Obits

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday morning, Jan. 25, 2019, Lorraine Trussell Gatton died peacefully at the age of 94 following a rapid decline, surrounded by loving family in her Lakeport home.

Born Stella Lorraine Trussell on Jan. 20, 1925, to Stella Pauline (Boyden) Trussell and Ulrich Trussell in Sacramento, California, moving to San Francisco at around 8 years of age.

She loved spending every summer and Christmas vacation taking the train up the Feather River Canyon to Taylorsville in Plumas County, where her grandparents, George E. and Augustus “Gussie” Boyden resided.

She attended Presidio Junior High School and graduated from George Washington High School in San Francisco in 1942.

Caring for others was her calling, and Lorraine took pre-nursing classes at San Francisco Junior College before graduating from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. She attended one year of schooling at U.C. Berkeley in the 1940s before obtaining her Family Nurse Practitioner license through U.C. Davis satellite courses in the 1970s.

During summer breaks from nursing school, Lorraine discovered the hidden gem of Lake County and worked as a waitress for Adams Springs and Hoberg’s Resort.

She met her lifelong soulmate, Melford Rex Gatton from Kelseyville, in the summer of 1949 and they wed on May 6, 1950, in Napa.

They raised their four children in Lakeport. Lorraine and Mel were married 62 years before his death, and they enjoyed dancing, Dixieland Jazz, and traveling to Hawaii, Australia and Europe.

Lorraine is survived by three children, Rex (Sharon) Gatton of La Pine, Oregon, Donald P. (Sheila) Gatton of Nice and Cary Gatton of Bend, Oregon; daughter-in-law, Judie Gatton; seven grandchildren, Amy Plants, Erin Prather, Allison Conser, Sean Gatton, Courtney Gatton, Matthew Gatton and Brian Gatton; step-grandson, Gabriel Hyde; five great-grandchildren, Kayden and Cooper Menzio, and Ethan, Elliot and Corinne Plants.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mel, and son, Bradford Gatton.

Lorraine worked as a registered nurse for 42 years, the last 13 as a nurse practitioner. She was a fixture in Dr. Donald L. Browning’s Lakeport office for 25 years and was very proud of her profession.

In Lorraine's memory, donations be made to United Christian Parish at 745 N. Brush St., Lakeport, CA 95453 or to Soper-Reese Theatre at P.O. Box 756, Lakeport, CA 95453.

Visitation will be held at Soper-Reese Theatre in Lakeport, on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. with a celebration of life to begin at 11 a.m. Graveside committal service will follow at Hartley Cemetery and all are invited to share their favorite memories at United Christian Parish following the burial.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 29 January 2019

Juanita Wiley
Nov. 4, 1926 - Jan. 14, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Juanita peacefully went to her long-deserved final rest.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Robert; three daughters; a son; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She will be sorely missed by all.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 20 January 2019

Paul Norman Parlee

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On the morning of Jan. 10, 2019, while at his home with his wife, Paul quietly and effortlessly left us.

In May while out on the Rogue River after just putting a big one into the net he suffered a heart attack.

Paul was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on April 3, 1936. He was the third of four children born to Charles and Marion Parlee. Paul’s father owned a roofing company, so at a very young age Paul was introduced to the smell of hot tar.

He fondly remembered all the times he spent fishing with his dad in his birchwood canoe. It was then that he acquired his lifelong passion of the great outdoors and fishing.

After losing his father in 1950 the family moved out to Los Angeles to be with his older sister.

In 1956 he married for the first time and had two children, Rhonda and Darrell. After the dissolution of this marriage, Paul met and married Peggy, who would become his second wife.

In 1965 Paul moved north to Lucerne where he started his still-thriving Lucerne Roofing Co.; he roofed nearly every home in Buckingham and many of them two or three times. His work was so respected that he was called upon for many of the large commercial jobs in Lake and Mendocino counties: Ceago, Safeway shopping center, Umpqua Bank, World Mark and too many schools to list.

In 1971 Paul’s son Chad had arrived and in 1972 Shawna was born. Paul continued to work hard, providing for his family. He always made sure to throw in time for boat racing, fishing, duck hunting and drinking with his buddies after work at the Harbor.

In 1988 Paul met the love of his life, Cindy, and in 2000 they would marry.

After selling his company and retiring, Paul spent most of his time up at his Rogue River property doing what made him happiest – fishing!

The last months of his life he was surrounded by his children, grandchildren and many friends.

A true man of his own, whose tongue never bled, with a heart of gold.

Paul is preceded in death by his son, Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; children, Rhonda, Chad (Brandi) and Shawna (Jason); grandchildren, Casey, Chelsea, Cody, Kylee, Danny, Jillian, Haley, Sarah, Faith and Hunter.

We will miss you always!!

Funeral service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, Jan. 18, at 12:30 p.m. with interment to follow at Hartley Cemetery.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Details

Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 17 January 2019