Obituaries for the week of 11/8/17
Thomas Jefferson Alexander
It is hard to forget someone that gave us so much to remember.
Thomas (Tommy) Jefferson Alexander, 71, lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 26, 2017, at home in El Cajon, with his daughter Jessica holding his hand and surrounded by friends and family.
He was born in 1946 and raised in Los Angeles. Tommy moved to Northern California where he found his true passion for the outdoors and gold mining and ultimately settled in Quincy, where he raised his family.
Tommy Alexander was a “jack of all trades, master of some,” husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, teacher, outdoorsman, artist, builder, mentor, friend and lifelong learner. Tommy lived his life on his own terms and marched to the beat of his own drum. Anybody that knew Tommy knew of his love for gold mining, gardening and his sense of humor. Seeing the value in everything, Tommy taught us a valuable lesson — to treasure everything and to hold it tight.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mabel and Harold Alexander, his sisters, Janet Mclaughlin and Shirley Kautzer, his brother, Joseph Alexander and his son, Jamie Alexander.
Tommy is lovingly remembered by his wife and partner of 47 years, Arden Alexander, his son Jeff Alexander, his daughter Denise Alexander, his son Mikel Gordon, his daughter Shannon Glover, his son TJ Alexander, his daughter Jennifer (Jesse) Miller, his daughter Jessica (Edward) Hershey, his granddaughter Lacy (Cody) Wilson, his granddaughter Julia Alexander, his grandsons Niko and Ethan Hershey, his grandson Mikel Gordon, his granddaughter Audreanna Gordon, his grandson Jamizen Miller, his niece Tina (Jean) Moser, his two great-grandchildren, his three great-nephews and other relatives and friends.
Tommy will be put to rest, next to his sister Shirley and his son Jamie, on Jan. 16, 2018, at 3 pm. A celebration of Tommy’s life will be held immediately following.
Memorial donations in memory of Tommy can be made to the Cancer Research Institute at cancerresearch.org/we-are-cri/join-the-cause/donations/one-time-donation or at Cancer Research Institute, National Headquarters, 29 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10006-3111
Albert Louis Blubaugh
Albert Louis Blubaugh known to most as “Bill” passed from this life on Oct. 23, 2017.
Bill was born on Feb. 21, 1931. He was raised in Wichita Kansas; in his youth Bill enjoyed many summers on the “farm” in Oklahoma. After high school, Bill went to the Seminary to study. He graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in nuclear and mechanical engineering, and a BS, MS and PhD in chemical engineering.
First and foremost, Bill was a hardworking engineer, excellent provider and the best German pancake maker in his large family.
Bill started his world-changing career at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pennsylvania. He worked on the first nuclear powered ship the “Nautilus” submarine. Bill’s analysis of the thermal and hydraulic nuclear cores of submarines and simulate stealth (silent running submarines) contributed to what submarines are today.
Bill moved his family to California in 1964 for a healthier lifestyle and to work for Aerojet: a rocket building company. Bill, known as Mr. Gearbox, was an aerospace engineer (rocket scientist) in the liquid rocket division. He worked on all the Apollo rocket engines (re-entry from the moon and space). Bill also worked on platelet fabrication, the AVCO plasma generator, the Cornell wave super heater and the space shuttle while at Aerojet. He believed his greatest accomplishment was the orbital maneuvering engines for the space shuttle. Bill’s last projects at Aerojet, as the head of the Energy Department, were the design and development of the Artificial Heart Left Ventricle Device (LVAD) and the Stirling Engine.
Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Esse; his brother, Bob and sister-in-law, Marjorie; brother-in-law, Jim and sister-in-law, Dorothy; his five nieces, Brenda, Berretta, Barbara, Jamie and Jeanie; his five children, John, Jim, Terri, Michele, and Celine; his 15 grandchildren, Zackary, Preston, Brandon, Melissa, Melanie, Page, Phillip, Sarah, Michael, William, Kate, Bret, Jason, James and Devin; and his 11 great-grandchildren, Anthony, Destiny, Tyler, Evan, Bailey, Ryder, Morgan, Payton, Bryce, Diana and Brooks. Bill will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his family.
Bill was a very private person; no public services or memorials will be held. An opportunity to express condolences to the family may be done online through social media, telephonically or in person.
Dorothy Marie Dooly Bunn
Dorothy Marie Dooly Bunn, age 93, passed away on a warm sunny afternoon, Oct. 29, 2017.
She joins her beloved husband Edward and grandson Jason.
Dorothy enjoyed life and her many friends,
She leaves daughters, Pamela Begrin (Gary), of Mineral and Penelope Bunn, of Red Bluff; sister Patricia Forst (Richard), of San Jose; grandsons, Bert (Kristin) Begrin, of Red Bluff, Luke (Shawmarie) Begrin, of Manton; great-grandchildren, Alisha and Brodie Begrin and Dakota and MaKenna Bunn; and the step-grandchildren.
Dorothy was born on Aug. 10, 1924, in Vallejo, to Thomas and Marie Dooly. She met Edward Bunn while both were working at Mare Island and married in Reno, Nevada, on Aug. 11, 1945. They fell in love, settled and raised their family in Chester for the next 30 years.
Graveside services were held at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Nov. 6.
In lieu of flowers, Dorothy loved joining family and friends for a meal at the local cafes and restaurants, so grab a loved one and enjoy a meal and memories of your time with her. Don’t forget your to-go containers as she always returned home with leftovers for the next day.
Thank you to RBHC where she was treated with kindness, respect and dignity.
Martha Fae Heeszel
Martha passed suddenly on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, at Enloe Hospital.
Born in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Aug. 21, 1944, to Elmer and Martha Roberts, along with her brother Richard. In 1955, she moved to Greenville, where Martha graduated high school in 1957. She attended college in Sacramento, where she received her beautician license, then came back to start her business. She met her life love Ronald Heeszel and they were married June 26, 1964.
They loved Plumas County because it was where you can enjoy all four seasons. They raised two daughters that were her life. They bought a house with a small place next to it that Ron and family made into her beauty shop, so she could be close to home and be there for her daughters. After almost 30 years, Martha hung up her scissors and they moved to Quincy to be closer to Ron’s work, where she started working as the Senior Nutrition site manager and later became in charge of all the sites in Plumas County.
After the passing of her husband in 2010, not wanting to leave Plumas County, she moved to Chester to take on her greatest adventure of watching her three great-grandsons. Martha’s greatest joy was her family being together, laughing, telling stories while the kids were snuggled up in her lap and making sure everyone was fed. She loved taking rides up on the mountains looking at all the beautiful scenery but her greatest love was her family.
She is survived by her brother, Richard Roberts (Phyllis), of Alturas; daughters, Cindy Helton (Troy), of Litchfield and Francine Worthing (Curtis), of Paradise; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Martha has gone to be with her life love Ron and her parents in heaven.
An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family asks that any remembrances in Martha’s memory be made to the Plumas County Senior Nutrition Program c/o Fehrman Mortuary, P.O. Box 53, Quincy, CA 95971.
Thomas Louis Martine
Thomas “Tommy” Martine, age 68, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.
Tommy was born in Westwood, on Aug. 16, 1949, to Eugene and Mary Lou (Cyr) Martine. As a lifelong resident of Chester, he graduated from Chester High School in 1967. During his summers, Tommy worked for U.S. Forest Service. Shortly after graduation, Tommy joined the military. He served his country honorably as a member of the US Army, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. Following his discharge he returned to Chester to continue his employment with the U.S. Forest Service on the fire crew.
Tommy later went to work for Collins Family for their Chester operation. Tommy held several positions as de-barker operator, chop-saw operator and water-tender operator during his 25 years of employment there.
Tommy was a longtime member of the Lumber and Industrial Worker Local Union 3074 and a longtime hopeful member of the Publishers Clearing House.
Tommy enjoyed riding motorcycles, operating remote control cars and helicopters with his grandkids, cutting firewood and caring for his home. Tommy loved spending time with his family, adored his grandchildren and loved flying kites with them as well.
Tommy is survived by his son David and Tara Martine and their children Owen and Madison; his son Brandon and Marla Hill and their children Brandon, Brittany, Brianna and Faith; great-grandchildren Daniel, Penelope and Phillip; his brother, Donald and his wife Helen Martine.
He was preceded by parents Eugene and Mary Lou Martine and son Phillip Edwards.
Services are to be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Chester Veterans Memorial Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project in memory of Thomas Martine.
Bonnie Norton
Bonnie Norton, a long time resident of Quincy, passed from this life peacefully under the compassionate care of the staff at Eastern Plumas District Hospital’s Long-term Care Unit Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017.
Born in Pine Island, Minnesota, July 27, 1938, she lived in southern Minnesota until 1970 when she, her husband Rex and her sons Brian and Jeff moved to San Jose. She worked several years for GE Corporation. In 1992, she and Rex moved to Quincy. She was widowed in 2003 and lost her son Brian in July of 2009.
Bonnie is survived by her son, Jeff, of Modesto; sister, Sandra, of Grantsburg, Wisconsin; brother, Charles, of Englewood, Florida; and her grandchildren, Jessica and Taylor, of the Austin Texas area.
She was an active member of the Community United Methodist Church of Quincy, where she volunteered on several committees and events. She was very active with the Plumas District Hospital Volunteers and was Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.
Bonnie enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, camping, traveling, spending time with her dear friends, and was up for just about any social gathering. She will truly be missed by all her family and friends.
Fehrman Mortuary in Quincy has been entrusted with arrangements. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com
Services will be held at Quincy United Methodist Church on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow in the church’s social hall,
Oliver Randall “Randy” Warren
Quincy resident Oliver Randall “Randy” Warren peacefully passed from this life at his home, with his mother at his side Thursday morning, Oct. 26, 2017, from a long established lung disease.
Born in Red Bluff to Oliver “Rusty” and Nelda (Brown) Warren on Nov. 19, 1963, at two weeks old he and his family relocated to the northeastern, California community of Quincy, where Randy, as he affectionately became known, was raised and educated graduating from Quincy High School as a member of the Class of 1982, lettering in both baseball and football. At the age of 16 he joined the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department.
Randy went on to work in the woods out of high school, where he was employed by McElroy Logging, Clover Logging, J & K Logging and Mitchell Family Logging, amongst others. As his health problems began to intensify, you could find him cutting firewood and working alongside his father at the saw and small engine repair shop, Rusty Warren’s, in East Quincy.
Randy had a great love for the outdoors to include spending time placer gold mining in the streams and rivers of the area, camping, fishing and collecting rocks. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and in general just loved life.
In Randy’s passing, he leaves his daughter Lydia Sandlin and son Jake Sandlin, both of Quincy, parents Oliver “Rusty” Warren and Nelda Warren, grandson James Sandlin and longtime foster family member, Sarah Johnson, all of Quincy.
Private graveside services will take place in the Quincy East Lawn Cemetery followed by a celebration of Randy’s life to be held at the Quincy Elks Lodge from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19. Please bring your many fond memories of Randy. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com. The family asks that any remembrances in Randy’s memory be made to the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 53, Quincy, CA 95971.
Pat Loren Williams
Pat Loren Williams, formerly from Twain, passed away on Nov. 3, 2017, age 76,after a battle with cancer.
Pat is now with our Lord in heaven, with everlasting peace and was preceded in death by his grandmother, mother, father, sister, granddaughterand many other family and friends.
Pat is survived by his wife, Patty Williams, his little dog Ally, sister, brother, five children,thirteengrandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous otherfamily and friends.
Goodbye for now, see you in “the big rig in the sky.” You will forever be loved, my honey, daddy, papa and friend.
A gathering for a Celebration ofLife will be held in Lodi. Please contact family for details at [email protected] or find Patty Williams on Facebook.