Obituaries for the week of January 30, 2016
Donna Marie Johnson
Donna passed away at Seneca Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer.
She was born Donna Marie Matulich, in Hollister, to parents Vince and Vivian Matulich.
Donna is survived by her husband Bob Johnson, of Lake Almanor; her sister Shirley Matulich, of Chico; and lifelong friend Martha Gibson and family Jeff, Robert and Phillip and their families, from Hollister.
Donna attended Norte Dame high school and Dominion College. She married Bob in 1971 and worked as a computer analyst in her spare time at their restaurant/dart pub in Pleasant Hill. They moved to Lake Almanor in 1982, where she worked for Plumas Bank as the commercial loan officer while Bob worked for McClatchy newspapers.
Donna was always artistic and, after retiring from Plumas Bank, followed her passion and started her own jewelry business making one of a kind natural stone necklaces and bracelets and displaying them at the Blue Goose Gallery in Chester.
She was involved in the community with Soroptimist International while they were in the area. She helped with the ABC grant funding. While at Plumas Bank she was always working with the local chamber and mixers and was always a smiling face while helping out at the Blue Goose Gallery. She also enjoyed showing off their old Corvette at the car shows.
She never pulled her punches. If she thought you were full of crap, she would let you know.
Instead of flowers, donations should be made to the Sierra Hospice in Chester.
An opportunity to express condolences to the family, along with signing the memorial guest register, is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.
Pat Lefler-Jarrard
Pat Lefler-Jarrard was born on April 1, 1936, in Livermore to Frank and Helen Lefler. She was the second of three daughters. The family moved to Redwood City and then to San Francisco, where Pat graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1954.
In 1955 the family moved to Chester to operate a restaurant, Lefler’s Café. It was there that Pat met and married William (Billy) Jarrard. The couple relocated to the Redding area and then to Caldwell, Idaho, and finally to Phoenix, Arizona.
They became the parents of two children, William Frank and Dianna Lynn. The family was very active, participating in boat racing, water skiing, snow skiing, square dancing, swimming, hunting, scouting and many other activities. Pat was extremely talented in many areas including sewing. She made most of the family’s clothing including their very intricate square dance outfits.
Pat worked with several different businesses, finally settling in the banking industry. In 1995 her banking job was moved to Beaverton, Oregon, and she moved with it. She retired once and then decided she was not ready and went back to work. After her second retirement she volunteered extensively with the Oregon Zoo. In 2000, after donating a kidney to her sister Hazel, she relocated to Salem, Oregon, where she resided until her death.
Pat passed away on Dec. 11, 2015, following a struggle with dementia and congestive heart failure. She is survived by her: sister, Hazel Lefler of Salem, Oregon; son and daughter-in-love Bill and Tina Jarrard of Blythe; daughter and son-in-love Dianna and Randy Ashe of Chester; grandchildren Paul Pearcy and Amanda, Scott and Evelyn Jarrard; great grandchildren Jonathan and Erin Pearcy; and seven nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the staff of Cedar Village Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility and Signature Hospice of Portland. Your deep caring and concern for Pat’s physical and emotional needs blessed us beyond measure.
Pat’s ashes will be placed on her mother’s grave in Chester this coming summer.
Fred John Pierson Jr.
Fred John Pierson Jr., age 86, a resident of Chico, passed away Jan. 9, 2016.
Born Oct. 12, 1929, in Topeka, Kansas, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nancy Pierson. He is also survived by children Leanna, Fred, Ken, Charles “Chuck” and Dave Pierson, three daughters-in-law Patricia Wentzel, Cindy Pierson, and Lauri Pierson; grandchildren Miranda Pierson, Alex Pierson, Justin and Christie Pierson, Brad Pierson, Michael and Brittany Barron, Joseph Pierson Wentzel, Emma Pierson Wentzel; seven great-grandchildren; sister Augusta Woodward; brother Orphie and sister-in-law Kay Pierson; nephew Michael Dezell and niece Nicole Dezell.
He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Ruby Augusta Shafer Pierson, grandson Josh Barron and brother David Pierson.
Fred retired from PG&E after 39 years as a mechanic. Most of his career was in the Quincy area. An avid fisherman and hunter, Fred never missed an opportunity to land a great catch, including the day of his wedding! The emergency communications radio was always on at Fred’s house since he served Quincy and the surrounding communities as a volunteer firefighter for forty-five years.
Fred greatly enjoyed restoring old cars – Chevys that is — and he belonged to a local car club. He took the family on many camping trips. Some of his favorite places to camp were Buck’s Lake, Eagle Lake and Patrick’s Point in Humboldt County.
Fred and Nancy moved to Chico in 2008 due to his health but returned regularly for visits with their many friends and family.
Memorial services will be held at the Community United Methodist Church at 282 Jackson Street in Quincy at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 23. Reception to follow.
Contact Brusie Funeral Home at (530) 342-5462 or [email protected] for details.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department.