Obits
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Ruth Decker was born in Sweden on Nov. 16, 1914, and passed away in Sacramento on March 6, 2010, with friends by her side.
When she was just 7, her family immigrated to the United States, stopping first at Ellis Island.
She met the love of her life, Harold Decker, in Oakland where her family had settled. They formerly owned the Richmond Yacht Harbor. They later sold it and bought an orchard in Scotts Valley where they planted pears.
She was an avid sailor, winning many trophies and was an avid tennis player. She enjoyed her house on the lake, and enjoyed crappie fishing as well as swimming in the lake up until she was 88 years old.
Ruth had a certain gusto for life and will be sadly missed.
She is survived by many friends and family and a son, Tom. She was preceded by her husband Hal and her six siblings.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a favorite charity. A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at a later date.
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David Lorey James, longtime Lake County resident, died at home Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010.
David was born Feb. 5, 1929, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. A graduate of the Ohio State University, with a degree in accounting, David became a CPA and had a 31-year career with Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst and Young).
Starting in Cleveland, Ohio, his career took him to Caracas, Venezuela, for three years and then to the Los Angeles office in 1959. In 1961 he opened a new office in Santa Ana. In 1969 he returned to Los Angeles as the managing partner. In the early 1970s David became the western regional partner. He accepted a special assignment to the New York office in 1980 and then retired in 1982 at the age of 53.
David and his wife, Loraine, moved to Lake County from Pasadena in 1978 when they purchased Pomo Ranch in Clearlake Oaks and planted one of Lake County’s earliest vineyards. David served on the Board of First Counties Bank and for many years was chairman of the board of the Clearlake Memorial Health foundation. He enjoyed the Judge’s Breakfast Club and the Lakeport Coffee Group.
Politics were important to David. He was active in both local and state Republican parties. David was chairman of the Lincoln Club in Orange Co. and served as chairman of the Orange Co. Republican Central Committee. Later he became the Finance Chairman for Ronald Reagan during the campaign for his second term. He was an active member of the Lake Elephants and participated in many local campaigns.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Loraine; daughter, Kathy Black of Huntington Beach; granddaughters, Kelly Curtis (Shawn) of Long Beach and Tracy Black of Costa Mesa; sister, Lorey Roggenkamp of Worthington, Ohio; sister-in-law, M. Evelyn Runyan of Eaton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at the Little Theater, Lakeport Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice Services of Lake County, 1717 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453 or Northshore Fire Protection District, c/o Station 75, attn: Volunteer Assoc., 12655 E. Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 or The Salvation Army, Lake County Service Unit, P.O. Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834-8000.
Arrangements by Jones Mortuary.
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June Murray, a resident of Kelseyville, Calif., since 1993, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from complications resulting from a fall.
Born in San Francisco she was an accomplished musician as was her father, noted concert organist Raymond White.
She worked her way through San Francisco State College in part by playing numerous church organs. Before graduating cum laude with a degree in music she met and married a fellow student Connel Murray, and thereafter bore him three daughters and a son.
In l968 the Murrays left the Bay Area to move to Alaska, where they jointly opened that state's first fully-accredited advertising and public relations agency. Called Murray-Alaska and later Murray-Bradley, it soon grew to be the state's largest, at one time employing some 40 communications specialists. It is now known as Bradley-Reid.
June Murray served as vice president and director of media for the firm, assuming responsibilities for planning and buying millions of media dollars for a wide range of clients, including oil companies, airlines and government agencies.
At the same time she was raising her family and participating in community and business affairs, including the advisory board of the Anchorage Library and President of the Advertising Federation of Alaska. In 1981 that group named her as "Advertising Professional of the Year."
Five years later, with their children grown and gone, the Murrays elected to move to Seattle to manage a branch office established there earlier, with June assuming the presidency of this independent firm.
Avid boaters since their days in San Francisco, the Murrays seized the chance to explore the waters of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska on a succession of boats.
In 1998 the Murrays returned to Alaska, this time with Connel acting as the state's travel director. The travel opportunities and experiences of this position created a love in June for visiting and exploring new places, and thereafter the Murrays became dedicated travelers.
After leaving government service they returned to their roots, settling in the Clear Lake Riviera in Lake County, where they again involved themselves deeply in community affairs. June served on the board of directors of the Lake County Arts Council, and later on the board of Clear Lake Performing Arts – a post she held until her death. She had also been elected as president of CLPA's Auxiliary group
June Murray was widely respected, loved by many and admired by most, especially her family.
Along with her husband, she is survived by daughter Erin Kruse of Houston, Alaska, and her three children, Ian and Matthew, both of Anchorage, and Rebecca, also of Houston, as well as great-granddaughter Alorah; daughter Alison Murray of Seattle with grandson John; and son Connel Raymond and his wife Mary, and their daughter Shannon and son Connel Dean, of Edmonds, Wash.
Family members will announce a celebration of life to take place some time during late spring or early summer.
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