Life Tributes for the week of 4/1/20

Patrick Donald Cook

Patrick Donald Cook, of Graeagle, passed away March 21, 2020, in Reno, Nevada.

He was born Sept.  4, 1936, in Santa Barbara, a second generation native.

He was a retired firefighter for 25 years with Santa Barbara City Fire and went on to establish Bucks Lake Volunteer Fire Department and was chief for 13 years. He was a past board member of Plumas County Museum and past president of the Historical Society. Patrick was a retired naval veteran, a Mason and a clamper. He was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Quincy.

He was married for 61 years to the love of his life, Janna Walters Cook (April 6, 1958, in Santa Barbara), who survives him. He is also survived by Wade Patrick Cook (son); Julie Ann (Spencer) Garrett (daughter); granddaughters Cambria (Dain) Smith, Alyssa Garrett; grandsons, Wade Cook Jr. and Wes Cook; great-grand children, Patrick Smith and Oliva Rose Smith; four step-grandchildren (Spencer and Amanda, Trevor and Vanessa Garrett); and three step-great-grandsons (Breyan, Holden and Tahoe Garrett).

Donations in memory of Patrick Cook can be sent to: Bucks Lake Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 119, Meadow Valley, CA, 95956 or Plumas County Museum, 500 Jackson Street, Quincy, CA    95971.

Celebration of Life to follow this summer.

John Edwin Van Fleet

John Edwin Van Fleet, 77, passed away on Wednesday March 25, 2020, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

John was born on Oct. 26, 1942, in Greenville and moved to Napa as a teenager, where he attended Napa High School and met his life partner, Christina McCall. After high school, in 1960, John joined the Air Force and was stationed on the east coast. When he returned from the service John and Christina were married in 1965 and enjoyed 55 years of happiness together.

John enjoyed a fulfilling 38 year career as electrician superintendent. He worked for Steiny Electric for 25 years followed by Heaps Electric and finally, Mike Brown Electric, where he ended his career in retirement in 2004. John and Chris moved back to Taylorsville to enjoy retirement in the mountains, hunting, fishing and enjoying family.

John was an outdoorsman at heart and he loved to be in nature, hunting, fishing and exploring. His favorite time of year was opening day of trout season competing for the biggest fish and enjoying the company of all that came to visit for this special annual occasion.

John is survived by his wife, Christina Van Fleet; his children, John Van Fleet (Renee), Cindy Lewis (Steve) and Cheryl Riedel (Rich) and his “adopted” son, Ronnie Sefried (Ann). John was a very proud grandfather to his grandchildren, Mackayla, Wyatt, Jena, Tyler, Trevor, Hailey, Lindsay and little Cody. He spent a lot of time with his nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. The memories of target shooting, hunting, fishing, jeep rides and feeding the cows at the ranch will always be with us.

John was the youngest son of Viola and Hammond Van Fleet, of Greenville, and was predeceased by his siblings, Haymond Van Feet, Robert Van Fleet, Margret Kampschmidt and MaryLou Ebersole.

A celebration of life will take place later this year in Taylorsville.

We would like to give special thanks to Napa Senior Living.  We are grateful for your care and compassion.

Francis Byron Waller

Francis Byron Waller, “Bud,” 85, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2020. He was born May 13, 1934, in Gridley, in the home of his grandparents, William C. and Lorena Irvine, located on the Irvine Apple Ranch.

He attended Manzanita Elementary School and graduated from Gridley High School, class of 1952. He was an active FFA member and played football his junior and senior years.

Following graduation, he went to work for the family business, Irvine Ranch, delivering their apples, peaches, eggs and other produce throughout the Feather River Canyon area for 62 years. When he wasn’t delivering produce, you could find him on the tractor in his orchards. It was at the age of 80 when he decided to hang his hat (and keys) and retire.

Bud had a kind and gentle heart of gold, and was known as a man of honesty and integrity.

In his early adult life, he enjoyed hunting, especially elk. Mantle and grandfather clocks were another one of Bud’s passions and if he wasn’t in the field, he was working on one of his many clocks.

In 1954, he married the love of his life, Ellena Kelley. Together they built a beautiful life, family and a love that was everlasting. His true-life legacy was family, they were his pride and joy, as were his dogs, Rex, Fifi, Sugarplum and Prince.

Bud was preceded in death by his mother, Edith Waller; step-father, Aaron (Pete) Waller; and brother, Robert Waller.

He is survived by his wife, Ellena Waller, of 65 years; and his children, Larry Waller, William C. Waller (Aven), Sheryl Anstead, Frances Vaughn (Scott) and Gaylene Miller (Herb); his two sisters, Jean Johns and Diane Sorensen; 18 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Bud’s legacy will live forever in the hearts of his loving wife Ellena, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 25, at Block Funeral Chapel in Gridley, from 5 to 8 p.m. and a private family service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 26. A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date.

If you would like to honor Bud, the family has asked for donations to Manzanita 4–H or Gridley High School FFA.