Obits
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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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Jackie Myers, 72, passed away peacefully at her home in Lakeport, California, on Jan. 23, 2011.
She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Phillip Myers of Lakeport; her son, John Myers (Tamara) of Oakdale, California; daughter, Debra Sommerfield (Rian) of Lakeport; son, Kevin Myers (Daphne) of Elk Grove, California; and daughter, Ann Myers of Burbank, California; and six grandchildren, Amanda, Jessica, Kylie, German, Katrina and Shayna; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was born Jacqueline Raelene Araujo in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1938.
A true “island girl” and an artist from a young age, Jackie enjoyed painting, with much of her work in oils and pastels, drawing inspiration from Hawaii’s beautiful flowers, beaches and seascapes.
Jackie attended Sacred Hearts Academy and Star of the Sea High School where she graduated as salutatorian in 1956. She attended the University of Hawaii and embarked on a career as a medical secretary/artist during which she sketched and colorized surgical procedures with intricate detail that could not be captured by the color photography of the time.
While working as an executive secretary in the early days of the computer industry, she met and fell in love with Phil, her “Midwestern sweetheart.” They married and raised their young family on Oahu until a job relocation for Phil prompted the family to move to California’s Silicon Valley in 1974.
A loving wife and mother, she devoted herself to her husband, her children, and her church where she actively contributed her time, energy and creative talents at Saint Anthony’s Parish in Kailua, Hawaii; Saint Victor’s Parish in San Jose, California; and Saint Thomas More Catholic Community in Paradise, California.
Jackie continually nurtured her creative spirit as an avid crafter and Cub Scout den mother, as well as in her love of baking and her passion for travel. Together with her husband, she visited many historic and religious sites around the world.
Once her children were of school age, Jackie returned to the workforce and enjoyed 12 years as office manager at Vinci Park School in San Jose. She and her husband retired in 2002 moving to Paradise, California, and subsequently, to Lakeport, California.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Sarah Araujo and Jacinth Araujo, and her brother, Jason Araujo.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. at Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. at Saint Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 801 N. Main St., Lakeport. Interment will be at Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Lakeport.
Memorial contributions may be made to CurePSP to fund research for a cure for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), as well as physician education and caregiver support, by visiting www.curepsp.org and identifying the donation “in memory of The Jackie Myers Family Fund.”
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