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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Rory Butcher passed at his home in Texas last June 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Gwynne; daughters, Janeen, Janelle, Sarah and Chelsea; grandchildren, Tyler, Alannah, Jake and Otto.
We will celebrate his life at 11:00 AM with a graveside memorial service at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, California, on July 9, 2022. All are welcome.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-334-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Mary Elizabeth Turner (Best) was born in Morristown, N.J. on Feb. 1, 1927, to Walter E. Best and Agnes R. Best.
She was 95 when she passed away peacefully on May 13, 2022, in Santa Rosa, California.
Thomas W. Turner, her beloved husband, died in 2004.
She is survived by four children: Michael Turner, Mary Francis Boster, Mark Turner and Margaret Brown. She has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mary was independent from an early age. Living in the backwash of the Depression years, she attended a one room school house until high school and lived in a house without electricity until the 1940s when the house burned to the ground.
Caught up in the excitement of the pharmaceutical innovations of the 1940s centered in New Jersey, Mary wanted to be a biochemist. Against her father’s will, Mary supported herself while attending Douglas College at Rutgers University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in zoology and bacteriology in 1948.
After marrying Tom and having her four children in five years, Mary was a mother par excellence to her children.
In addition to supporting her children in school and their interests, she and Tom continued their love affair with horses owning several, breeding and showing horses for over 40 years.
Mary did not return to education until the late 1960s. Having found herself drawn to English literature and, with enough credits from her bachelor’s degree to qualify for the master’s program, Mary attended Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. She obtained her master’s degree in English literature in June of 1968.
After a move from Arizona, where the family had lived for 20 years, to California, Mary found her way into librarianship. First as head librarian at a small town library and then moving to children’s librarian in Bakersfield, California.
Mary built a 20-year career in the library. There she developed her lifelong ability for storytelling into a master skill and added puppetry to her repertoire as she inspired children to read and love stories.
After retirement Mary and Tom moved to Lake County, California, and settled for 20 years in Lakeport. They were both active in St. John’s Episcopal Church, holding many positions of responsibility and respected and admired in the community.
She continued a lifelong love of creating, especially knitting and belonged to the Lake County Knitting Guild. She was also an accomplished needle worker, winning second place in the embroidery category at the California State Fair.
Mary moved to Brookdale Paulin Creek in Santa Rosa in 2010. She was active in the community, helping new residents as an ambassador, a leader in the knitting group and a good friend to all she came in touch with.
In 2021 she moved to Forestville, California, to live with her daughter’s family.
Mary believed there was goodness in everyone and she always tried to bring that out. Her quick intelligence, optimism and faith were the tools with which she navigated her life. These uplifting traits will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
Mary’s funeral service is on Saturday, July 9, at 1:30 p.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 Matheson St., Healdsburg, with a reception to follow.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Travis Garcia was born Oct. 31, 1982, at St. Helena Hospital in Deer Park, California, and was raised in Middletown, California.
He died on June 10, 2022, from a tragic accident in Calaveras County, at the age of 39.
Travis attended grades K-12 in Middletown schools and graduated in June 2000. Travis played football, basketball, baseball and golf. He loved horses and was active in gymkhana, high school rodeo, team roping, 4-H and FFA.
He went on to college at Santa Rosa Junior College, then to DeVry University where he graduated cum laude, received four prestigious senior project awards and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 2004.
Travis worked for Marriott Western Mountain Pacific Sales Office in San Francisco until 2011. During that time, he advanced to senior sales office specialist/event manager/ sales manager one. He enjoyed managing large events for sports teams and major company conferences amongst many other clients.
When he left Marriott, he went into the hospitality industry. Travis loved people and got along with everyone. His social, energetic and enthusiastic personality allowed him to succeed and make many friends along the way.
In 2003 his son Makai was born. Travis was a proud Dad and loved spending time with his son. He encouraged his education and course of study in college pursuing the movie industry at Sac State. He loved when Makai passed him up in height and laughed when he had to look up to him. He was so proud of the young man Makai is becoming.
Travis also entered the construction field. He loved learning that trade, which he had worked a bit in his earlier years. This led him to his last job working in his hometown, for Calpine Corp. Travis described this as his “dream job,” where his father had worked all during Travis’s upbringing. He loved Middletown, had many lifelong friends here and was proud and excited to be back.
Last summer Travis met Becky, fell in love and they were married in August 2021. He was proud and happy to have Becky in his life. He loved her very much and looked forward to their life together. Becky gave him something he longed for, a partner to love and enjoy life with. Living in Middletown kept them apart more than he wanted so he had recently relocated to Valley Springs to be with his wife.
Travis was a generous, kind and energetic soul with a bright smile who touched many lives. He lived life to the fullest and experienced more than most in his short life. He had fearless confidence. He loved movies; especially comedy, sci-fi, and westerns. He was always repeating his favorite quotes.
He is preceded in death by his father, Donald Garcia Jr.; grandparents; uncle, Michael Garcia; and cousin, Trevor Gonzalez.
He is survived by his son, Makai Garcia; wife, Becky Garcia; stepson, Ashton Kelly; mother and stepfather, Glenda and Robin Loudermilk; his brother, Josh Garcia; and many extremely loved aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of life event will be held at 1 p.m. July 23 at the Lions Club, Central Park, Middletown.