LAKEPORT, Calif. — Friends of Taira St. John will hold a celebration of life for her at Library Park in Lakeport on Friday, June 3.

It will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. near the gazebo.

My Divas will sing a few songs in the second half of the event.

People who knew St. John will be welcome to offer memories.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 03 June 2022

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Velma Roberts passed away on May 16, 2022, two months prior to her 93rd birthday, at her home in Lakeport due to ongoing issues with her heart.

Knowing her time was short she requested that she spend her final days at home with her loving husband.

Velma was born in Gridley, California, on July 16, 1929, and lived her entire life in California until her death. She is now living in a much better place, one which she looked forward to.

She is survived by her husband, DeWitt Clinton Bouker aka Buck, and four children: her son, Rich Perry, and her daughters, Bonnie Hiraide, Robin Colt and Tracy Twomey. At the time of her death, she had 30 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren.

Velma dropped out of high school to start working at the age of 17. However, she received her high school diploma through a correspondence course which she studied in the evenings.

She pursued life with a pervasive, contagious fervor. She had the incredible ability to wrap her life around each of her four husbands, making any adjustments needed to become the wife each one needed and setting her heart on assisting them to pursue and achieve their dreams.

She was a strong-willed woman and used that strength when she needed to. However, she was primarily known as a gentle, compassionate and generous person. She dearly loved her ever-expanding family, as well, she loved her church family.

She served those God brought into her life with a true servant’s heart. She had the rare capacity to place others before herself. She loved spending time and playing games with her family, sharing stories and watching movies in the evening with Buck.

In earlier years she loved dancing, workouts at the gym, serving the seniors at the senior centers, taking care of her pets and growing a garden. She had a great sense of humor and had the unique ability to laugh at herself.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 28 May 2022

Steven F. Schoeneman
1945-2022

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Steve was born on Aug. 30, 1945, in Oakland, California, and was raised as the middle child of five by Fredrick Schoeneman and Geraldine Clark Schoeneman.

Steve attended Piedmont High School and then went on to obtain his teaching degree from Arizona State University, graduating in 1968.

Steve married Cheryl Jones in 1969, shortly after he began his first teaching job as a special education teacher at East Oakland High School and started a family welcoming his son Christopher Scott Schoeneman in 1973 and then his daughter Samantha Elaine Schoeneman in 1976.

In 1978, the family sold their Oakland home, bought a Jeep Wagoneer (Willie) and a small travel trailer (Mariah) to set out to find a new home in the west.

The family traveled for nearly a year and half, eventually landing in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Steve was hired as the Darby School’s special education teacher then transferred to Hamilton.

In 1982, Steve and Cheryl divorced, and Steve returned to California where he began a long teaching career in the Turlock school district for the next 25 years.

Steve had a passion for working with kids and seeing them grow and succeed. He worked at Roselawn High School and Freedom High School.

Leaving behind good friends and 38 years of living in Turlock, Steve moved to Hidden Valley Lake in 2020 to be closer to his son and his family where he enjoyed the lake, power walks and time with his grandkids.

Throughout his life Steve loved softball and played for over 40 years. He also immensely enjoyed classic cars which he shared deeply with his son Christopher through all the years.

Steve was a sports enthusiast and would never pass up a chance to cheer on the Warriors or take in an A’s game.

But beyond any of the joys in his life, was the joy of his kids and grandkids. Steve was full of pride, love, and support of Christopher and Samantha and their respective children, Steve’s grandchildren.

Anyone who knew Steve would agree his enthusiasm and energy was contagious. He believed in the value of experiences in making memories and connections, often supporting large family gatherings in fun filled places. He would say, “You can’t buy memories, you have to make them.” He now leaves so many with those fun filled memories as he moves on.

Steve is survived by his two children, Christopher and Samantha. Christopher and his wife Leanna and their two children Jackson and Josephine live in Hidden Valley Lake, California. Samantha and her husband, Carey Schmidt and their two children Charlise and Robin all who reside in Missoula, Montana.

Steve’s siblings, Kurt Schoeneman, Sara Schnieder, Bette Quinn and Tom Schoeneman all live nearby in Northern California and share the loss of their brother.

Steve was fun, light, at times even goofy, uncle to many nieces and nephews who he enjoyed from their birth to their adult lives.

Steve will be dearly missed and his family will continue his legacy of creating new memories for the next generation in his honor and spirit.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 27 May 2022