Obituaries for the week of 2/22/17
Pauline Geraldine “Geri” Bernard
Quincy resident, Pauline Geraldine “Geri” Bernard passed from this life peacefully, Sunday morning, Feb. 12, 2017, under the compassionate care of those at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s hospital.
Born May 31, 1923, in Los Angeles, to the late Miles and Pauline (Murphy) McKnight, she was raised and educated in Culver City where she graduated from Palm High School as a member of the Class of 1941. She wed shortly following her graduation and to this union three daughters were born. The marriage later ended in divorce.
In 1956, she married Steven Bernard whom she met while he serviced her car at his business. The couple shortly thereafter moved north to settle in Sacramento where she began what became a 30-year career with Bank of America, later moving to Quincy where for the past 50 years she has resided. She will be remembered as a longtime teller for the former Bank of America branch, retiring in 1985.
Not one to set idle, she remained active in the community serving the needy as a volunteer for the Community Assistance Network (CAN), serving as president of the organization until her retirement in 2014. She was also a longtime member of Plumas District Hospital’s Pink Ladies. As a longtime member of the Quincy Community United Methodist Church, she enjoyed taking part in their Bible studies. Nicknamed the “Energizer Bunny” she will be fondly remembered in the community for her way of sharing the love of God through her beautiful hugs.
Geri, as she affectionately became known, loved life and enjoyed living by her motto: “Never stop working, don’t ever stop dreaming and always remember CAN.”
In her passing, Geri leaves her daughters Rose Marie Heater, of Quincy, Sharon Lee Manning and her husband Mac, of Pueblo, and Carol Dee McIntire, of Woodland. She was the loving and proud grandmother to 10 grand- and 75 great and great-great grandchildren.
Along with her husband, Steven, she joins a brother, Miles McKnight, in their eternal home.
A celebration of Geri’s life is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at her beloved Quincy Community United Methodist Church. She will be interred with her husband privately in Sierra Memorial Lawn in Nevada City. Another service is being planned for those folks in the Nevada City area at a later date. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com.
Marilyn Louise Butcher
Greenville resident and former businesswoman and community activist, Marilyn Louise Butcher passed from this life unexpectedly at her residence Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017.
Born in Livermore, on Oct. 3, 1944, to Delton and Elmira (Owens) Atkinson, her father was in the construction trade and the family traveled throughout California before settling for a time in Oakland where she graduated from Mt. Eden High School.
While visiting her brothers, she caught the eye of a handsome young Army veteran, Patrick Butcher and as their love for one another blossomed, the couple was united in matrimony in Carson City, Nevada, in 1972.
Just prior to their marriage, she moved to Greenville where she resided until 1980, returning to Greenville in 1997 after residing in San Jose and the State of Washington. At this time she opened the Sierra Sunrise Coffee and Sandwich Shop operating it for four years until selling in 2001.
Marilyn kept busy after her retirement as an activist for the Greenville Museum as well as the American Legion Auxiliary. She found great enjoyment in repairing antique dolls as well as working in her yard and caring for her husband.
In her passing, Marilyn leaves her loving husband of 45 years Patrick “Pat” Butcher, daughter, Kelly Jane Carson, both of Greenville, as well as her precious grandchildren, Caleb, Chancey and Chaimey as well as her two great-granddaughters.
A celebration of Marilyn’s life is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Greenville Community United Methodist Church. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com.
Rex Alvin Fisher
Quincy resident Rex Alvin Fisher died suddenly Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Rex was born in Eureka, on Aug. 30, 1947, to Harold and Jean Fisher of Weott.
Rex moved to Bridgeville from Weott and attended school there. He graduated from Fortuna High School in 1965. Rex attended College of the Redwoods in Eureka and Humboldt State University in Arcata and graduated with a degree in Wildlife Management in 1970.
While attending college, Rex worked three summers in a sawmill in Dinsmore. He began his career with the Forest Service in 1969 on a wilderness trail crew in the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area on the Klamath National Forest near Somes Bar. Rex transferred to the Six Rivers National Forest in Orleans in 1973. He transferred to the Plumas National Forest in 1977 and worked on the Greenville Ranger District. In 1992, he transferred to the Quincy Ranger District (Mt. Hough), working there until his retirement in 2005. Rex remained in Quincy until his death.
Rex was active and enjoyed hunting, boating, waterskiing, camping, snowmobiling and riding his 4-wheeler until he lost the use of his legs to a hereditary disability. He was also a founding member and active participant in Sierra Access Coalition.
Rex will be remembered by his wife of 45 years, Laurie Fisher, son Dan, of Ukiah, sister Jacquie, of Fortuna and her son and family, of Portland, Oregon, and friends and neighbors.
Following cremation, locally private family services will take place. An opportunity to express condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com.
Contributions can be made in his name to Sierra Access Coalition (SAC). SAC is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to keep all current and older trails and roads on US Forest Service Land open for public use.
Michael J. Leavy
Michael J. Leavy, 64, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017.
Michael James Leavy was born Sept. 20, 1952, in Sacramento, the son of William and Rosemary (Whitenton) Leavy. He graduated from Quincy High School, in 1970.
He moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and was employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He started as a telephone operator and was one of the first male operators at Northwestern Bell’s Grand Forks office. He continued with the company as a lineman then later on as a central office technician. He retired in 2003, after 30 years of service.
Michael met Holly Storlien in 1973 and they married on June 12, 1974, at the Grand Forks County Courthouse. Michael enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening and cooking.
He is survived by his wife, Holly, of Grand Forks; a daughter, Lisa (James) Ludwig; a son Paul (Amanda) Leavy, both of East Grand Forks, Minnesota; his mother, Rosemary Whitenton, of Oroville; sisters, Gail (Rodger) Edmundson, of Oroville, and Laura (Brian) Thompson, of Chico; four grandchildren, Casey, Kylie, Corban, and Colten; and his dog, Bob.
He was preceded in death by his father.
A celebration of life took place on Feb. 16, in the Historic Norman Funeral Home – Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel.
Vern Gillespie Ornbaun Jr.
Vern Gillespie Ornbaun Jr. passed away Feb. 14, 2017, in Woodland. He was born
Sept. 28, 1931, to Verney and Marie (Burtis) Ornbaun, both from early Northern California families. The Burtis-Phillips families settled in the Grand Island Sycamore area of Colusa County. Vern’s Ornbaun-McGimsey family settled in Mendocino County raising a very large family. Vern was the youngest of the 52 grandchildren.
Vern attended Grand Island Elementary in Grimes and Pierce High School in Arbuckle. Upon graduation from high school Vern attended college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, studying Agriculture.
He enlisted in the Marine Corp as a private and moved up the ranks becoming a corporal and then a sergeant. He served in the Korean War. Upon his return home to Colusa County from the military Vern began farming. This was his passion and lifelong endeavor until his semi-retirement.
Vern is survived by his wife, Marilyn Ornbaun, of Williams; his son Kelly Ornbaun and wife, Johnna, of Williams; his son, Clarke Ornbaun (Mary), of Arbuckle; and his daughter, Carolee Ornbaun (Don Litchfield), of Colusa. He is survived by seven grandchildren: Lindsay and Logan Ornbaun, Cody, Alison, Colt and Lauren Ornbaun, and Ashley Ornbaun.
Vern spent enjoyable times with his family and friends over the last 40 years at his home at Lake Almanor.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m., at Rocco’s Bar & Grill Banquet Hall located at 538 Main St., Colusa. Interment will be later at the Ornbaun Family Cemetery in Mendocino County.
Donations may be made on Vern’s behalf to the Chester Museum, P.O. Box 1191, Chester, CA 96020.
Betty Jean Ross
Betty was born May 9, 1927, to Richard and Mercy Clifford in Electra, Texas. She passed away on Jan. 21, 2017, in Reno, Nevada. She was the second of four children: Alice, Betty, Donald and Rae Nola. She attended several schools in Utah, Nevada and Portola. She graduated from Portola Junior/Senior High School, in Portola, in June of 1945 as class salutatorian.
She married Ernest Ross in Dec. 31, 1945, in Reno. They had two boys: James (Tad), born Sept. 29, 1946; and Ernest (Steven), born July 28, 1949. She had four grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings and her son James (Tad).
She was a homemaker and took care of the bookwork for all of her and Ernie’s many ventures in the Portola area. She had many hobbies, such as traveling around the USA in their fifth-wheel trailer and bowling, quilting and Shriner’s. She quilted and donated 147 lap quilts to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Sacramento.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her and Ernie’s name to the Shriner’s Hospital at 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.