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents Chris and Carmen Rojo and his brother John Rojo.
A graveside service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Sacramento Valley VA Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon. Donations in his memory may be made to a charity of the donors' choice. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dolores Martinez (DeeDee) was born on Feb. 11, 1928 in El Chive, Spain.
“She peacefully slipped away from us into the arms of our loving heavenly Father October 27, 2012,” said a family member. “She will be remembered as the matriarch of the family, a loving wife, an extraordinary mother and grandmother, and a friend to all who were graced by her presence.”
She enjoyed camping trips with all her friends of the Durham Good Sam’s, playing cards with her friends and spending a lot of time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Tony Martinez; son, Anthony Martinez and Rosemary; daughter, Janice Bates and Mike; grandchildren, Shawn Martinez (Heather), Corey Farrell (Christine) Kara Maas (Curtis); great-grandchildren Zoe Martinez and Sophie Maas; sister, Juanita Skaggs and many other family members.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Al Lorenzo.
A visitation will be held in Chico on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. A funeral service will be on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m., both at Brusie Funeral Home, followed by an internment at Glen Oaks Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to the Butte Humane Society in care of Brusie Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online at BrusieFH.com.

Carmen Barrera Rodriguez, 72, passed away peacefully on Nov. 4, 2012, in her Winters home surrounded by her family. She was born on March 8, 1938 in Durango, Mexico. In 1980, she and her husband Manuel moved to the United States with their family. She worked for many years at Tufts Packing Shed and Mariani Nut Company.
She will be remembered for her great cooking and sharing stories of her younger years. She took great pride in her family.
She will be dearly missed by her son, Manuel and granddaughters, Lorena and Jasmin; son Pedro and grandchildren Pedro, Angelica, Sarah, Alejandra and Dominique; son, Jose and grandchildren Orlando and Hope; daughter Teresa and grandchildren Megan, Monique and Marcelo; daughter Sonia and grandson Norberto; son Aurelio “Willie” and his wife Dawn, and grandchildren Mateo, Miah and Joel; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Manuel in 1992.
A rosary will take place on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. and a memorial Mass will be held on Friday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Church in Winters. A private burial will take place at a later date.

Arthur Eugene Leber Jr. AKA “Chug” of Winters was born on May 14, 1951 in Stockton. He passed away after a long illness at Sutter Davis Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. He was 61.
He graduated from Dixon High School and Sacramento State College. In the Dixon High School band, he played clarinet, was drum major, four years in honor band and
attended University of the Pacific Music Honor Band.
He served from 1969 to 1975 in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserves.
He worked for Pardi Market and Rainbow Market, managed
Esparto Market and Albertsons, worked for Brett Leber Construction, M& M Masonry, Tieghert and owned Tiffany Construction for 10 years.
He was a member of Dixon Moose Lodge, Dixon Boat Club, Dixon Sportsman Club, Dixon Game Club, Laborers International Union of North America Local 324, Aggregates Union 185, the Hard Top Racing team “Stormy Knight Jr.” and was a Shriners Hospital supporter.
His passions were annual family reunions and the cars he owned and rebuilt: an Olds 442, Malibu Super Sport 1966, a Jaquar 1950s, 1930 Roadster, Thunderbird 1960, hardtop racecars and the Scooby Doo Mobile..
He is survived by: his mother, Ruth E. Leber; his brothers, Will Leber and Brett Leber; his sisters, Rhonda Leber-Rayn and Karen Leber-Duncan, his daughters Tiffany Leber and Stephani Leber; and his fiancé, Barbara Halabird; adoptive son, Grant, and a large extended group of family and friends.
There will be a graveside service on Friday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at Silveyville Cemetery. Dixon Community Church will officiate. A memorial will be held at the old Dixon Veterans Hall in downtown Dixon.
Contributions are preferred to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, Art Leber Memorial First Northern Bank.

Spc. Ryan Christopher Goodman was born to Doug and Wendy Goodman on Nov. 22, 1985 in Sacramento. He passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 in Killeen, Texas. He was 26.
He grew up in the Dunnigan and Arbuckle area, and graduated from Pierce High School in Arbuckle. He enjoyed hunting & fishing with his dad and Pappa Shorty.
He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He enlisted in the U.S Army in November 2007. While in the Army, he served two tours in Iraq.
He is survived by wife, Brittany Goodman of Sandy Valley, Nevada; three daughters, Angelica, Hailey and Lillian; parents Doug and Michele Goodman of Winters, Wendy Lathum of Red Bluff, and stepfather Richard Tunstall of Esparto; brother Richard Tunstall of Killeen, Texas; sisters Brianna Tunstall of Red Bluff and Brittany Tunstall of Woodland; grandparents, Shorty and Nancy McCullough of Mineral,
Derrel and Jean Reaves of Red Bluff, Rev. John and Lynda Hudnall of Woodland; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by Grandfather James Goodman.
A graveside service was planned for Wednesday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m., at Mary’s Chapel and Cemetery in Yolo.
A celebration of Ryan’s life was planned directly after at Hotel Woodland. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ryan’s memory to Wounded Warrior Project at http://www.
woundedwarriorproject.org/; Dunnigan Fire Department, PO Box 213, Dunnigan, CA 95937; Mary’s Chapel and Cemetery Support Group, P.O. Box 91, Yolo, CA 95697 or charity of the donor’s choice.
McNary’s Chapel is assisting with arrangements.

Thomas Philip Dodge, 93, died Oct. 13 at his Winters home. Born Jan. 11, 1919 in San Francisco, he lived in Yolo County for 50 years.
He served in the U.S. Coastguard Merchant Marines in WWII. He was a milkman for the Vaca Valley Creamery and worked for the school districts in Winters, Davis and Esparto from 1967-2003.
He is survived by his daughters Diane Kelley and husband Mike and Debbie Gomez and husband David, sons Tom Dodge and wife Brenda and Richard Dodge, 11 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lujuana Dodge in 1993, granddaughter Patricia Campos in 2009, great-grandaughter Stacey Hernandez in 2009 and granddaughter Susan Kelly in 1961.
The service was Monday, Oct. 22 at the Winters Cemetery, with military honors. Chaplain Dale Swan officiated. Services were arranged by Kraft Bros. of Woodland.
Donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice or to Yolo Hospice.

On Oct. 6, 2012, Antonio (Tony) Madrid Martin of Sonora gently passed away at his home in the arms of his daughter and family. He was born Oct. 26, 1922 in San Francisco. Tony was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Angie; daughter Esther Stone; parents Frank and Amalia Martin; brother Joe Martin; and sister Madeline Jimenez.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Angelina and Juan Vasquez of Sonora; son-in-law Andy Stone of Sacramento; grandson AJ Stone of Sacramento; granddaughters Sara Stone of Sacramento; Ashley Long of San Luis Obispo; and Rachel Long of Sonora; great-granddaughters Ashley Hayes-Stone of Sacramento; and Genevieve Williams of Sacramento; brother and sister-in-law Frank and Ramona Martin of Winters; and sister-in-law Anna Martin of Woodland.
Tony spent a few short months living in Sonora, and was a longtime Winters resident where he grew up, farmed, owned ranches, and served the city government as a council member and mayor. He also spent many years living in Fairfield and Vacaville and worked for Valley View Packing Co. in the Suisun Valley as a fruit buyer and plant manager. His passion was his family and if it was in his power to do anything for his loved ones that was always a priority. Tony served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. In his later years he became known as a grand storyteller and a fan of the works of Jane Austin. This wonderful and loving man will be incredibly missed by many.
A Catholic mass will be celebrated for Tony on Friday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 301 Main St., Winters, (530) 795-2230, with burial to follow at the Winters Cemetery. A reception will be held after the burial at St. Anthony Catholic Center, 511 Main St., Winters. In lieu of flowers, make donations in Antonio Madrid Martin’s name to The Hospice of the Sierra, 20100 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370, (209) 536-5685. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home of Sonora.

Hall.Florence M. Howard, a Vashon Island, Washington resident since 1999, died peacefully on Sept. 14, 2012 after a lengthy illness. She was 93.
Born Florence Quist in Irwin City, she earned a degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley. She and Edwin L. Howard of Davis married in 1947, and in 1951 settled in Rye, New York, where they raised their five children.
Upon Ed’s retirement in 1977, they moved first to Davis, then to a home they built in nearby Winters. Florence and Ed were members of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church, where Flo served as deacon, and volunteered her time to aid local “shut-ins.”After Ed died in 1988, Florence continued to call Winters her home.
In 1999 she moved to Vashon to be closer to two of her children. Those who were fortunate enough to have known Flo will forever remember her warmth, kindness, modesty, and selfless dedication to others.
She is survived by her five children, Anne C. Cotton, Walter Q. Howard, Jane O. Howard, Roger D. Howard and Edwin L. (“Edson”) Howard Jr.; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be sent to Vashon Community Care Center, Vashon, WA., where Flo received superior care and love from the skilled nursing staff during her illness.
A Celebration of Life is planned next summer (2013) in California.

Marjorie Louise Halley passed away in her home in Winters Aug. 15, 2012, at the age of 98. She was born in San Diego on Jan. 19, 1914 to Orvin and Ruth Nichols. Her father had been stationed near there with the U.S. Army. Eventually the family moved to Northern California to the town of Oleum, where her father was employed by the Union Oil Co. She attended elementary school there and high school at John Swett High School in Crockett until her junior year when her father took a teaching position at Alhambra High School and the family moved to Martinez.
While in her senior year, she met Norman Halley and they were married the following February. They made their home in Rodeo and Pinole until 1944 when they moved to Winters to take over the Halley family farm in the Wolfskill District of Winters. This became their home, they raised their family here and she spent the rest of her life in this area.
Her career was being a wife, mother and a helper with her husband Norman in the farm operations. Even to the extent of driving tractor, working in the dry yard and lighting smudge pots at 4 a.m. She also volunteered as a “gray lady” for the Red Cross during the Korean Conflict. She loved arguing politics and current events. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Vacaville and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Marjorie is survived by her children, daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Frank Molina of Vacaville, son and daughter-in-law, David and Jeannie of Winters; grandchildren, Bob and Sheri, Don and Rhonda, Lisa and Kerri, Shannon and Zach, Brian and Nicole, Norm and Lynn (Halley) of Modesto; nine great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Norman in 2007 and son Norman, Jr., in 1970.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church with Pastor Vern Oestmann officiating. Interment followed at the Winters Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Yolo Hospice, 1909 Galileo Court, Suite A, Davis, CA 95618 or Bethany Lutheran Church, 621 North Orchard Avenue, Vacaville, CA 95688

Lillie Mae Branscum passed away quietly in her home on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, after a brief illness. She was born to Jewel and George Berry, May 20, 1926 in Texas and spent her early years in New Mexico and Texas before her family moved to Winters. In 1948, she married Carl Branscum and together they lived in Dryden, Washington.
In 1960 they returned to Winters where they settled to raise their growing family. Lillie worked a series of jobs in town before €nding a permanent position at Mobil Chemical in Woodland, from where she retired after many years of service. She was then able to spend more time enjoying the many things she loved: €shing and traveling with her husband, crocheting, exploring yard sales, attending church and visiting her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband Carl; sister Thelma Mytys of Norwalk; children Darlene Linley and Lester “Butch” Branscum, both of Winters; stepdaughter Brenda Webb of Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas; numerous grandchildren.
She was proceeded in death by both of her parents; son, Stephen Branscum, daughter, Wyetta Johnson.
A viewing will be held at Wiscombe Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 4-6 p.m. Services to honor her life will be held at Winters Main Street Church on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 10 a.m. with graveside interment immediately following. All friends and family are respectfully invited to attend.

Dicie Elizabeth Bledsoe, 81, of Winters, passed away July 25, 2012 at Kaiser Vacaville. She was an area resident for 71 years.
She was born July 6, 1931 in Arkansas to Della and George Constant. She worked for Pacific Hardware for 20 years. She enjoyed needlework, quilting, bingo and church, and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Winters. She also had a great love for her puppies, which were a wonderful comfort to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 65 years, Lem, and their son, Ronald.
She is survived by her children Larry Bledsoe, Diane Ford and Doug Bledsoe; siblings, Rev. Jay W. Constant and Rosalie Myers; grandchildren: Doug, Larry G., Cheryl, Christine, Daniel, Ronald; one great-grandchild and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Tuesday, July 31, at First Baptist Church of Winters with burial at Winters Cemetery.
Those who wish to sign a guestbook online may do so at www.wiscombefuneral.com.

Alfredo Arellano died Sunday, July 22, 2012, in Woodland. He was 80.
He was born on May 29, 1932, to the late Agustin and Francisca Arellano in Tangancicuaro, Michoacan. He married Josefa Arellano in 1962 and they lived together in Michoacan, before relocating to Winters in 1964.
Arellano worked at Mariani’s for more than 30 years and retired 13 years ago. He also was an active member of the Catholic church and loved gardening.
He is survived by four daughters: Maria del Carmen Pedraza of Mexico, Sandra and spouse Ramiro Torres of Yuba City, Esther and spouse Serafin Hernandez of Winters and Maribell and spouse Marcus Chavez of Winters. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Samantha and Brandon Torres, and Christian Hernandez and Josiah Chavez; one sister, Vicenta; one brother, Ignacio; and many nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at St. Anthony Catholic Church at Third and Main streets in Winters. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Burial will be at Winters Cemetery following the Mass.