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Kim Mitchell. Courtesy photo.

Kim Justine Mitchell
Sept. 23, 1961 — June 23, 2021

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Kim was a Big Valley tribal member and elder, born and raised in Lake County.

She is survived by her husband, David Mitchell; children, Lydell, Jeffrey, David, Marvin and Felicia; siblings, Doyle Fred, Troy Fred and Trina Gomez; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Traditional Native American visitation will be held at Kim’s residence starting on Saturday, June 26, at 11 a.m.

Graveside funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Tuesday, June 29, at 11 a.m.

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

Debbie Elaine Bastian
Dec. 6, 1962 — June 17, 2021

Wow, what a great life I’ve had! I have been blessed to have a beautiful family that knows how to have fun and really LIVE!

There are so many friends who have had such a powerful impact on my life, and I was lucky enough to see almost all of them in the last days before my passing. Thank you for taking the time to come and see me.

I want you all to know you mean the world to me and the gift of your friendship made my life even better. We have had a blast with so many fun, wonderful adventures and I hope those memories will continue to put a smile on all your beautiful faces!

My beautiful, sweet husband, Brad, I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you when I was 18. In the past four decades, that love has only grown stronger.

My beautiful daughter, Shannon, you fulfilled my dream of becoming a mom and your kind, sweet, pure heart has filled my life with joy.

Drew, your enduring devotion and commitment to Shannon has been a source of comfort and strength to me.

My sweet grandson, Knox, you have been a gift and constant source of pleasure and pride from the moment you arrived. I’m sorry there is so much I will miss, but please know I will always be with you in your heart.

My amazing son, Beau, you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drummer and lived life on your own terms, which I always loved. I am so happy I was able to meet Lauren, your future wife, before I had to leave. You two are so good together and I know you will have a beautiful life.

My sister, Sherry, and brother-in-law Ken, the time we had together was a constant source of joy and laughter. I will miss you both dearly.

To all of you I’ve known and loved, don’t be sad. Live your life and find joy in each and every day. Life is what you make it and there is beauty all around you. Embrace life with both hands, and when you do, think of me. — Ciao

A celebration of Debbie’s life will be held Saturday, June 26, at 5 p.m. at Sherry and Ken’s house, 5205 Second St., Kelseyville (cross of Gard Street — entrance is on Gard).

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Daryl Van Proyen passed in peace on June 9, 2021, at the age of 72.

Born in Pasadena, California, he later moved to Lancaster, then Mendota, and finally settled in Lake County in 1977.

Daryl is predeceased by his parents, Neil and Elizabeth Van Proyen, and his wife of 40 years, Jackie.

He was a loving companion to Annette Francis; loving father of Tracy Davis (Ralph Davis) and Renee Lopez (Juan Lopez); proud grandfather of Maureen Claire (Tracy and Ralph), Jacob and Nathon Lopez (Renee and Juan); and many extended family and friends.

Daryl aka “The Crazy Dutchman” will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a “man of many hats.”

He began his career as a mechanic in the 70s. He pursued cabinetry in 1979 and would go on to establish Daryl’s Custom Cabinets in Lakeport, California, in 1982, later retiring at the age of 57.

He was well known for his craftsmanship, especially his Victorian dream home that was built in 2004.

During his retirement, his love of working with a tool in his hand extended to working on and restoring his beautiful classic cars.

Private family services were held on June 15, 2021.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Delmar Lee Fellers passed away March 16, 2021.

He was born in Oregon on March 27, 1938.

His mother (Daisy) brought Delmar and his brother Clifford to Pittsburg, California, during World War II.

Later in the 1940s they moved to Lake County where Daisy met and married Mario Lucchesi (of the Lodge Bar and Restaurant fame).

Delmar attended Burns Valley Elementary and Lower Lake High School, graduating in 1956.

While in high school he participated in a work/school program at the local Bank of America branch which started his career in banking.

He later entered a training program with the bank which ultimately led him to become a vice president with postings to international banking in Hong Kong, Spain and Chile.

He later returned to the United States as a lending officer to some of the biggest builders in the country.

Delmar was not born into wealth. He had to hustle and hustle he did. After his banking career he owned and operated several successful businesses in the Clearlake area.

He was a past member of the Lakeshore Lions Club and a director of the Highlands Water Company.

Delmar lost Jeanette, his wife of 61 years, in 2018. At the end of his life he was comforted knowing that they would be together again.

Delmar leaves behind his son, Steven; daughter, Karen; brothers, Clifford and Jocko; sister, Penny; and many old friends.

He was a good guy and will be missed.
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Harry Lovisone. Courtesy photo.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On May 30, 2021, Harry Ben Lovisone passed away at the ripe old age of 98; his health had been declining for several months.

He died peacefully at home in the care of his faithful love, Barbara.

Harry was born in Lower Lake on Feb. 6, 1923. His father and mother, Louis and Josephine Lovisone, already had two children: a daughter named Alma and a son named Gene.

Harry attended elementary school at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse, which is now a museum. He then went on to complete 12 years of formal education at Lower Lake Union High School; he graduated with the Class of 1942.

Harry grew up working in his family’s walnut orchard. When he was old enough he took any odd jobs that he could find. One of these required him to trap gophers for $0.05 apiece.

During World War II, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a military police officer in the Mediterranean Theater.

In 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned home to California. He used his GI Bill benefits to enter the machinist apprentice program in the East Bay. At this same time, he began working as an apprentice machinist for Jacuzzi Brothers’ Pumps.

In 1950, following his completion of his apprentice program, Harry accepted an employment offer from Lawrence Radiation Lab. He worked at both the Berkeley and Livermore laboratories until he “retired” 15 years later.

Throughout this time Harry resided in Richmond because the Bay Area is where the work was located.

Harry’s heart, however, belonged in Lake County. Harry’s work ethic and his desire to provide for his family prompted him to buy 17 acres in Lower Lake. His father helped him plant walnut trees on his newly acquired property. His dad taught him how to graft English walnut trees onto the black walnut trunks.

Throughout the entire time that he lived in the East Bay, Harry worked the five weekdays at Lawrence Labs and traveled home to Lower Lake to tend his growing walnut ranch.

In early 1964, following his “retirement,” Harry added to his walnut holdings by purchasing the 80 acre Sacket Orchard on Round Mountain. Following the purchase, Harry moved his family from Richmond to Clearlake Oaks.

Under Harry’s care the orchards flourished. But his entrepreneurial instinct caused him to recognize an opportunity. Because of Lake County’s rural and agrarian nature it needed a skilled machinist to tend to the well pumps that supplied water to homes and farms.

So Harry started his own successful business, Lovisone Pumps, in Lower Lake. In the southern portion of the county there are few pumps that Harry has not been involved with in some capacity.

Harry’s true passion was the outdoors. He was an avid hunter who tramped the mountains of Northern California and Nevada in search of deer and elk. Harry was also an avid fisherman who has fished lakes, rivers, and streams all across the west coast states.

In 1996, Harry met someone who shared his joy of fishing. He and Barbara were soon married and became true partners in all that they did.

Harry’s love of fishing was probably second only to his love for Barbara. For the next 25 years, their adventures took them all across the south Western United States.

In the winter they would camp near Crescent City and fish for Steelhead in the Smith River. Barbara caught a 20 pound steelhead, bringing an end to Harry’s reign as the Steelhead King.

During the summers they would rendezvous at Eagle Lake with some 30 friends for a two- to three-week camping adventure. During the day Harry and Barbara would be out on the lake, in their Ranger fishing boat, fishing for Eagle Lake trout.

In the evenings, with a belly full of Eagle Lake trout, they would join their fellow adventurers around campfires and revel in a quality of friendship and fellowship that few have ever known.

Come fall, Harry and Barbara would camp out along the Sacramento River. Each morning, they would pilot their Ranger boat out onto the river in hopes of landing a salmon. In whispered tones they would debate whether this year’s recipe for “smelly jelly” would do the trick.

Once again, Barbara displayed her skill at angling. Her biggest salmon was larger than Harry’s biggest salmon (there must be something in the way that women bait the hook — lol).

Recently, Harry and Barbara traded the cold winter days on the Smith River for the fun and sun of Yuma, Arizona. Each fall they would make the pilgrimage from Clearlake to Yuma where they had a modest winter home. They made new friends who introduced them to new adventures.

They both medaled in the senior Olympics. They annually watched in awe the flawless precision of the Marine Corps’ Silent Drill Team.

And their friends introduced them to dune buggies. Harry bought a buggy made from an old VW Super Beetle. They spent countless hours tearing up the dirt roads of the Arizona Mountains.

Harry remained very active until the last three months of his life. If he and Barbara weren’t cruising the waters of Clear Lake in his pontoon boat then they were cruising the streets of Clearlake in his red 1986 Corvette.

Then suddenly he became very weak and had difficulty walking. Harry’s stepdaughter is a registered nurse. She opined that “after 98 years of use the respective parts of Harry’s body had simply worn out.” Unfortunately, none of us come with replacement parts.

The last few weeks of Harry’s life were a testament to the wealth of friendships that he has cultivated over the years. People from all over stopped by the house to visit Harry and to have what would be their very last conversation with him. Distant friends called from as far away as Canada. Such was the impact that Harry had on the lives of so many individuals.

When Harry drew in his last breath he was resting comfortably in his bed, nestled away in a home that overflowed with the love of so many friends and relatives. Barbara, his wife of 25 years, was sitting with him at that moment.

Harry is survived by his spouse, Barbara Dryden; his son, Larry, and daughter-in-law, Mary; his son, Mikael; stepson, Jeffrey Dryden; stepdaughters, Karen Suenram (Darrell) and Linda Dryden Del Valle; grandson, Anthony Lovisone; granddaughters, Britney Linn and Grace Suenram; great-grandchildren, Sierra, Lacy and Ty Lovisone; nephew, Gene Lovisone; nieces, Tish Lovisone and Dawn Biano (Tony); brother-in-law, Dennis Pluth; and close friend, Dennis Del Valle.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at the Masonic Hall, Highway 53.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

You may leave thoughts and condolences online at www.jonesandlewismemorialchapel.com.

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Pamela Ussery Knispel. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — Pam passed away at age 75 on Friday, April 30, 2021 in Upper Lake.

She was born Nov. 23, 1945, in Lakeport, California, and raised as a fourth generation pear farmer in Scotts Valley.

Pam grew up on the back of her favorite mare, Misty. You could always find Mom on a tractor in the orchards.

Mom was ambitious in life’s journey. She acquired her pilots licence, illustrated children's books and appraised prized racehorses. She even sat on the Lake County Planning Commission.

Mom loved her books and had a keen eye for antiques. She had boundless energy, most youngsters had trouble keeping up with her, she was still running a forklift for the county schools at the age of 70 and was the best cook I will ever know.

Pam is survived by her three daughters; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

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


“Mother, you left us
beautiful memories,
your love is still our guide,
although we cannot see you,
you’re always at our side.”

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