Stacy Lynn Apley, 48

George Michael Arnold, 55

Robert Derrel McDonald, 67

Blanche Marion Kegg, 86

  Stacy Lynn Apley died at home Saturday morning, May 12, 2012. Her valiant struggle against cancer is completed. She was 48 years old.

  Stacy was born in Portola Nov. 20, 1963. She spent her childhood in the small town of Greenville, within an active, well-known family. Stacy graduated from Chico State University with majors in psychology and child development. For more than 20 years she worked with families and young children. Most recently, she was employed by Stanislaus County Office of Education.

  In 1998, Kent Apley and Stacy were married in an outdoor ceremony in Murphys. Kent and Stacy have been blessed with three children, Logan, 11, Kinlye, 9, and Caden, 6. They later moved to Murphys and enjoyed being close to family. Their family has been active in local sports teams, Christian Family Learning Center and cancer awareness activities.

  After Caden’s birth, Stacy was diagnosed with breast cancer. That initiated a tenacious, constant, painful fight to survive. Her goal was to raise her children.

  Stacy received several awards and recognitions in the field of early childhood education. She earned the respect and admiration of her co-workers and the families she served, as an energetic, creative and compassionate educator. Stacy will be remembered as a thoughtful and loving woman of courage, strength and confidence.

  Stacy is survived by her husband Kent and their three children; parents John and Janice Holland, of Greenville; and brothers Darrell Holland and daughter Kaycie, of Chico, and Chris (Kiersten) Holland, of Portola. She also leaves a very dedicated mother-in-law, Jean Apley, and her family, Grant (Val) Apley, Colleen (Joe) Hancock, Carla (Larry) Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

  She was preceded in death by Lezly Holland, sister-in-law; and Carl Apley, father-in-law.

  An opportunity to honor and remember Stacy is being planned for Saturday, May 26, at 1 p.m. at Foothill Community Church in Angels Camp. Call 736-9338 for more information.

  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Stacy Apley Medical Fund at Umpqua Bank, Angels Camp Branch, 358 North Main Street, Angels Camp, CA 95222 or mail to FUND, P.O. Box 510, Murphys, CA 95247. An online option is also available at wepay.com/stacy-apley-medical-fund.

  Longtime Chester resident George Michael Arnold passed from this life suddenly Sunday afternoon, May 13, 2012, at Seneca Healthcare District’s hospital located in Chester.

  Born in San Bernardino on Sept. 22, 1956, to George and Marlene (Saunders) Arnold, he was raised and educated in Cajon, where he graduated from Cajon High School as a member of the Class of 1973.

  On his way to Alaska George stopped to visit his mother in Chester and immediately fell in love with the area. At the age of 17 shortly following graduation George relocated to the Northeastern California community of Chester where he began what became a 32-year career with the Collins family at their Chester planer mill, retiring in 2006.

  George’s passion in life was his motorcycles. Whenever time permitted he could be found in his shop working on his bike or enjoying the feel and sound of his Harley on the open road. He was a member of the former Timber Tramps Motor Cycle Club. He had a great love of the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping and hunting. He was a longtime member of the Lumber and Industrial Workers Union Local 3074.

  In passing George leaves his loving companion for the past eight years, Margaret Ann Strite, of Chester; sons Caleb Strite and Kirby Conklin Jr., both of Chester; daughters Hallie Gardner, of Lancaster, and Sarah Durham, of Vallejo; brothers Jim Arnold, of Henderson, Nev., and Eric Arnold, of Mentone; and a sister, Lisa Franco, of San Diego.

  At George’s request, a private celebration of his life has been held. An opportunity to express condolences to the family and sign the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.

  George had a great love for the youth of the community and his family asks that any remembrances in George’s memory be made to either the Shriners Children’s Hospital of Sacramento or the local Chester Boy Scout Troop, c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803, Greenville, CA 95947.

  Robert Derrel McDonald (aka Mac, Bob and Gassy) passed away May 13, 2012, in Loyalton, at the age of 87. Robert was born July 9, 1924, in Three Sands, Okla., the sixth of nine children to Sarah Lee and Walter McDonald.

  With the onset of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a private first class in the military police.

  On Oct. 5, 1944, he married Helen Bolding in Norman, Okla. Upon being honorably discharged from his military duties, he and Helen worked at Tinker Airfield near Norman building aircraft for the war effort. They later moved to a farm near Bakersfield, where Robert was in charge of Japanese prisoners of war.

  Over the next 15 years, Robert worked in the woods and sawmills of northern California taking on a variety of jobs in the lumber industry from faller to sawyer. He made a career change decision when in 1962 Robert moved his family to Loyalton where he worked for and eventually managed a propane company. While Helen worked at the hospital, Robert worked the night shift as a sawyer at the mill, had a dairy delivery route and shared a backhoe business.

  Robert was involved in many aspects of local civic life. He served as the mayor of Loyalton, a member of the Loyalton City Council, a member of the volunteer fire department, a reserve sheriff’s deputy, an ambulance driver, president of the Rotary Club and a member on the hospital board. In retirement, he devoted his time to his love of vehicles and driving as he drove a pilot car for oversize loads and also drove the senior citizens’ van.

  Robert’s life was one of unwavering faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Having been baptized into the LDS Church in 1951, Robert served his religion faithfully as a member of several bishoprics, high councils, and even as a bishop himself. He was especially proud of the priesthood that he held.

  Robert is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen McDonald; his sister Jean Dierlam, of Garfield, Ark.; son Jim McDonald and daughter Donna May, both of Loyalton; and daughter Linda Albright, of Colfax. Additionally he is survived by six grandchildren: Jessica Takano, of El Cerrito, Sally McDonald, of Greenwood Village, Colo., Walter McDonald, of Loyalton, Michael Albright and Anthony Albright, both of Colfax, and Nicholas Albright, of Huntington Beach; and six great-grandchildren. He enjoyed a large extended family of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins and was a role model and foster father as well.

  Robert was preceded in death by seven siblings, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and numerous other friends and family.

  Services were held May 19 at the LDS chapel in Portola, followed by graveside at the Loyalton Cemetery. The family suggests donations in his memory be made to local organizations such as the Loyalton Rotary Club and Eastern Plumas Health Care – Loyalton Campus.

  Arrangements entrusted to Manni Funeral Home of Portola.

  Blanche Marion Kegg passed away at her home on the morning of May 14, 2012. Although her passing was sudden, Blanche lived a long life of 86 years.

  Blanche was born Sept. 14, 1925, to Antionio and Lyda Pimentel in Big Springs. She was one of eight children born to the Pimentel family.

  As a young adult, Blanche enjoyed working as a waitress. For 25 years, Blanche helped support her family as a pharmaceutical clerk at Kehoe Drugstore in Portola.

  She met and married Thomas C. Kegg and they had a wonderful marriage. Together they had three children: identical twins Donna and Diane and son Michael.

  Many people enjoyed Blanche’s sparky, spit-fire demeanor accompanied by her good sense of humor and unique love. She was a very creative person and extremely artistic. She collected antiques and enjoyed roses, birds and beautiful gardens. Mostly, she enjoyed anything that had to do with her two grandsons, Colton and Brandon, or her great-grandson, Devin.

  Blanche was preceded in death by her daughter, Diane; her parents, Tony and Lyda; her husband, Tom; and six of her siblings, Inez Silva, Joe Pimentel, Mabel McCarty, Gilbert Pimentel, Tony (Bud) Pimentel and Laura Acquistapace.

  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Patrick Griffin, of Big Springs; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Stephanie Kegg, of Merrill, Ore.; her grandson and great-grandson, Colton and Devin Griffin, of Yreka; her grandson and his fiancee, Brandon Griffin and Shannon Loftus, of Grenada; her only surviving sister, Mary Jane Eastlick, of Montague; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

  A memorial service was held at Girdner Funeral Chapel in Yreka followed by a nice barbecue at the park.

  Memorial contributions can be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097.

  Visit girdnerfuneralchapel.com for the online version of Blanche’s obituary or to send flowers, cards, condolences, etc., to her family. The family would like to thank Dr. Riger and staff for the love and care they provided Blanche throughout the years.