Donald A. Ellis
1923-2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Donald A. Ellis – also known as “Don,” “Dad” or “Papa” – died peacefully on Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

At 90, he fought to the end and we miss him dearly already.

We will miss his ongoing “projects” (seldom willing to sit down for a day), his grit, his integrity, his tender-loving care and concern for Mom, and most of all, his stories and his sense of humor.

We can see him in heaven with his golf clubs slung over his shoulder, a fishing pole in hand, wearing a SF Giants shirt and his SF 49er jacket. You are one of God’s special angels, Dad.

Don was born to Myrtle (Gonnie) DeVecchi and Phillip (Papa) Ellis Sr. on Nov. 26, 1923 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

They moved to Clearlake in 1927 and Don has been a resident for 86 years. He attended Burns Valley Elementary and Lower Lake High School.

Don married Patricia (Pat) Reichert in 1944, celebrating their 69th anniversary last December.

Don served in in the US Navy Air Corps during World War II, 1942-1946, on a B-24 bomber on Tinian Island and Iwo Jima.

Returning to Lake County, he became a walnut rancher with his father-in-law, Walter E. Reichert.

Don belonged to the Lakeshore Lions Club for more than 10 years and was involved in many charitable activities, including the construction of the original firehouse in Lower Lake during the early 1950s.

He was a volunteer Lower Lake Fireman for more than 10 years and commissioner of the Lower Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

He coached high school basketball for three years and was one of two original founders, along with Ted Weiper, of youth baseball (Little and Pony Leagues) in Lower Lake and Clearlake, 1958. They constructed the original Little League field in Clearlake. Don coached youth baseball for four years.

He was a Konocti Unified School District Trustee and board president for 24 years, 1948-1972. He served as chairman of the Lake County Grand Jury from 1967 to 1968 and was a Lake County supervisor from 1972 to 1976.

Don was a former member and past president of the Lake County Air Pollution Resource Board and one of the original founders and directors of Lake Savings and Loan.

He was a member of the Clearlake Masonic Lodge. He also received the Stars of Lake County Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.

Don was a member and past president of the Redbud Community Hospital Advisory Board and fought with perseverance to save our local hospital, which endures today as St.Helena Hospital Clear Lake. We found it fitting and are extremely grateful that his last days were there where he and our family were treated with the utmost care and support from the entire staff.

Don is survived by his wife, Pat Ellis; son, Steve Ellis (Carol), Lower Lake; daughter, Donna Lutz (Chet), Victor, MT; grandchildren, Kevin Ellis (April), Kelseyville, Kristi Witt (Justin), Healdsburg, Amy Lutz-Wilson, Elk Grove, Chad Lutz (Maricel), and Steve Lutz (Atria), San Diego; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Kalee and “baby on the way” Ellis, Sophia Witt, Austin Lutz, Seth Lutz, Briella Lutz; sisters, Shirley Woodward, Lower Lake and Burdette Pontier, San Jose.

He was preceded in death by brothers Phil Ellis Jr. and Keith Ellis; many extended family members; loving caregiver Tammy Eeds, Clearlake; best friend, Bud Boyce, Lower Lake; and man’s best friend, Lucca.

A memorial service will be held for Don Ellis at 11 a.m. Friday, March 14, at Jones and Lewis Mortuary, Lower Lake, followed by a reception at the Brick Hall in Lower Lake.

Don has been a longtime member of his church in Lower Lake. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to his church: Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 516, Lower Lake, CA 95457.

Please sign Don’s guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – David Raymond Tucker passed away March 3, 2014, at the age of 60.

He is survived by his parents, William “Bill” and Elizabeth “Beth” Tucker of Los Banos; his brother, Scott; and sister, Denise.

At David's request, no services will be held.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary FD-1336.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Deverah (Debbie) Joan Harris went peacefully home to be with her Lord on Feb. 15, 2014.

She was born Feb. 11, 1939, in Tulsa, Okla., to Melvin and Hazel Pounds.

The family moved to Lake County in 1947. After attending Kelseyville Union High School, Debbie held many different jobs from bookkeeper, medical secretary, ladder assembly, grocery clerk and legal secretary before settling in as a court clerk for the County of Lake, where she retired after 20 years of service.

During that time, she worked at all three of the county courthouses – Upper Lake, Lakeport and Clearlake.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie D. Harris. She is survived by her children, Marcia (Larry) Porter of Kelseyville, Calif., Tamara (Michael Howland) Lofthouse of Aurora, Utah, Susie (Paul) Rosales of Upper Lake, Calif., Rusty Harris of Las Vegas, Nev., and Billy Harris of Lancaster, Calif.; sisters, Melba (Darrol) Austin of Kelseyville, Karen (Jerry) Hook of Kelseyville and Sharon (Steve) Bennin of Los Banos, Calif.; nine grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Debbie enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, pinochle, bowling, playing the piano and tending her flower gardens.

She will be missed dearly.

Graveside services to be held Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 11 a.m., at Upper Lake Cemetery. A celebration of life potluck will immediately follow at the Upper Lake Grange.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to Hospice of Lake County, which was truly amazing in their comfort care.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary, www.jonesmortuary.com , FD311, Lakeport, Calif.

Amber Marie Stapp (Shaffer/Barry) passed away suddenly Feb. 22, 2014 in El Paso, Texas.

Amber enjoyed spending time and holidays with family as well as camping, especially in Fort Bragg, Calif.

She also enjoyed watching her son and nephews playing in their many sport activities.

Amber was a loving daughter and sister and a great friend to many.

She is survived by son, Jordan Shaffer; father, Kevin Stapp; mother and father, Diana and Frank Kosar; twin sister, Heather (Jeff) Smart; nephews, Bailey and Kyle Smart; grandmothers, Ginger Hartner and Alice Stapp; aunts and uncles, Robert and Therese Hartner, Laurie and Matt Krmpotic, Terri Hartner and David Stapp; cousins, Jacqueline Rodriguez, Brian Garner, Janelle Jones, Alicia Hartner, Kurt and Kayla Krmpotic, Keely Pfeiffer, Ian and Tanner Stapp.

Amber is deeply missed by her family and friends.

Memorial services for Amber will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport, Calif.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com FD1336.

Kenneth Lee Gray, a resident of Grants Pass, Ore., passed away at his home on Feb. 27, 2014. He was 83 years old.

Kenneth was born July 11, 1930, in Medford, Ore., to Joseph and Amy Gray, members of an Oregon pioneer family.

He was the youngest of six children, three girls and three boys. He attended schools in Medford and Kirby, Ore.

Kenneth was going to Nevada with a friend when he met the love of his life, Barbara Loos. They were married on Dec. 22, 1949, in Grants Pass. They had five children, two girls and three boys.

During his life Kenneth worked as a sawmill owner/operator with his father-in-law in Wolf Creek, Ore.; worked in the woods for a woman logger in Eureka, Calif., and with his brother, Zane, at Sebastopol, Calif.; worked at Pullins Mill out of Cave Junction, Ore.; was a ranch foreman in Jenner, Calif.; and trapped, enjoyed scuba diving and operated a fishing boat with his wife out of Fort Bragg, Calif.

He was hired by the California Department of Forestry in 1960, working as a heavy equipment operator at stations in Clearlake Oaks and Cobb in Lake County, Calif. He would later be stationed in Leggett in Mendocino County, Calif.

Since he only had an eighth grade education he attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., and obtained a teaching credential. He then taught fire science and repelling.

He was founder and president of the Konocti Motorcycle Club in Lake County. In appreciation for his work, BMW Motorcycle Co. gave him a Sprint motorcycle to race.

A consortium approached him to run for a California Senate seat, but he decided against it as he didn’t want to move his family to Sacramento.

Kenneth worked for CDF for 20 years, retiring as a captain in 1980. After retiring, he and Barbara moved from Mendocino County to Grants Pass and purchased a small farm. They operated a truck farm for many years and became well known for their produce.

When they finished with the truck farm, Kenneth became a minister. The first couple he married was his great-grandson and wife.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Zella Roff, Dolly Claymier and Ruby Tedrick; brothers, M.C. “Bob” Gray and Zane Gray; sons, Joseph Gray and Terry Gray; and great-granddaughter, Adrianna Ebben.

Ken is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Sue Gray and Mary Stone, both of Grants Pass; son, Kenneth Gray and wife, Carla, of Priest River, Idaho; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial will take place at Missouri Flat Cemetery at 1 p.m. Monday, March 3.

Services will follow at 3 p.m. at Redwood Church of Christ, 5180 Redwood Ave. in Grants Pass. Pastor Jeff Prosise will officiate.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – John “Andy” Anderson of Spring Valley passed away on Feb. 16, 2014.

All are welcome to attend a graveside service to be held at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif., on March 6, 2014, at 2 p.m.

Please sign Andy’s guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com .