How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Obits
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – John W. Johnson was born March 23, 1939, on the Hoopa reservation, near Table Bluff, California.
John’s father, Ralph, passed away the same year of his birth. His mother, Ruby, was his first example of kindness, generosity, warmth and compassion for all living things.
He grew up in a large loving family with his sister, Beverly, and his older brothers: Roland, Walter and Robert. Ruby married Axel Stout and they were blessed with his three younger brothers: Oscar, Sid and Jack.
Hunting, fishing, carving and drawing were activities John enjoyed throughout his youth. He and his friends often came home with salmon, venison, and duck. They were assisted by his favorite cocker spaniel, Dooney, who proved to be a great retriever.
John grew up learning about the importance of education from his mother and sister, who tutored him through his youth.
After graduating from Fortuna High School, he enlisted in the US Army. He served much of his tenure in Germany, in the Machine Records Unit. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, John continued his education. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration.
A proud member of the Wiyot Tribe, his mission in life was to promote health, education, unity and wellness among tribal and non-tribal people.
John was committed to bringing prosperity to tribal people in his work throughout California. He achieved this by fighting for recognition for those tribes that had lost their status. He wrote grants and ran programs for health and education. He never missed an opportunity to bring tribal leaders and members of the whole community together to work toward a common goal.
John had a vision that tribal and non-tribal people will prosper together and that the diversity seen around the table will make us stronger in our leadership and more compassionate in the process.
John joins his parents and each of his siblings in the Spirit World. He is deeply missed by his loving wife Amanda, and his son, Kevin, who made him proud to be his Dad.
His love for his tribe and his family was strong, and he spoke fondly of them. John’s family includes his nephews, Albert Jr. and Jerry; great-nieces, Anita and Gail; goddaughter, Lena; numerous cousins; and far too many loved ones to list, including Lynette, Renee, Sonia and Turtle.
Many of his friendships lasted a lifetime. Longtime friends include Deni Leonard, Lilian Hoikka, Dale Risling, Thomas Leon Brown and Les Miller.
John's recent work includes the Native American Community Education Center, the Circle of Native Minds wellness center and the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport, California. His co-workers were close friends. They shared his passion for their work and his enthusiasm for helping others achieve their goals. He will be greatly missed by all of us.
A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. Also, a celebration of John's life will take place at a later date near Table Bluff.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Russel Prestwood Bean
Jan. 17, 1938 – Nov. 8, 2019
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Russel Bean of Clearlake took his last breath peacefully at home on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, while surrounded by family, after a short battle with cancer.
Russel was born in Napa, California, in 1938 to Allan and Vesta Bean. Most of his youth was spent in Sonoma, California, graduating from Sonoma Valley High School in 1956.
It was there he met his bride-to-be, Adriene Clauson, whom he married on March 12, 1960, after spending two years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner on the USS Bashaw 241 – the last of its class diesel submarine that sank three Japanese merchant ships in World War II. His first tour of duty had him shipping out from Honolulu to Tokyo in 1957. Great stories were born of this period of Russel’s life.
Together Russel and Adriene bore three sons, Erik (1961), Vincent (1964) and Warren (1965), while he kept up the family carpentry business, C.C. Bean and Sons, started by his grandfather, Charles Clifton Bean, who served as mayor of Sonoma in 1940.
As a family of carpenters they built and remodeled much of the town of Sonoma, while his uncle, Talbert Bean, also served as the town’s mayor for a period. Family years were spent primarily in Santa Rosa, with a move to Clearlake after retiring.
He held a standard of excellence and work ethic that was demonstrated with every project he put his hand to, so that all three sons learned early the mantra of, “If you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all.”
While quiet and self-deprecating by nature, he had a wry humor that often caught people off guard, much to his delight.
In addition to carpentry, he loved model trains and boats, fishing, San Francisco 49er football and, in his later years, tinkering with as many computers, phones and gadgets as he could get his hands on.
His favorite sport by far was teasing favors out of his three boys by having them compete for the title of “#1 Son” in any given year.
He is survived by his wife, Adriene Bean; his sons, Erik (Eileen) Bean, Vincent Bean and Warren (Janet) Bean; along with four grandchildren, Kristen, Allan, Joel and Kyle; and three great-grandchildren, Hudson, Holden and Moses.
Russel was a faithful, loving husband, and dedicated father, grandfather and great-grandfather who played as hard as he worked. Under an ornery exterior he hid a very sensitive soul – one we will miss deeply.
The family will observe a graveside service at the Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma on Saturday, Nov. 23. A celebration of life gathering will be held at a date and location to be determined.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice Services of Lake County.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Linda Fay Vegas passed away peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 12, 2019, at the age of 77 years old.
Linda will always be remembered as a beacon of light, we will cherish the memories of her warm smile, big greetings, contagious laugh, never ending love and endearing support.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Kelli and Stephen Bernstein; grandchildren, Johnathan and Nicole, Nicholas and Michelle; and great-grandchildren, Maynard and Sophia.
Linda always had love for the simple things, spending time with family or playing cards with her mother, Frances and best friends, Bonnie and Freda on a Saturday night.
Growing up in a golf family, Linda was known as a shark on the golf course. She was also an avid bowler and pinochle player. Golf course, bowling alley, or card table Linda had a competitive spirit which also extended to the road. She loved to drive and her pride was her 1974 Blue Corvette Stingray and her personalized “L Vegas” license plate.
Linda loved listening to Bob Seger, the Eagles or Country Western music, but her favorite singer was Elvis Presley. Linda would often share stories of her Uncle Skeeter’s Limo service in Las Vegas and his encounters with The King. On one very special occasion she along with her parents Henry and Frances attended an Elvis concert courtesy of her Uncle Skeeter. This would be a night Linda would never forget. For this was the night Elvis Presley sang a song directly to her while holding her hand. At the end of the song Elvis leaned down from the stage and kissed both Linda and her mother Frances.
After moving to California as a teenager Linda started her first job with a local bank, Crocker National, as a teller at age 16. Little did she know at the time that would lead her to a career that spanned 50 years in the banking and real estate industry.
Given Linda’s love for her career, diligence and magnetic personality she spent 25 years as the VP of Wells Fargo N.A. Northern California Escrow Division in San Jose, Ca. until retiring as VP of Equity Exchange in Palo Alto, California.
At age 21 Linda found love and married Raymond Vegas, although the marriage did not last, they were blessed with their only child Kelli. Linda always cherished her in-law side of the family and their relationships remained strong through the years.
Her later years were spent in retirement in the loving care of her younger sisters, Janice and Deborah in Clear Lake, California. Linda always loved being in Clear Lake, visiting the casino with her niece, Chrissie and her sisters, Deborah and Janice. Her memory will always be cherished for her warm smile, big greetings, never ending love and endearing support for her family.
She is also survived by her sisters, Janice Gibson and Deborah McSpadden; surviving nieces and nephews, Victor and Rebecca Rogers, son, Daniel and daughter, Jennifer. David and Chrissie Chavez, son Michael Kuzinich Jr. and daughters, Amanda, Kimberly and Lisa. Heather Turner, sons Ryan and Jake and daughters Zoe and Katie. In-laws, mother in-law, Lydia Vegas, sister and brother in-law Margo and Leonard Dos Santos and their loving families.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William (Henry) and Frances McSpadden; her brothers, Bill McSpadden and Bobby McSpadden; and niece, Crystal Rogers.