There is quite a bit of history in Mr. BSSETTs obituary. http://www.sierrastar.com/past/7-28-99/728obit.html July 24, 1999 Lester Bissett dies — Cattleman and Sugar Pine native Special for the Sierra Star MARIPOSA — Madera County native Lester Bissett, 86, died Saturday at his home along Ben Hur Road in Mariposa County. Graveside services will be held Thursday [July 29], starting at 10 a.m. at Oakhill Cemetery in Oakhurst. Following the service, friends will meet at theMasonic Lodge, along Highway 49, one mile north of Highway 41, for refreshments and to share stories about a remarkable cattleman. Born July 11, 1913, at Sugar Pine to early-day Oakhurst settlers Elick and Emma Bissett, Lester spent his early years at the Bissett Station Ranch along the old Sugar Pine Road. Bissett Station was located off Highway 41 two miles up Bissett Station Road [620]. Bissett Station was a rest stop and a location where drivers changed teams that were transportating goods and supplies to the Sugar Pine Lumber Mill. Lester attended the Manzanita School, located along the Old Sugar Pine Road about a quarter mile from Bissett Station. At age 13, he worked at the Sugar Pine mill as a“whistle punk,” responsible for operating the steam whistle. The combination of steam whistle signals communicated instructions to the rigging crews and to other crews working nearby. He graduated from Fresno High School in 1931, where he attended school with his sisters Ruth and Hazel. When Highway 41 was being constructed in 1935, Lester and his father built the Yosemite Forks Store, which his mother operated until her retirement. It has been remodeled several times and is now known as the Mountain House restaurant. Mr. Bissett began cattle ranching in 1940 and has raised cattle ever since. The cattle drives from the Mariposa County ranch via Oakhurst to summer range on the Sierra National Forest are legendary. Cattle were moved as far as 100 miles from leased pasture in the foothills to the cattle ranch in the High Country. At various times he pastured cattle on the Iron Creek, Soquel, and Central Camp Cattle Allotments, Madera County; and the Cassidy and Mono allotments, FresnoCounty. In 1986, Mr. Bissett was honored by being selected Madera County Cattleman of the Year. He was a member of the California Cattlemen’s Association, Mariposa Farm Bureau and Sierra Masonic Lodge 788, Oakhurst. Mr. Bissett is survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 62 years; son Roy Bissett (wife, Barbara); daughter Adele Bartholomew (husband, Phil), all of Oakhurst. Also, grandchildren Kayla Alejandra (husband, Robert) of North Fork; Marty Bissett (wife, Sherry) of Oakhurst; Lisa Vidal (husband, Santos) of Fresno and Mary Bartholomew of Arcata; and by great-grandchildren Neal and Whitney Alejandre of North Fork and by two stepgreat-grandchildren, Kristie and Daniel. Mr. Bissett is also survived by his sister, HazelMcAdams of Fresno and brother Ralph Bissett of Oakhurst; by three nieces and three nephews, and foster grandson Courtney Tripptree and family. He was preceded in death by sister Ruth Harrington Badertscher. Remembrances: Oakhurst Community Hospice (Sierra Community Health Centeer) 1925 East Dakota, Suite 208, Fresno 93726.