Wilbert Hendricks of Lakeport, Calif., died on Friday, May 24. He was 94 years old.

He was born Aug. 21, 1918, in Hanford, Calif., the third child of Roy Levi and Lizzie Alice Peaslee Hendricks.

The Hendricks family first settled in Lakeport about 1919. Eventually the family had nine children, all but three of whom were born in Lakeport.

Roy Hendricks bought a pear orchard and farm house located on approximately 900 acres out on Todd Road. His concrete contracting firm poured most of the sidewalks in downtown Lakeport, working with his sons Roy, Wilbert, Jake and Stanley.

Roy also sold firewood and pear spirits to neighbors and friends. It is rumored that to keep the kids from drinking his cache, Roy buried numerous bottles out by the old barn and there may still be a few bottles buried out there somewhere.  

Roy relocated to Fort Bragg around 1945 to go fishing. His son Wilbert followed him after the war, also bought a boat and fished for a few years. Prior to the war, Wil moved to Los Angeles to visit his sister, Fern, and then joined the Merchant Marines, serving with them in World War II.

After giving up fishing, he went into civilian service as a Merchant Seaman. His specialty was diesel engines.

When he retired from the Merchant Marines in 1975, he and his wife Merrie Carole moved back to Lakeport and built a home on a half acre on Ruby Drive where he lived until taking up residence at the Yountville Vets Home near Napa in 2010.

The Hendricks' residence was a continual destination for lots of friends and family members coming from Los Angeles, Fort Bragg, the Bay area, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Wil was an avid hunter and sports fisherman and spent several weeks every year at a hunting camp near Mt. Lassen that his dad, Roy, had discovered. They called it Windy Gap for the nearby windmill. Wil and Merrie also spent several weeks every year in Quartzite, Ariz., “camping” in their converted Greyhound bus.

Wil’s Merhant Marine travels to South America and the Orient allowed him to acquire some wonderful collectibles that will now be cherished by friends and family for both their beauty and memories.

Having no children of his own, Wil was a favorite uncle to all his nephews and nieces and frequently a substitute “Pop.” Even the neighbors’ kids learned there was always a sympathetic ear and a good joke at “Uncle Wil’s.”

And neighbors, Gene and Alice Frazell were the best friends one could hope for. Their generosity and watchful eye allowed Uncle Wil to remain in his cherished home long after he could manage all his own affairs.

Wil remained at the Yountville Vets Home for over three years, but he was ready to come back to Lakeport when he passed Friday, May 24, at age 94. Many times he claimed he couldn’t die now – he had to go fishing tomorrow.

But the time finally arrived for him to rejoin all of his old square dancing buddies, friends and family and especially his cherished wife, Merrie, for a big country hoedown up in heaven. Boy, will there be some yarns spun up there. Uncle Wil always had a joke for everyone and he had a lot stored up.

Uncle Wil’s military service accords him an honor guard send off. We will then all bid a fond farewell to Uncle Wilbert at his graveside as he is laid to rest at the Hartley Cemetery on Friday, June 7, at 11 a.m. Final taps will be provided by grand-nephew, Jason Hendricks.

Wilbert Hendricks is survived by his brother Jake Hendricks in Juneau, AK; younger sister Donna Lee Sanford in Idaho Falls, ID; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Jones Mortuary is providing services.

Pat Wilks is Wilbert Hendricks' niece.

June Dorothy Duncan, born June 6, 1921, in San Francisco, passed peacefully with her family by her side May 27, 2013 after an illness at 91 years of age.

She was the devoted mother of James (Nichole) Duncan, Gerald (Jeanne) Duncan, and Carol ( Rick) Thorn.

June had eight grandchildren, Todd (Dena) Duncan, Jamie (Joshua) Lopez, Angie Duncan, Sarah Duncan, Derek and Travis Thorn and five great-grandchildren, Mariah, Kyra, and Tamara Duncan, Lilly and Tobias Lopez, nephew Robert Westphal, and many others that called her "Grandma June."

She was preceded in death by her grandchildren, Jessica and Danny Thorn.

She ran a family owned flying school in Palo Alto prior to moving to Lake County, Calif., in 1971 where she worked at Bank of America in Lakeport and did child care at Quail Run Fitness Center.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Evergreen Healthcare for taking such good care of her.

June was very devoted and very proud of her family. She was a joy to be around and will be greatly missed.

Donations may be made in her name to:

– Four Legged Friends, 3646 Hill Road East, Lakeport, CA 95453; or
– Westside Community Park, 1350 Berry St., Lakeport CA 95453; or
– Hospice Services of Lake County, 1701 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

Ryland Robert Joseph passed away in San Francisco on May 16, 2013, in the presence of his loving family. He was 7 months and 12 days old.

Ryland's big heart and happy spirit was known all throughout Lake County, Calif., and beyond.

In February of this year, Ryland was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome and it was determined that only a bone marrow transplant would help.

The county rallied around his family; mother, Kellie, a detective with the Lake County Sheriff's Department and father, Rodd, a sergeant with the Clearlake Police Department.

Be The Match events were held to inform the community about the need for bone marrow donors and to find a match for Ryland. Ryland's 22-month-old sister, Brooklynn, was determined to be a match and a bone marrow transplant was done earlier this month. Although the transplant was successful, Ryland's immune system was compromised and he passed from an infection.

The Josephs' story has touched many lives and Ryland will forever be remembered. He leaves behind his parents, Rodd and Kellie; sister, Brooklynn; grandparents, Norris and Karen Joseph, Louise and Joe Harris and Robert "Boomer" Fisher; aunt, Andrea "Andi" Joseph and great-aunt Carol Vasas; many extended family and friends too numerous to mention.

His family would like to thank those that have assisted them at this difficult time and supported them through Ryland's illness.

Services for Ryland will be held at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, 16140 Main St. in Lower Lake, on Saturday, June 1, at 1 p.m.

A procession will then travel from the funeral home to Middletown Cemetery.

If you choose to make a donation in memory of Ryland, the family has these suggestions:

– The Family House, a residence for people with very ill children, primarily bone marrow transplant related, who reside more than 50 miles from UCSF; www.familyhouseinc.org .

– The Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation uses funds to research this disease and is also a great resource for families with affected children; http://www.wiskott.org/ .

– The National Bone Marrow Registry, where funds are used to help type and store DNA samples of possible donors and where you can register as a potential donor; www.marrow.org .

– Ryland’s Memorial Fund, which is located at Mendo Lake Credit Union under the title “Ryland Joseph Be The Match Fund.” Funds donated will go to Ryland’s medical bills, burial expenses and towards other Wiskott-Aldrich families.

On May 29, 2013, the community lost a true American hero and patriot.

Gene Edward Tone, born July 13, 1924, passed away at Sutter Lakeside Hospital with his family by his side.

Gene proudly served his country during World War II, most notably with the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal (Operation Watchtower 1942-1943).

After an honorable discharge in 1946, Gene joined the California State Military Reserve until 1964.

Major Tone was unwilling to “hang up” his uniform and remained a devout Marine his entire life. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 194, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and daily breakfast with “Doc” and other fellow Marines.

Gene is survived by his two daughters and their husbands, Melody (Richard) Long and Susan (Darrell) Westphal; grandchildren, Katie Gard, Charlene Thomas, Ed Pepper and James Seymour; great-grandchildren, Michelle, Matt, James, Joey, Allison and Elizabeth Gard, Krystina Brixie, Jake Thomas, Daniel Barrett, Zoey Pepper and Tasiana Seymour; and great-great-grandchild, Gabriel Rodriguez.

A celebration of life with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 13 – on what would have been his birthday – at 11 a.m. At the American Legion Building, 5005 Second St., Kelseyville, Calif.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

PETALUMA, Calif. – The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit is saddened to announce the passing of Fire Apparatus Engineer Alex Stevenson.   

Alex passed away on Friday, May 24, 2013. He was a valiant and courageous man whose optimism and hope never wavered as he fought a nine-year battle with brain cancer. He was 39 years old.

Alex began his career with then CDF in 1995 in Sonoma County at the Healdsburg station as a seasonal firefighter.

In 2002, Alex accepted a permanent position as a Firefighter II in south Lake County and in 2004 he promoted to fire apparatus engineer at St. Helena station in Napa County.

Alex’s other assignments included working in the Unit’s Service Center and in 2007 he became a Fire Prevention Specialist II in the Napa County Fire Marshal’s Office.  

He was a true friend and brother to all of those in the Cal Fire family.

Alex passed away peacefully at home with his mother, stepfather, brother and sister-in-law by his side.

A memorial to honor Alex and his service to the citizens of the state of California will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts in Santa Rosa. The public is welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631; or Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Pavran St., Petaluma, CA 94952.

Jannette Deanne Hughes of Daly City, Calif., beloved daughter of Woody and Sandy Hughes, suddenly and unexpectedly passed from this life at the age of 52 at the home of her sister, Lynda Hughes on May 20 in Redding, Calif.
 
Jannette loved life and lived it to the fullest including motorcycle riding, white water rafting, panning for gold and camping out for months on her property in the wilds of Northern California where she had more than one bear encounter.

Her motto for living was: Life is short; break the rules; forgive quickly; love truly; laugh uncontrollably; and never regret anything that made you smile.

Jannette was a Navy veteran and will be buried in Veterans Circle in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, June 8. The Military Funeral Honors Team, the Patriot Guard Riders, and representatives of the US Navy will provide full military honors at the graveside service beginning at 11 a.m.
 
The family has requested that donations to the Military Funeral Honors Team be made in lieu of flowers.