Obits
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Max Foster Ruffcorn Sr.
1952-2025
Max Foster Ruffcorn Sr passed away unexpectedly on September 8, 2025 at his residence in San Marcos, California, at 73 years old.
The family is deeply heartbroken by his sudden death.
Max is survived by his former spouse, Suzanne, and his children, Max Jr. (Megan), Mary (Eddie) and Oren (Joanna), and also by his grandchildren. Liam, Ezra, Niall and Yiannis.
Max was born in La Jolla on July 6, 1952. He grew up playing baseball and even captained his football team at La Jolla High school.
He attended UC Santa Barbara for his undergraduate years and returned to San Diego County to earn his law degree at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, formerly known as Western State University. He was admitted to the state bar in April of 1980 and practiced law for the next 34 years.
In late 1988, Max moved to Lakeport, California, and began taking root with his former spouse and first-born son.
Though he was incredibly hard-working, he somehow always found time to do more. He taught law classes part-time at the Yuba College Campus in Clearlake, he was mayor of Lakeport twice, City Council member, often a board member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport, and coached his children's soccer and little-league baseball teams.
As his children grew and began to leave Lakeport, he took his career to Redding where he retired as the Shasta County senior public defender.
Once retired he moved to Paradise, California, until his home was lost to the Camp Fire of 2018.
Max then returned to Southern California to spend his remaining years.
Max was known for being deliberate with his words and for being a free spirited man. He leaves a legacy of passion for community involvement, wanderlust and a love for spending time in the great outdoors. He instilled these tenets in each of his children.
Max will be remembered and missed at every camping trip, every hike in the redwoods and every beach in California.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Gail Eileen (Evans) Wright
March 9, 1951 to Sept. 1, 2025
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — Gail Eileen (Evans) Wright passed away peacefully at home in Middletown on Sept. 1, 2025, with her dog Arlo on her lap and her husband by her side.
Gail was born March 9, 1951 in the St. Helena Sanitarium in Deer Park, California, now known as St. Helena Hospital in St. Helena.
Her parents, James Norman (Norm) Evans and Mary “Sue” Evans, lived in downtown St. Helena and moved their family to Middletown in 1951 shortly after Gail’s birth.
Gail married her husband, William (Bill) Francis Wright on April 10, 1976, and they had two children, John Christopher Wright, born Oct. 20, 1987, and Ashley Jessica Wright, born April 26, 1989.
Gail was close to and enjoyed her step-daughters, Tracey Anne Bush and Keri Elizabeth Wright, who would come to visit.
Gail and Bill made their home on the S-Bar-S Ranch in Kelseyville, California, from 1977 to 1985.
Their work lives and community ties were in Middletown. In 1977, Gail went to work for Hardester’s Corner Store, now known as Hardester’s Markets. She worked both full-time and part-time over the past 48 years.
Bill made his living as a licensed building contractor mostly in Lake County.
Gail and Bill purchased their current home and property in 1985. Gail would refer to it as a slice of heaven and would often say, “There is no need to leave as we have it all right here except the ocean.”
Gail loved the beach and they would visit the Carmel-Monterey area as often as they could.
Gail was a member of the Methodist Church in Middletown since childhood.
She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.
Gail is preceded in death by her father, James Evans, and her mother, Mary “Sue” Evans.
Gail is survived by her husband, Bill Wright; son, John Wright; daughter, Ashley Wright; step-daughters, Tracey Bush and Keri Wright; grandson, Weston Gunnar Wright; brother, Gary Evans (Marjean); their children, Cheryl, Greg and Sara; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Curtis Erle Wright died peacefully at his Lakeport home on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. He was 80 years old.
A Lakeport resident since 2007, Curtis formerly resided in Maxwell in Colusa County, Fresno and his hometown of Stockton.
He was a retired youth corrections officer but he most enjoyed working in the California Conservation Corps as a crew supervisor.
Curtis was an avid reader who enjoyed bicycling, restoring old autos, spoiling his many dogs and RV camping with his family.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda Green, of Lakeport; his brother-in-law, Michael Green, also of Lakeport; and his sister-in-law, Diane Dickinson of Lodi.
He also is survived by his first wife, Patricia Wright of Brentwood, Calif.; sons, Sean of Port Angeles, Wash., and Brendan and Devin, both of Oakley, Calif.; daughters, Melissa Bicking of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Amanda Kaelin of Jackson, Tenn.; numerous nieces and nephews; and 22 grandchildren.
Private services are planned at a later date.
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