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Raymond Brown Jr. Courtesy photo.

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.
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Pat West. Courtesy photo.

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.
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Maureen Surridge. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Maureen (Mo) Surridge, was born Aug. 7, 1934, in North Andover, Massachusetts, and passed away suddenly in her Lakeport home on Dec. 4, 2019.

“Mo” left Massachusetts in her early 20s, and had an active administrative and sales career in Salinas before retiring to Lakeport, where she was deeply involved with the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club for the many years that her health and strength allowed outside activities.

She was predeceased by her beloved sons, Steven and George.

Mo will always be deeply loved and missed by her loving and devoted companion of 17 years, John Mantle; her daughters, Cheryle Helton and Denise Shere-Holland; her grandsons, Nick BeeCraft, Joe Enus, Chad Enus and Mark Shere; her granddaughter, Kim Shere; her great-grandsons, Mikeale and Aniken BeeCraft; and her great-granddaughters, Moriah and Jorga Enus.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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Gene Helmuth. Courtesy photo.

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.

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Joe Torrente. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Joe Torrente came to this country as a teenager from a small island named Marettimo off the mainland of Sicily.

Coming from a long line of fishermen, Joe worked as a commercial fisherman out of Monterey for many years before a fulfilling career with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. lasting over 23 years.

Joe, an avid fisherman, was a generous, fun-loving man who passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.

In recent times, he loved having lunch at the Live Oaks Senior Center with his circle of friends.

He leaves behind a void that must now be filled with happy memories of his smile and humor.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Verna; children, Ken Wilhite and his wife Cindy, Carolyn Peckham and her husband Steve; daughter-in-law, Sandy; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. He also leaves behind his sister, Anna Sardina, and her husband, Frank; nieces, Annamaria and Francesca; grand-nieces, Cassandra and Francesca; grand-nephew Frank; nephews, Frank Bonanni, George Bonanni and many more relatives and dear friends.

We will always treasure our memories of camping and fishing with Joe.

Joe was predeceased by his son, Dallas Wilhite, and nephew, Michael Sardina.

A celebration of life will be held at the Live Oaks Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd. in Clearlake Oaks, on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Please help us celebrate Joe’s life.

Thank you for your thoughts and well wishes.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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John Roumiguiere and his wife of 39 years, Donna. Courtesy photo.

John William Roumiguiere
May 31, 1954 – Dec. 13, 2019

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – John was born May 31, 1954, the second of five children born to Bob and Barbara Roumiguiere and spent most of his childhood in San Rafael.

In 1986, John’s father, Bob, asked him to move to Lake County to develop the family vineyards; for the next 26 years, John managed all 400 acres in Lakeport and Kelseyville.

John was one of the original board members of the Lake County Winegrape Commission and was instrumental in marketing the Lake County region and raising the awareness of local winegrapes to surrounding counties. John also pioneered vineyard development in the now-famous Red Hills Appellation and the Roumiguieres sold to well-known wineries for many years.

As education and research chair, John spearheaded education programs for growers and donated blocks of the families’ vineyards that were used for cutting edge research in conjunction with UC Cooperative Extension. The success of the commission continues to this day.

After retiring from grape growing, John continued to use his many talents as vineyard consultant, contractor and welder to Lake County friends and family members. John’s friends will tell you that there never was a time when you called Johnny that he wasn’t there to help you get a tough job done. “Ask Johnny = he will know” was the well-worn phrase among his friends and colleagues – no matter what the job.

John’s passions were riding his Harley, pitching horseshoes and entertaining his family and numerous friends at the Lake Ranch, where they spent summers camping and boating.

John passed away after suffering major cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Donna Roumigiuere of Lakeport; his three children, Justin (Tausha), Joni and Jenna (Matt); and his two darling grandchildren who were the lights of his life, Alexa and Shayla Rose.

John was predeceased by his father, Robert Roumiguiere Sr. and mother-in-law, Patricia Hudson. He is also survived by his mother, Barbara Roumiguiere of Marin; father-in-law, Robert Hudson from Crescent City; his four siblings, Robert Jr. (Dina), Lynn, Audrey (Dennis) and Marc; his brother-in-law, Mike Hudson (Jo); and many loved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life for John will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in the Little Theatre Building on Saturday, Jan. 4, from noon to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.StJude.org, and Disabled Veterans National Foundation, www.donate.dvnf.org.

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

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