Obits
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Dolores Jean Caffey passed away on March 18, 2012, in St. Helena, Calif.
She was a remarkable woman who lived a very full life.
Born in Great Bend, Kansas to William and Ula Juergensen, she has lived in Clearlake for the last 22 years.
She was formerly a resident of Pleasanton, Calif., where she lived for 12 years. She also had spent time in Claremore, Okla., with her husband when her children were grown.
Dolores had various careers throughout her lifetime. She was very proud of the fact that she worked for Philco Ford making electronic modules, thereby helping to launch the Apollo.
In Pleasanton, she worked at Valley View School as the Cafeteria Manager. While in Oklahoma, she learned to be a taxidermist and to tan hides.
She also raised many different farm animals. After moving to Clearlake, she started working for the Methodist Church in Clearlake managing their thrift store and volunteered there for the last 10 years.
In her spare time, she loved her garden and to do needlepoint.
She is survived by her family; husband of 60 years, Ronald Caffey; children, Robert Caffey (Stella) of Vallejo and Lenard Caffey (Sandy) of Pleasanton; grandchildren, Cariann, Katrina, Jesse (Erica), Kyle
and Cody; sister, Nancy; and three great-grandchildren.
Dolores was a fantastic mother and an awesome lady who will be missed dearly.
A celebration of her life will be held at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, Lower Lake, on Saturday, March 31, at 1 p.m.
Her family prefers that any donations in her name be made to the Paralyzed Veterans, a cause she has supported faithfully.
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July 7, 1954 – November 24, 2011
Rick Norton died at home in Salinas, Calif., on Thanksgiving Day 2011 of oral cancer.
He’ll be remembered this month around a campfire at Indians Memorial Campground at the headwaters of the Arroyo Seco River. Officiating will be Rev. Paul Danielson, retired parish priest of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Corral de Tierra where Rick was baptized and he and his wife of 37 years, Tina, were married.
Rick and Danielson crossed paths often on the fish trails at The Indians, where Rick spent many of his happiest days.
Danielson is a Big Sur Land Trust board member and member of The Ventana Wilderness Alliance, a conservation group dedicated to protecting wild lands of the northern Santa Lucia mountain range. Rick would be pleased.
Danielson took the family’s favorite photo of Rick. It’s how Rick will be remembered, his wide grin, dark eyes twinkling under a SF Giants hat, proudly hefting a big trout in one hand, his fishing pole in the other, a devoted black lab at his feet.
Rick was a wood worker and artist, creating distinctive bird houses and planter boxes from recycled wood for family and friends.
He is remembered by wife, Tina, and dogs Max and Daisy of Salinas; father, Richard (Beverly) Norton of Sacramento; brother Doug (Fran Levy) Norton of Monte Rio; and sister Susanne (Lyle) La Faver, of Hidden Valley Lake; and many friends and relations.
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Marc Albert Hansen was killed in a tragic car accident on Feb. 14, 2012 in Crescent, Ore., while on his way to visit his daughter and her family in Bend, Oregon.
Marc's “little” sister, Elise Hansen, also was killed in the accident.
Marc was born in San Francisco on March 18, 1952, and spent his childhood in Napa, Calif.; Germany' and Massachusetts.
As a teenager, he and his lifelong friend and music partner, David Raitt, went on to create and build an alternative high school in Bodenham, Maine.
After several years on the East Coast, Marc and David headed back to California and found their way to Mid Mountain and then to Ukiah where he remained until his untimely death.
He was a well-known and loved musician in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties, where he rose to local stardom as the Hansen of the Hansen & Raitt Band. He also was loved as a solo artist as well as the lead and backup of countless local bands.
He was a carpenter and used this skill to build yurts, a skill that he was quite proud of, in California, Maine and New Hampshire.
Marc is survived by the light and love of his only child Karissa (Vince) Carpenter; by his grandchildren, Ariyah, Corbin, Miela and Elise; Karissa's sister, Hannah; his nieces and nephews, Miranda, Niku, Safaa, Kent, Gemma, Georgie, Lester and Cody; his brothers and sisters, Erik, Ben, Rick, Enid and Erika – all of whom he connected with in his own special way.
He was a creative, devoted, loving father, grandfather, uncle and brother, and will missed greatly by his family, friends and the community.
He is preceded in death by his father Woodrow and his mother Dorothy.
He touched many people's hearts and was the kindest, most gentle person. He was committed to living a life that wasn't driven by consumption, but rather was committed to "livity" the way it was meant to be.
Karissa Carpenter will hold a memorial for her father, followed by one final "hoorah" done Marc Hansen style at Milano Winery on March 25, 2012. A memorial account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank under the name Marc Hansen Memorial Benefit Fund and can be donated to at any branch and location.
Carpenter said her deepest love goes out to each and every one of the people he touched and loved so dearly.
If you have any questions or want to contact the family, you can email them at
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