Modoc County Record – June 6, 2006 Vern L. Hill Vern L. Hill, age 82, passed away unexpectedly in St. Charles Medical Center, Bend, Oregon on June 30, 2006, eight days following the death of his wife, Lillian R. Hill, in Lakeview, Oregon. Vern was born in Cedarville, California on October 25, 1923, to Charlie and Hattie Hill, the youngest of their six children. He was raised a cowboy in Surprise Valley and on the west side of Goose Lake near Lakeview, Oregon. In January 1943, Vern entered the U.S. Army and served in General Patton's Fourth Army, Third Armored Division, as a tank driver during World War II. He was twice wounded, awarded the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and was honorably discharged from active duty in October of 1945. Vern married Phyllis Meyer of Alturas, CA, in April 1945, and the couple returned to Modoc County where they worked on the Ed Hill Ranch near Cedarville. They moved to Alturas in 1949, and their only child, Becky, was born in July. When they left Surprise Valley, Vern put away his saddle and began working for the Coppedge family at the Mountain Lilly Dairy (now where K&K Produce is located) and later he worked for Crater Lake Creamery out of Klamath Falls, OR, as Modoc County's deliveryman. In 1960, Vern was hired by Modoc Sheriff E.R. (Buck) Server as a deputy and he later served in the same capacity under Sheriff L. E. Harris. For most of Vern's law enforcement career he was a resident deputy sheriff in Surprise Valley. He retired in 1978, but worked as a cowboy and carpenter when needed by various ranchers and friends in the Valley. In 1995, Vern married Lillian R. Lape and the couple retired to Lakeview, OR, where they enjoyed 11 years together pursuing their love of hunting and fishing. Vern is survived by his daughter, Becky L. Dederick, and her husband, John, of Alturas; stepson Ed Melroy and wife May of Visalia; stepson Gene Melroy and wife Lois of Bellevista, Arkansas; stepson Chad Gooch of Jackpot, Nevada; and stepson Vance M. Gooch of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Vern is remembered for being hard-working, generous, and honest, always ready and willing to lend a hand. He was a good neighbor, a loyal friend and a fierce protector of those he loved. At Vern's request, no services will be held, but a get-together is planned for later this summer in Surprise Valley for friends and family. Contributions in Vern's memory may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Tammy Witherspoon Tammy Irene Witherspoon passed away June 30, 2006 at her home in Alturas, CA. She was 44. Tammy was born June 10, 1962 in Lakeview, OR, to Wanda and Ronald Malson. She was the fifth generation on her mother's side of the family. "Some people can say they have four living grandparents. But, Tammy had 11 grandparents; seven living grandmothers and four living grandfathers," described her mother. Tammy was a very loving sweet angel as a child. According to her mother, she never had to scold her. She always wanted everyone to be comfortable and happy around her. She loved the small town atmosphere and could become friends with anyone she met. Tammy would help everyone and anything. She had a heart of gold. Tammy attended schools in Alturas and Klamath Falls, OR. After graduating from Modoc High School in Alturas, she worked at the Modoc County Library with the late Betty Chism. She completed training as a Certified Nurses' Aide, and worked at Warnerview Convalescent Hospital in Alturas for a time. She and Mark Witherspoon were married in 1984 in Alturas. Tammy is survived by her mother Wanda Gloster, Alturas; step-father Jerry Gloster of Tualatin, OR; her son Michael Witherspoon of Boulder City, NV; daughter Amber Witherspoon, Boulder City, NV; all of her loving friends and her estranged husband Mark Witherspoon of Boulder City, NV. Tammy was predeceased by her birth father; her grandfather Vance Thomason of Alturas; grandmother Carra Thomason of Alturas and uncle David Thomas of Alturas with whom Tammy was very close. Memorial services will be held Sunday, July 9 at 1p.m. at the Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas. Following the service, everyone is invited to the home of Wanda Gloster, 110 East 14th St., Alturas, to honor Tammy's life. Those who wish may direct memorial contributions in Tammy's memory to a heart or lung society. Lydia Maria Cuebas Pitre-Wrye Alturas resident Lydia Maria Cuebas Pitre-Wrye, passed away of natural causes at her home on Saturday, June 24, 2006. She was 69 years of age. A Committal Service was held on Wednesday, July 5 at 9 a.m. at the Alturas Cemetery. Pastor Bruce Blum of the Seventh Day Adventist Church conducted the service. Lydia Maria Cuebas Pitre was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico on April 13, 1937. She received her education in San Sebastian. She also earned her surgical technician license. She married Mario Ortiz in New Orleans, Louisiana in late 1956. She worked in a private medical office as a medical assistant in New Orleans, then later was a surgical technician at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, TN. She relocated to Alturas, CA 15 years ago, when one of her three sons moved to Alturas. She chose to be independent and treasured the peacefulness of living alone, but remained close to her family. She was a loving and supportive mother to her three sons. Lydia was also a dear grandmother and a great-grandmother. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and loving her great-grandchildren. She loved baking cupcakes for children in her apartment complex and baking cakes for adults who knew her in the community like Brown's Pharmacy, now Alturas Pharmacy, friends Norman and Joy for example, and many more, especially on their birthdays and just to say thank you. "I loved the corn bread my grandma made for me and the butter cookies," shared grandson Forest Ortiz "Wherever we go, there you are in our hearts with our smiles and in our tears," said grandson Nathanial Ortiz. Grandson Mario E. Ortiz, III, described, "After all the things that I have been through in my life, my grandmother was there to lift my hope up. She is in my heart and everybody else's heart. Rest in peace, always loved by your grandson." Her husband Mario passed away on December 22, 2003. She is survived by three sons, Mario Ortiz, Jr. of Crescent City, CA; Norman Ortiz of Wasco, CA and Luis Ortiz of Santa Cruz, CA; sisters TiTi Cuebas, Georgia, U.S.A.; Aida Cuebas, Puerto Rico; granddaughter Vera Ortiz, Japan; grandsons Mario Ortiz, III, and Forest Ortiz of Crescent City, CA; Nathaniel Ortiz, Watsonville, CA; granddaughter Memory West, Scotts Valley, CA; grandsons Benjemin West and Nigel West of Aptos, CA; great-granddaughters Kyla Lusk, Scotts Valley, CA and Alysa Ortiz, Crescent City; Riley Ortiz, Chowchilla, CA; Leilani Ortiz, Watsonville, CA; great-grandsons Preston Miller, Shawn Miller of Japan and great-granddaughter Noelle Miller, Japan. Memorial contributions may be directed to Adventist Frontier Missions, P.O. Box 346, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. Services were under the direction of Kerr Mortuary, Alturas. . Jesse Merl Prosser Jesse Merl Prosser died July 1, 2006 at his home in Tulelake, CA. He was 90. Services will be held at Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas on Friday, July 7 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at the Alturas Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Alturas Veterans' Groups. The family invites all friends and neighbors for fellowship and sharing at Mr. Prosser's home in Tulelake beginning at 3 p.m. He was born August 28, 1915 in Salina, Kansas. He was 19 when he went to work in the oil fields in Bakersfield, CA. Jesse continued to work his way north to Modoc County, where he held various jobs. Mr. Prosser worked in the potato harvest in Tulelake, at the Long Bell Lumber Co., in the peat bogs near Likely, CA and as a ranch hand. He met Margaret Ina Kelley while working on the Kelley Ranch in Alturas. They were married in Reno, NV in 1941. Mr. Prosser enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 21, 1941, and served in the South Pacific. He was wounded in action in New Guinea in 1943 and received an honorable discharge on June 12, 1945. Mr. Prosser was awarded a homestead in Tulelake in 1946, where he and Margaret farmed and raised their family and helped to build a community. He turned the farm over to his sons, John and Frank, in the late 1970s and continued to be involved 9in the family farm operation until his death. Mr. Prosser enjoyed being with his family and friends, and he was a dedicated fisherman. He is survived by his sister Nettie Sullivent; half-brother Charles Prosser, and his children Judy Prosser Craft of Palo Cedro, CA; John and Peyton Prosser of Tulelake, Betty and Chet Smurzynski of Palo Cedro, and Frank Prosser; and Frank's fiancée Jeri Ringulet of Tulelake. He is also survived by grandchildren Kendra Ayers, Joby Smursynski, Kelly Wardall, Kristy Smurzynski, Katie and James Prosser; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Ina Prosser and sister Violet Amy Davis. Memorial contributions may be made to the Klamath Water Users Association, 2455 Patterson St., Klamath Falls, OR 97603. Bobby D. Jacobsen Bobby D. Jacobsen, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away February 24, 2006 at United Medical Center-West in Cheyenne. Mr. Jacobsen spent most of his growing up years in Canby, CA and graduated from Modoc Union High School in 1958. He was born September 15, 1940 in Spokane, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jens and Marge Jacobsen, and a brother Dean Jacobsen. Mr. Jacobsen worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic in his early years on Dworshak Dam, Orofino, ID; as a Foreman for Union 76, Rawlins, WY; the last 20 years were spent as a Mine Maintenance Superintendent for FMC Gold, Gabbs, NV, Pegasus Gold, Zortman, and Anaconda, MT and retired from Coeur d'Alene Mining Company, Lovelock, NV, May 2001. After retiring, he enjoyed helping his daughter Patricia, with her business. He is survived by his wife Bonnie of Cheyenne, WY; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Robert Jacobsen of Cheyenne, and Thomas and A'lesha Jacobsen of Carlin, NV; two daughters and a son-in-law, Janet and Eddie Crago of Goose Creek, S.C., and Patricia Russell of Baggs, WY; a brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Betty Jacobsen of Anderson, CA; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Dick Kinne of Lewiston, ID; mother-in-law Wayve Goings of Red Bluff, CA; nine grandchildren, one great-grandson, several nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins and one aunt and uncle. Memorial services will be held on Monday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Alturas. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to Meals on Wheels or the charity of their choice. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.