Obits
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Beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Ronald J. Hughes, son of Roland and Elva (Wilcox) Hughes, age 76 of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., passed away on March 10, 2011, after a long courageous battle with non-small cell lung cancer.
Ron was born on March 26, 1934 in Dodgeville, Wis., and grew up in Ridgeway, Wis., where he graduated from Ridgeway School at the age of 17.
Ron had a true love and appreciation for all sports. He was a star basketball and baseball player in school and in the Navy and even had a chance to try out for Chicago White Sox. He was a loyal life-long fan to his favorite NFL team the Green Bay Packers, of which he was a stockholder, and as always he was cheering them on during the road to their recent Super Bowl win.
He was also a regular at Lower Lake and Middletown High School sporting events where he took joy in rooting on his granddaughter and other local young athletes and spending time with both old and new friends.
Ronald enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served on the USS Cascade from 1951-1954 and he was a lifetime member of the local VFW.
After leaving the Navy and living in the Madison area, Ron moved to Rothschild, Wis., where he met his future wife Sharon. Several years later, Ron decided to follow his dreams and make the move to California.
After obtaining a position as a welder/sheet metal fabricator in Sunnyvale, he married Sharon on March 12, 1977, in Reno in the midst of a huge snowstorm. In June of 1977 the family set out on the long drive from Wisconsin to start their new family life in California.
After realizing that Sunnyvale was just too busy of an area for them, the Hughes family moved to Willits, Calif., for a short period and then on to Rohnert Park where they lived until finding their dream waterfront home in Hidden Valley Lake in Lake County, Calif., in February 1989.
Ron was a proud Lake County business owner. Ron’s Precision Metal Fab., a manufacturer of tight tolerance sheet metal parts, supplied customers across the United States. This was a successful business that Ron operated for over 15 years until the shop was closed at his retirement in February of 2006.
Ron greatly enjoyed his life in Hidden Valley Lake loving to fish, garden, visit with his many dear friends and playing 8-ball. Ron had a famous reputation since his early years in Wisconsin as a force to be reckoned with on the pool table.
Ron successfully worked with the HVLA management to bring back a pool table to Mulligan's Bar and started the regular Thursday night pool tournaments years ago which turned a slow night to a very successful night for the Hidden Valley Lake establishment. The pool table area in Mulligan’s has now been lovingly dedicated and renamed “Ron’s Place” in honor of his contributions and memory.
Ron was predeceased by his parents, brother William Hughes, sisters Ruth Landon and Darlene Hughes and granddaughter Jaclyn Ramirez.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 34 years Sharon (Kleimola) Hughes. His children, Rhoda (Lee) Dlug of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Richard Hughes of Greeley, Colo.; Roger (Daniel Russell) Hughes of Beaverton, Ore.; Roberta (David) Hughes-Millman of Fountain Green, Utah; Scott Lafrancois of Rohnert Park, Calif.; and Danielle Lafrancois of Clearlake, Calif.
Also surviving Ron are his 10 grandchildren and sisters Margaret Olson of Monroe, Wis., and Verna Gould of Dodgeville, Wis.
Ron (AKA Benny, Huey, Ronnie, The Ronster) has touched all of our lives deeply with his loving friendship, dedication and wonderful quirky sense of humor, and he will be greatly missed and never forgotten by the many that loved him.
We wish to thank Dr. Gregory Smith and his staff at the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center in St. Helena, Calif., for the care provided to Ron and his family during the last two and a half years and to Hospice of Lake County for the comforting guidance during these last few difficult weeks.
We could not have made it through these final months without the support of our family and friends and special thanks to John Arview, Norm and Kim Carter, and Dick and Millie Hammes for all they did to help us through this difficult time.
Please join us in a celebration of Ron’s life on what would have been his 77th birthday on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at Mulligan’s Bar at Hidden Valley Lake from noon to 2 p.m., where we can share special memories. A light luncheon will be provided.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers any donations in Ron’s memory be sent to Hospice Services of Lake County at 1717 S. Main St., Lakeport Ca 95453-5668.
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Calvin D. McCarley, a longtime Lower Lake resident and businessman in the Lower Lake and Clearlake communities, died peacefully at his home on Feb. 22, 2011.
Cal was born in Oklahoma on September 28, 1934.
He served in the U.S. Navy 1951 to 1955 aboard the USS Quincy CA71 during the Korean War.
Cal moved to Lake County in 1963. Cal owned and operated two propane companies in Clearlake and Lower Lake over a span of 40 years. He also owned and operated a walnut orchard in Lower Lake.
During this time Cal was instrumental in the organization and opening of Lake Savings & Loan in Lakeport and served on its board of directors. After the sale of Lake Savings & Loan Cal was asked to join the board of directors of Clear Lake National Bank/First Counties Bank in Clearlake where he also served on the bank’s loan committee.
Cal was very active in his community throughout his adult life having served as Master of the Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183, member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, member of the AAHMES Shrine Temple and the Lake County Shrine Club.
He also served as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Clear Lake and the Rotary Club of Clear Lake. Cal was a life member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion. He was instrumental in starting youth football in Lower Lake. Cal also served as a Lower Lake Fire Commissioner and on the Lake County Planning Commission.
In his spare time Cal loved to play golf with his friends. On Friday the 13th, November 1992, Cal achieved every golfer’s dream of scoring a hole-in-one. He did this on hole number seven at Hoberg’s Golf Course on Cobb Mountain.
During his early years in Lake County Cal coached Little League Baseball and sponsored a Little League Team. He was also the announcer for the Lower Lake High School football games.
One of Cal’s proudest achievements was his idea and successful completion of the new athletic field at Lower Lake High School. Over a period of several years Cal organized and planned dozens of weekend work projects utilizing the talents and volunteer help of many local businesses, organizations and individuals to complete what is now one of the finest athletic fields in Lake County.
He accomplished this without any funding from the school district. When the field was near completion, with Cal’s prodding, the Konocti School District was able to secure the funding for the lighting.
Cal is survived by his loving wife Irene and his three children: Patricia McCarley of Rancho Cordova, CA; Chuck (Rose) McCarley of Middletown, CA; Darlene (Steve) Crumbo, of Vacaville, CA. Grandchildren: Nicholas Crumbo; Christopher, Joseph, and Samantha McCarley. Stepchildren: Pamela (Mark) Menges of San Rafael; Steve S. (Lori) Brown of Nice, CA; Angela (Vince) Siefe of Lompoc, CA; Kelli Brown-Knipping of Lakeport, CA; and Diana (Joe) Masuen of Watsonville, CA. Stepgrandchildren: Nikol and Danae Deccanier; Andriana, Alexandra and Christopher Siefe; Sydnee and Peyton Masuen; Taylor and Paige Woodruff; and Bill (Tanya) Buckmaster. Brother: Willis (Vera) McCarley of Sacramento, CA. Sisters: Daisy Kuhns of El Monte, CA; and Juanita Solgat of Woodland, CA.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Masonic Lodge located at 7100 South Center Drive, Clearlake, CA on Saturday March 19, 2011 at 11 a.m. Everyone who knew Cal and Irene is invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, please mail a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305 or Hospice Services of Lake County, 1717 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453.
The McCarley family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Lake County Hospice Nurses and staff for all their wonderful care.
Arrangements entrusted to Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, Lower Lake, 707-994-6417, www.jonesandlewis.com .
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Verna Marie Riggins, a longtime resident of Clearlake, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, in Redding, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011.
She was born on July 8, 1922.
During her many years in Clearlake she was active in several local service and business clubs, including the Soroptimist Club. She also was on the planning committee for the original Redbud Hospital and the gymnasium at Burns Valley Elementary School.
She was a very active supporter of the local SPCA and rescuing cats was her passion. Her help could always be relied on for fundraising events for the groups to which she belonged.
Verna had several occupations during her long life. When she first moved to Lake County in the 1950, she worked at the Lower Lake Branch of Bank of America.
She later worked by the side of her husband, Auttis, in several businesses. Their joint ventures included Riggins Variety Store, Wildwood Nursery, The Mountain Shop in Forest Lake and the store and dress shop at Hoberg’s Resort.
Her last occupation and her favorite was head legal secretary for Richard Freeborn, attorney at law and later a Lake County Superior Court judge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Auttis Riggins, and her sister, Virginia Griffith.
She is survived by a sister, Dorothy Lillard of Santa Rosa; son, Ed Riggins and wife Mary of San Francisco; daughter, Cindy Benting of Redding; daughter, Pamela Karnatz and husband Virgil of Crossville, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Lauren, Eddie, Candace, Brandon, Shawna, Heidi and Heather; two great-grandchildren, Aaron and Bethany; and two nieces, Karey and Coleen.
No services were held at Verna’s request. Donations in her name can be made to your local animal shelter, SPCA or animal refuge of your choice.
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