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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Nov. 17, 2013, we suffered a tremendous loss. We lost the life of a beautiful young lady.
Gayle Smith, in her short 18 years of life, touched so many hearts. Everyone who she ever crossed paths with will always remember her huge smile and outgoing personality.
Gayle loved to have fun spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed, always loved and never forgotten.
She is survived by her parents, Tessa McCloud and Michael Smith; grandparents, JoJo Gomez and Philip McCloud; siblings, Zelda, James and Jordan McCloud, Anjoline Gomez and Crystal Smith; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins that love her very much.
She is entered into rest with Ramona, Emil, and Zelda McCloud, and Martin and Moose Smith.
Traditional viewing at 595 Yellow Hammer Lane, Lakeport from Tuesday, Nov. 19, until Friday, Nov. 22.
Graveside services will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Mary's Cemetery.
For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Wallace Dyer Macomber, 78, of Kelseyville died on June 24, 2013, at his home, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Family and friends surrounded him.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce Weston Macomber Sr. and Dora (Long) Macomber and brother Bruce Weston Macomber Jr.
He is survived by his former wife Jean Macomber; daughter, Molly Stanley of Weippe, Idaho; and son, Matt Macomber and wife Lisa of Napa, Calif.; and grandchildren, Joe and Jillian Stanley and Carson and Ella Macomber. He also leaves behind his youngest brother, Tom, and wife Anna Macomber of Kelseyville.
Wally spent most of his childhood in Lake County but graduated from Berkeley High School. He went on to attend San Francisco State University and graduated with a degree in physical education.
At this time Wally was drafted into the US Army and completed his tour to Japan finishing with an honorable discharge. Wally then obtained a master's degree in education with teaching credentials.
He began his teaching career in the Richmond School District then settled with his family in Napa, teaching high school math and science. Wally was instrumental in upgrading the driver education program for the district and retired from teaching in 2004.
A true Pittsburgh Pirates fan, Wally loved baseball but his true athletic talent was discovered at San Francisco State where he set several records in swimming and water polo. Wally attended the Olympic trials for Water Polo and his records still stood until the program was discontinued. Wally was inducted into the San Francisco State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
Besides his family, Wally had two other great passions – deer hunting and old Caterpillar tractors. He was happiest in the hot, dry Lake County brush in August, accompanied by his canine partners, and riding atop one of his “Cats” pushing dirt in the hot sun.
Wally was a man’s man, with the soul of an old Native American medicine man.
For sharing of stories about Wally visit www.bigwmacomber.blogspot.com .
A memorial celebration will be held for family and friends on Saturday, Nov. 23, at his ranch in Kelseyville. If you would like to attend please RSVP to Molly Stanley at 208-827-0663.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mark Lloyd Watson passed away in the beloved home he built himself on Monday evening, Nov. 13, 2013, on his farm in Lakeport.
He suffered a massive heart attack after a full day that included many of the things he loved most doing: clearing his land on his skid steer for a new vineyard, meeting and directing subcontractors towards commencement of a renovation project at one of his businesses, and spending time on the phone with friends and relatives discussing potential elk, “varmint” and predator hunts from his back porch at the end of the day.
Mark was born on March 24, 1949, to Lloyd and Eleanor Watson of Fortuna, Calif., who he always referred to as “the most wonderful parents a boy could have had.”
He graduated from the Fortuna Union High School Class of 1967 where he served as class president; class reunions – and the chance to catch up with beloved old friends – were a tremendous joy to him.
He began working for the late Jack Boyl (J.D. Boyl & Sons) of Fortuna, who became like a second father and mentor to him, in construction when he was only 13.
After attending College of the Redwoods and obtaining his associate's degree while working in construction full time, he obtained his general contractor’s and engineering license at a young age and started his own construction, land development and road construction business in Fortuna.
He built around 100 homes during this time as well as the physician office complex buildings at Redwood Memorial Hospital which was a special project for him. He was the rare type of contractor who was the first on the job site in every morning with his tool belt on and hammer in hand, leading by example.
In the 1990s he built, and continued to own and operate as managing partner, the Best Western Country Inn in Fortuna and the Best Western Bayshore Inn in Eureka.
Mark fell in love instantly with the hotel business, which he initially became interested in and learned about from his partner and father-in-law Ernest Weston, and soon became a highly respected regional Best Western “Governor.” He held that title he held for over two decades, during which time he was instrumental in working closely with the Best Western Board of Directors, raising the quality of the brand to the highly respected one it is today.
From 2002 to 2008 he conceived and built, with several other partners, and continued to own and operate as managing partner, the Hampton Inn, the Comfort Inn & Suites, and the Crush Restaurant building in Ukiah.
Mark touched and positively changed the lives of so many people in all walks of life – you know who you are: it did not matter if you were a carpenter or a company president, a mechanic, farm worker, or one of his many friends. He could be at turns encouraging and kind, or hard and uncompromising, because he could not and would not (at least for very long!) be around anyone who did not share his love of hard work and his ethic of getting anything and everything done as expediently and perfectly as possible-all with a large measure of fun included. Truly, scores of people loved and respected him as deeply as any man, ever, has been loved and respected.
Mark leaves behind his loving wife, Debra of Lakeport; his ex-wife, Jeanne (Elmer) Carson of Fortuna; his son, Steve (Sarah) Watson of Eureka; and daughters, Renee Watson and Alisa (Matt) Capik of Fortuna; well as grandchildren, Chad, Riley, Caleb, Aiden, Alison and Zane Watson, and James Watson-Capik and Emily Capik; his brother, Bruce Watson of Medford; and his in-laws, Ernest and Rena Weston.
He will be laid to rest at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna. Pallbearers will be Steve Watson, Rick Parcells, Rick Silvers, Joe Boyl, Chad Watson and Bruce Watson.
Please join his family in a celebration of his life at the Hydesville Community Church, 3296 Highway 36, Hydesville, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m., with a potluck gathering afterward. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mark’s name to the Hydesville Community Church.