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Obits
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Raymond James ‘Imek’ Brown Jr.
July 13, 1969 - Dec. 27, 2019
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Raymond James “Imek” Brown Jr. was born to the late Diane and Raymond Brown Sr.
Imek is also predeceased by his sister, Melissa Brown; his daughter, Baby Brown; grandparents, Jim and Elvina Brown and Theresa and Sandy Boggs.
He is survived by his siblings, Joe, Monte, Ericka, Lisa, Raylene and Tiara; children, Hason, Taylor, Emick, Paul, Makoa, Wa'kea, Milei, Kaleo and We’ka; godchildren, Stoney, Ki-Yana, Eric and Lalo; grandchildren, Emick Jr., Kei'ana, Kameron and Ke'oni; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Growing up, Imek was an athlete in basketball, baseball and football, which inspired him to coach his children with his knowledge.
Imek Brown was strong in his ceremony ways from Elem Indian Colony, Big Valley, Scotts Valley and Robinson Rancheria; his heart was set on trying to change the cycle for the youth and to teach the Traditional Ways to his people.
Traditional visitation will start on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Elem Indian Colony at 1 p.m., and end on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Gene R. Helmuth
Jan. 9, 1926 – Dec. 9, 2019
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gene passed peacefully on Dec. 9, 2019, exactly one month prior to his 94th birthday.
Gene grew up, got married and spent his entire working career in the Bay Area. He always had a deep connection to country living as his grandfather lived on a secluded 110 acres in the mother lode country near Jackson where he became an accomplished hunter and trout fisherman.
During World War II, he fought in the infamous Battle of the Bulge and was one of the first recipients of the “super drug” penicillin.
Unfortunately, he received it too late and the lower part of his right leg had to be amputated. Very few people noticed the difference as it hardly held him back in his life. He received the Purple Heart for his sacrifice to the war effort.
After the war, he came back to Oakland and married his sweetheart, Greta Darrow. Their first date was at the old Oakland Oaks baseball stadium, now the home of Pixar Studios. They bought a home near the bottom of the Oakland hills and began raising a family.
Gene was trained as a machinist and soon got a job at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in the Prosthetics Department. By the time of the Vietnam war, he was the head of the department and was using his mechanical ingenuity in making creative new designs for the returning amputees.
The family moved to the more rural Castro Valley around 1960. It was there that he began restoring classic cars, many classic Corvettes and Mercedes Benz. Well into his 90s Gene was always thinking of large and small ways to make the world a better place. His children never saw repairmen, the car never went to the repair shop, Gene did everything himself.
Gene and his family began to visit Clear Lake soon after he returned from the war. First in Lower Lake where he and his son Ron were always catching their limit in bass and later in Lakeport, where Greta and Gene retired and he spent his last 38 years.
Lakeport became a Mecca for family holidays and visits. Gene loved taking people out on his classic wooden boat, the "Saw Dust," his last restoration project.
Gene and Greta traveled extensively during their retirement, across the United States twice and down into Mexico to Puerto Vallarta. They always came home with many stories to the quiet stillness of Lake County.
In his later years, Gene was well known for his easy-going nature, his kindness, fairness and his generosity.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Greta. He leaves behind his son, Ron (Beverly) Helmuth of Albuquerque; daughters, Sally (Dave) Anglin of Grass Valley and Julie (Keith) Emory of Lakeport; and his grandchildren, Ericka Anglin of Sacramento and Dylan Anglin of Santa Rosa. He also leaves behind his dear and close friend, Pat Harpham.
Rest in peace, Dad, you will forever be in all of our hearts.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Pat West
Jan. 20, 1936 - Dec. 5, 2019
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pat was born in Michigan City, Indiana, and moved to California in 1944.
She and her husband, Bob, came to Lakeport in 1977. They bought Thompson’s Frosty and Pat went to work for the Lakeport Post Office for 29 years.
Before Bob passed away, they were both involved with the Lakeport Lions Club where they had lots of fun and made many friends.
Pat is survived by her girls, Christine, Karen, Mary, Kim and Kendall; and grandchildren, Amy, Erin, Doug, Courtney, Corey and Nick. She loved them all.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.