Life Tributes for the week of 12/4/19

Melvin Robert (Bob) Farnworth

Happy Trails Daddy! I imagine you are saddled up on big ol’ Sally with Laddy the Labrador taggin’ along behind, riding into the sunset Nov. 2, 2019, …

Born Nov. 10, 1930, in Gridley, to Nathan and Alta Farnworth, Bob would join a brother, Nathan, fondly referred to as Nick, and sister, Mildred. They lived on the family farm and eventually moving to town while Bob was still a young boy. He attended and graduated the local high school, attended college classes at Yuba College before following his brother and moving to Quincy.

From Quincy he would go on to serve his country by enlisting in the Navy serving aboard ship as the store clerk during the Korean War, for a tour of four years. Upon his discharge he would return to Quincy, making it his permanent home where he would fall in love, have a career, raise a family, retire, and build a beautiful life on the ranch.

Returning to Quincy from the Navy, Bob would work for Rose’s Market, Boyd’s Market and Feather River Auto Parts before beginning his career with the Post Office. He would rise from the ranks of clerk to postmaster before retiring after 28 years of dedicated service.

In the late fall of 1953, Bob would meet and quickly fall in love with Dorothy Lee Jeskey, a lifelong resident, whose family had lived in Quincy since the late 1800s. He proposed marriage and in early spring, April 17, 1954, they would be joined in a beautiful Easter ceremony at the Methodist Church by the Honorable Bertram Janes — and as Quincy’s Easter weather would have it, it snowed six inches and the bride was carried into the church. Bob and Dorothy celebrated 65 years of marriage.

They would settle on the family ranch and build a home. They would have three children of their own, Thomas, Lisa and Donald. However, their door was always open and there were numerous other individuals, too many to mention, that would become part of the family and enjoy the hospitality of living on the ranch.

They raised cattle, sheep, horses, chicken, goats, geese and ducks. He had a special relationship with the exotic emus and alpacas. One of his biggest joys was sharing the ranching experience. Whether it be taking a lamb on the bottle to school or a busload of children that would come to the ranch or just someone wanting to look at the animals, he was always willing to show them around.

Bob liked volunteering. He was a sheep and woodworking leader for 4-H for many years, a member of Grange, and he worked many hours at Plumas Eureka Ski Bowl clearing runs and helping build the lodge; his building plans hang in the lodge today. He taught all three of his children to ski at the Historic Johnsville Ski Bowl on the old bunny tow. Wow! What memories, like it was yesterday. One of his favorite endeavors was working with the Resource Conservation District and the restoration projects, especially of Wolf Creek and Greenhorn Creek.

Bob loved sports; he faithfully attended his children’s athletics but also enjoyed attending the basketball games at Feather River College and watching the Sacramento Kings on TV. He also attended his grandchildren’s athletics and activities which included but not limited to soccer, baseball, tennis, football, lacrosse, dance, ballet, 4-H and music.

Bob loved fishing on the middle fork of the Feather River, Bucks Lake, Lake Davis or just down at Greenhorn. He hunted when he was younger but later mostly with his camera. He was also an amazing artist who could use just about any medium and capture any likeness right out of the air.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; children, Tom and wife, Laura, Lisa and Don and wife, Sarah; grandchildren, Jessica, Taylor, Brianne, Nicholas, Nikko and Maizy; great-granddaughter, Mia; and nephews and nieces, Dennis, Jeff, Janis, Linda and Lynn.

The family requests that contributions/donations be made in Bob’s name, in lieu of flowers, to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or Feather River College Ranch Management Program.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date. Cards of condolence may be mailed to Farnworth Family, 3180 Victor Ave., #7, Redding, CA 96002.

Carrie Mae Vance

Was born on Feb. 5, 1931, and on Nov. 23, 2019, with family by her side, she passed away peacefully at Eastern Plumas Long Term Care.

She was preceded by her husband of 67 years, Chester “Chet” Vance and her parents, Arthur and Carrie Mae Brandt.

She is survived by their three daughters and husbands, Christine and Kevin Curran, Cherissa (Cheri) and Greg McIntire, Rachelle and Greg Ramelli; six grandchildren, Chelsea and Norm, Stephanie and Keith, Caleb, Keri, Colby and Alli; as well as six great-grandchildren, Jeremiah, Morgan, Drew, Tanner, Dylan and Desiree.

Carrie Mae was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest started school and then worked for a few years at the Portola Elementary and High School Cafeteria. She then spent the rest of her career as a “nurse’s aide” now called a CNA. She started her career at the Portola Hospital, which was located above the Portola Railroad Station. When the Eastern Plumas Hospital was built, she and fellow employees volunteered on their off hours, to set-up and stock the new hospital with the new equipment and supplies. She took great pride in her job and was known for her loving care and also for her amazing back rubs before putting her patients to bed at night. She continued to work there until she retired many years later.

Carrie Mae, was always there to support whatever her girls and Chet were involved in and community activities such as, teaching Sunday School, PTA, being a leader in the Mason’s division of the Rainbow Girls, hosting exchange students from China and volunteering for many Portola Fire Hall activities.

With her family and job she had little time for hobbies. She loved to dance with her husband and everyone loved to watch them glide around the dance floor. She was an avid reader and she loved to host their pinochle club. In her later years she spent the majority of her time caring for her loving husband.

As people have best described our mother, we will miss this “kind, loving, spunky, gracious lady.” She has truly been a warrior! No service will be held.