Obituaries

Lawrence Sherwood Margrave

Anna Cecelia Brown

Lawrence Sherwood Margrave, 91, of Paradise, passed from this life peacefully, Thursday, March 7, 2013, in Chico.

  Born Sept. 9, 1921, in Pittsburg, Kansas, he moved to Westwood, where he met Betty Farney and the couple were married May 16, 1942. A few months later, he was drafted into the Army where he served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre with the 532 Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment from 1942-1945.

  He returned home where he began a career with the Department of Defense at their Tracy Depot as a foreman in their Box Shop at the age of 28 and held the position for 28 years before retiring in 1974. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Manteca, and became a 52-year member of the Lodge. Larry was a proud member of the Chico Shrine Club, the Black Butte Scottish Rite, the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies, Ben Ali Temple and Table Mountain Lodge No. 124 in Paradise at the time of his passing.

  Larry is survived by a son, Lawrence W. Margrave and his wife Christa, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Patricia (Bell) Rold and her husband Rodney, of Paradise; four grand- and eight great-grandchildren.

  He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Betty Margrave, who passed from this life in 1992; an infant son, John Edward, whom he lost in 1946; a grandson Allen Margrave Beatty, whom he lost in 1985 at the age of 21; and a son-in-law Gary Bell, who passed from this life in 1989 at the age of 41.

  Masonic memorial services along with military honors will take place 2 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at the Table Mountain Masonic Lodge, 5934 Clark Road, Paradise. Inurnment will take place alongside his late wife in the Chester District Cemetery.

  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Larry’s name be made to a favorite charity of the donor’s choice. An opportunity to express condolences to the family, along with signing the memorial guest register, is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.

The Brown family sorrowfully announces the passing of our dear mother, Anna Cecelia Brown. She went to be with her savior on March 26, 2013, after a long struggle with cancer and dementia. Her work on earth is done now, but her service to God will continue to touch lives forever.

  Anna was born on Nov. 3, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., to Anna Cecilia Bagley Stevens and John Richards Stevens. She moved at an early age to Jackson with her mother and brother, attended school there and met her husband, Homer Ray Brown. They were married on Oct. 22, 1960, and they moved to Willows, where they lived for the next 29 years. Her life really began when she became a child of God and learned of her Savior’s plan for her life. She attended the United Pentecostal Church in Willows, was ever faithful in her tithe and offerings. Everyone remembers how much peanut brittle she made and sold to fund the building of the new church, paying for the new piano and sending money to the missionaries in Africa. She loved teaching Sunday school and aspired to be a missionary to Africa.

  Her love for children was evident, as she raised her six children with love and joy; she dedicated each one to God, as she knew they would someday be instruments of his work in some way. She was so proud that all of us graduated from high school and how we each have accomplished so much in our lives.

  As she raised us kids she found the time to serve God with her singing, flannel graph lessons and being a great friend to everyone she met. She gave freely to anyone in need and we always had someone at our house to feed and she showed by example how to live a happy family life.There was always room at the Brown table for anyone…well if you didn’t mind sitting on a stool. No one will ever forget her biscuits.

  She always loved going to fellowship meetings, Ladies Auxiliary conferences, the highlight of all was attending youth camp every summer. She loved writing silly songs and being the roving reporter for the camp book. She did teach classes and crafts but most of all she was so proud when four of her children won the camper of the week award.

  Anna was youth leader in the Willows and Ukiah churches. She gave Bible studies, taught sign language in Portola and played her accordion and sang songs at the bread bank, showing others that Jesus is the bread of life. The last years of her life she attended church in Reno, Nev., and Chico, still singing songs and praying that others would find Jesus.

  Those who have gone on before her are her beloved mother, Anna Cecelia Stevens; her brother, John Stevens; and her two sisters, Laurie Coleman and Carol Martin. Those left to celebrate her life are her children Shelly Powell, Cindi, Shawn, Tracy, David and Timothy; sister Helen Hale; cousin Dolly Rzyski; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two nieces and seven nephews.

  We joyfully invite everyone to a celebration of life for our mother on April 6, at 11 a.m. at Truth Church, 3870 Morrow Lane, Chico, CA, 95928. We hope you will bring photos/treasures that you can share with us and we will have a time for uplifting testimonials as well as lunch. Any contributions made will be added to our donation in her behalf to the Africa Missionary fund. Please contact Tracy Brown at 916-757-8968 or Shelly Powell at 541-306-8475 for any other information.