CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Myra Sherman, author, social worker, mental health therapist, and gentle and kind soul, passed away peacefully on Nov. 29, 2015, with her family at her side at her home on Cache Creek in Clearlake.

She continued to live her life as she wished after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, spending her time writing and enjoying the birds and other wildlife she could see from her window and deck.

Myra was born June 18, 1942, in Bayonne, New Jersey, and was preceded in death by her mother Leah Ash Bornstein and her father Norton Harold Bornstein.

Myra is survived by loving brothers, Henry Bornstein and Steven Bornstein; her sisters-in-law, Gae Henry and Maureen Bornstein; her aunt, Mildred Bornstein; her niece, Allie Bornstein; her niece, Devin Catalli and husband Tony; her nephew, Nathan Bornstein and wife Katrina; her great-niece, Sarah Marie Bornstein; and by numerous cousins and many dear friends.

Myra’s family moved to Southern California’s San Fernando Valley in 1951, where Myra spent her youth with her father, mother and two brothers.

After living in Israel and upstate New York, Myra moved to Napa, Calif., where she could be close to and care for her mother, Leah. Myra finally settled in Berkeley, Calif. She loved hiking along the California Coastal Trail and in the red rock country of Utah.  

In 2007, Myra moved to her home on Cache Creek in Lake County with her beloved dog Sadie. Myra became active in the Lake County Community Coop and as a volunteer for the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.

Myra devoted her life to helping others, working as a social worker and therapist, first with Vietnam veterans at the Veterans Administration hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., and later with the jail population, serving for many years as the director of the mental health programs for the Contra Costa County jails, and as a therapist specializing in patients at risk for suicide, homeless substance abusers and mentally disordered sex offenders.

Upon retirement, Myra fulfilled her dream to write about her experiences as a clinical therapist in order to give voice to the marginalized and forgotten people she worked so hard to help.

Myra’s fiction and essays have appeared in numerous print and web journals. “Jailed,” a collection of linked short stories that takes the reader inside a California county jail, was published in 2011. “Mother Mary,” a novel that tells the story of how a homeless woman wakes up to find herself handcuffed in a locked psychiatric ward, was published in 2014.

Myra’s family and friends will remember her quick smile, kind and caring nature, and how she worked so hard all of her life to help those in need who were so often ignored by those around them. We are comforted that she has left her writings as a lasting legacy.

A celebration of her wonderful life is planned for the spring of 2016. The family suggests that any donations in Myra’s name may be made to Hospice Services of Lake County.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Born on Dec. 30, 1954, In Salinas, Calif., Kenneth D. Wells passed away Dec. 9, 2015, at the age of 60.

In 1962 the Wells family moved to Kelseyville. Ken was a longtime member of the Clear Lake Junior Horseman, riding his prize horse Cricket.

While in high school Ken joined the Kelseyville Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 16. He also ran track and wrestled. But foremost he excelled in football playing linebacker.

After graduation Ken attended Yuba Junior College majoring in fire science and again playing football.

After college Ken worked for the California Division of Forestry as a seasonal firefighter. Ken took a job working for Bill Wolf at Lakeport Tire while still being a firefighter/volunteer with the Kelseyville Fire Department.

In 1980 Ken was hired full-time as a captain with Kelseyville Fire Department. He became a paramedic and field training officer and became an EMT instructor with Mendocino College on his days off. He covered shifts for Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne Fire Departments for five years and Lakeport for seven years.

In January 2007 Ken accepted the position of fire chief for Lakeport Fire Protection District until his retirement from the fire service April 30, 2014. Ken had been involved in fire service of some sort for over 44 years.

Ken was proceeded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Frances. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Lydia; brother, Lloyd (Marcia); sisters, Trish (Hans) and Kathy; son, Chad (Nyia); daughter, Brandie (Kendall); grandchildren, Haley, Dustin, Tailer, Joseph and Clayton; along with nephew, Gavin (Kricket); Gracie and Montana, and Darren (Nicole) and Landen, along with many close friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Kelseyville High School Student Center at 1 p.m.

Family is requesting, in lieu of flowers, that donations can be made to the Lakeport Fire Protection District or Kelseyville Fire Protection District.

Douglas Lowry Codling
Feb. 24, 1943 – Dec. 2, 2015

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Douglas Lowry Codling, 72, of Clearlake passed away on Dec. 2, 2015, at Saint Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif.

Son of the late Beatrice and Howard Codling, Doug is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Stephanie Codling; his son, Michael Codling and daughter-in-law, Mary Codling; his daughter, Michele Codling Waterman and his son-in-law, Craig Waterman; as well as his beloved grandchildren, Cecelia Codling and John and Alyssa Waterman.

He also is survived by his siblings, David Codling, Nicole Evans and Michele Cheney; nephew, George Cheney IV; niece, Lucy Hunt; two great-nephews; one great-niece; as well as many dear friends.

Doug was born in Seattle, Wash., on Feb. 24, 1943.

He loved sports and was a talented athlete, playing baseball and football in high school. He also coached both of his children in soccer, baseball and softball.

He was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing and hunting most of his adult life along with golf, tennis and snow skiing in his younger days while living in Colorado.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1961, shortly after graduating from Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif. During his tour of duty, he spent time in Japan, China and the Philippines. He served on the USS Ranger aircraft carrier and completed two tours of duty in Vietnam.

In July of 1963, he went on a blind date and met the love of his life – Stephanie Eileen Arata. They celebrated 51 years of marriage in August 2015.

After his service in the Navy, Doug began corporate life at Wyle Labs in Santa Clara, Calif. He and his family shared countless fond memories at their summer home in Clearlake, which is why he retired there after 33 years of marketing, sales and management at Wyle Labs.

Doug lived life to the fullest and loved traveling with Stephanie all over the world, including trips to Holland, Spain, France, England, Italy, Germany, Canada and Tahiti, and many adventures in Hawaii and Mexico.

Doug had a tremendous sense of humor and was the life of the party. He lived life with passion and purpose. A kind, loving, warm and welcoming man, he will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.

A celebration of his wonderful life is planned for early January 2016.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Jimmie Michael Lee was born in Williston, North Dakota on Oct. 10, 1952, and passed away peacefully on Dec. 13, 2015, in San Leandro, Calif.

Jimmie loved being a grandfather, enjoyed camping and loved dogs. He was a hardworking man that wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He was a loyal friend to many and was always willing to give a helping hand.

He was a retired rough neck who worked at The Geysers on Cobb Mountain and oil and gas fields in North Dakota.

Jimmie is survived by his son, Chris, daughter-in-law, Crystal, and grandsons, Tyler and Maxwell Lee, all of Kelseyville, Calif.; brother, Bill Lee of Williston; nephew, Lance Holland of Lakeport, Calif.; niece, Connie Holland-Ungewitter of Sebastopol, Calif.; and many friends.

Edward Alton Brooks III

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Born on Dec. 20, 1957, in Oxnard, Calif., Edward Brooks III passed away Dec. 1, 2015, at St. Helena Hospital in Napa, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 57.

Eddie or “Buddy,” as his family and friends called him, was raised in Marin County, Calif., relocating to Lake County in the late 1990s. He loved Lake County, and living near the water.

Buddy had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed playing his guitar and all kinds of music. He worked for various attorneys in Lake and Mendocino County as a licensed process server.

Buddy is survived by his parents, father Edward Brooks Jr. and mother Margaret Brooks, both of Lakeport; his sister, Regina Weinstein; his brother, Scott Brooks; and his beloved nieces and nephews, as well as his many cousins, all of whom he grew up with and stayed close to after adulthood.

The family would like to thank the kind EMTs, Sutter Lakeside Emergency Department and St. Helena Hospital ICU Staff.

Per his instructions, there will be no services.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary 707-263-0357 or 994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The family of Leonard Neft invites community members to a celebration of his colorful life on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The service will be held beginning at 11 a.m. at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 21396 Highway 175 in Middletown.

Rev. James McSweeney will officiate.

Neft, a retired journalist living in Anderson Springs, died trying to escape the Valley fire in early September. He was 69 years old.

In celebration of Neft's life, those planning to attend the Saturday service are asked to wear something colorful.

Following the service there will be an “after party” at the Middletown Lions Club community center, 15399 Central Park Road.

A meal of Mexican food will be catered by the Rosales family, with both meat and vegetarian options available.