Modoc County Record – May 24, 2007 Dixie Robertson Former Alturas resident Dixie Nadine Robertson passed away March 24, 2007 in Placerville, CA. Graveside services were held March 30 at Westwood Hills Memorial Park, 2720 Cold Spring Road, Placerville. Dixie was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 49 years, Lewis and her oldest daughter, Wanda. Dixie was born September 21, 1934 in Proctor, Oklahoma. Lewis and Dixie started their family in El Dorado County in 1957, where Dixie drove a school bus for Buckeye Union School District for 23 and a half years. After rearing their family, they moved to Alturas for 14 years, where Dixie was also a school bus driver for Modoc Joint Unified School District for a number of years. She was a member of Clifford Harter American Legion Auxiliary #163 for 17 years, and was President of the Auxiliary for four years. When Lewis became ill, they returned home to spend their remaining days with their family in El Dorado County. Dixie will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Those surviving her are her daughter Tracy; son Keith; grandchildren John, Katey, Stephanie and Mellisa; great-grandchildren, Jacey, Joelle, Kyla and Riley; and sisters Vada, Charlene, Maxine, Patty and Bobbie. Shane A. Rossmoore Shane Alan Rossmoore entered into rest on May 19, 2007, after a lengthy struggle with cancer. He was 58 years old, born on May 15, 1949 in Deadwood, South Dakota. Shane was a very talented artist. He painted the background where the medals were awarded for the summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. He was somewhat of a pool (billiards) shark and had dozens of trophies. He was a loving soul and gave his friends, family and everyone he met, a whole lot of teasing. Shane would give a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He will be greatly missed by his numerous friends and family. Shane was preceded in death by his father. He leaves behind his mother, Lillian McKenzie and her loving companion, James Barney; brother George McKenzie; sisters Anne Talbott, husband Glenn; Debbie Northrup and husband Rex; nephews Bud Talbott, wife Mary Ann, Jess Talbott and wife Katie; Garth McKenzie and D.J. Northrup; nieces Stephanie, Tara and Alysha Northrup; great-nephews Jace and Josh Talbott and Jesse James Talbott. The family expresses their sincerest appreciation to Dr. Chuck Colas and the entire staff of the Surprise Valley Health Care District. Services will be held graveside at the Alturas Cemetery on Friday, May 25 at 11 a.m. A celebration of life will follow at the home of Glenn and Anne Talbott. Edith Schaedel After a full life, Edith Rose Schaedel, age 92, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on May 21, 2007. She was born February 21, 1915, on the family farm in rural Boston, Ohio to Charles and Edith (Sell) Schaedel – delivered by her mother while her father took the horse and buggy to bring back the midwife. In 1959, she moved to Los Angeles, CA and in 1966, relocated to Alturas, CA, where she worked in the hospital laundry while she began preparing to build the home in Modoc Estates where she would live for the next 35 years. After becoming acquainted with the Schluter family in 1987, she enjoyed accompanying Bob Schluter to the bull sales in Cottonwood and going to the Fort Bidwell barbecues. Frequently, she could be seen driving around town in her four-wheel drive, stick-shift Chevy Blazer, dubbed the "chicken coop" by Bob. Having a love of the outdoors and fond memories of her early years on the family farm, Edith particularly enjoyed the time she spent at the Schluter Ranch. In 2001, due to health reason, she moved to Santa Clarita, CA where she lived with her daughter, Barbara Switzer. She enjoyed working word search puzzles, crocheting and playing with her cats, Emmy, Hummer, Tabby and Pancake. Through cards and letters, she kept in touch with her friends and family members, and looked forward to the arrival of the postal carrier each day for their response. Preceded in death by her three brothers, Charles, Julius and Edward, she is survived by her daughter Barbara Switzer of Santa Clarita, CA and son John Kogut of Boston, Ohio; three grandchildren Traci Lynes, Brenda Kogut and Jon Kogut of Ohio; six great-grandchildren: Mackenzie Lynes, Jackson Lynes, Henry Lynes, Carter Lynes, Caitlyn Kogut and Dakota Kogut of Ohio; three nephews: Don Schaedel of Raymond, CA, Richard Schaedel of Ravenna, Ohio and Robert Munro of Akron, Ohio. Everyone who knew Edith loved her sweet smile and cute sense of humor. We'll all miss you, Mom. Services and interment will be held at Chapel of the Oaks, Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, 10 a.m. Thursday, May 24. Services are under the direction of J.T. Oswald Mortuary, San Fernando, CA (818) 362-6283. Joan Norman Joan Norman passed away on May 14, 2007, after fighting a disease for over a year – that in the end took her life. There are so many ways to describe Joan. To her parents, she was a loving, wonderful daughter. To her friends, she was a real fireball with a zest for life. Joan was the kind of person who always spoke her mind; could find something good to say about you and who was a fierce champion for her animals. Joan was a collector of many things- but all of them, even the seemingly ordinary, held a special place in her heart. To all those who knew Joan, she was resilient, persistent, independent, irreverent – and most of all, loved to laugh. Joan was born on July 29, 1946 in Mount Holly, New Jersey. She was the mother of Daniel Higgins – her first and most important love. For 18 years, she shared her life with her husband Marc of California Pines. Joan is survived by her mother and father, Paul and Sara Morales, and her brother Paul J. Morales. Joan's wishes were to be cremated and her ashes spread over the ocean off the coast of Santa Cruz, a place that she always wanted to return to. We will always love you Joan. JODY SMITH (WINJE) Joann (Jody)Audrey Smith passed away on Sunday, May 20, at the Surprise Valley Hospital, Cedarville, CA. She was born December 3, 1929 in San Francisco. Her father Albert Theodore Smith, (known as A-T) manufactured the Scripts booth vehicles in Seattle, Washington prior to the stock crash, and later built a trucking company in San Jose, CA. Her mother Josephine (Hartman) Smith was an accomplished homemaker. Jody was raised in Redwood City, where she roamed the San Francisco Peninsula on her horse Bonnie as a young girl growing up. She was raised a horsewoman and continued to ride horses into her middle years. In 1947, Jody was in Reno for the Grand Opening of the Mapes Hotel. In 1948, at the age of 19, Jody was crowned Queen of the Reno Rodeo. Her long affiliation with horses took her to Hollywood where she joined the Screen Extras Guild and participated in several movies as a horse rider and most notably in the film, Westward the Women where she specialized in driving six up and eight up wagons. Jody was well liked and became friends with many of the movie cowboys of that era. After Hollywood, Jody relocated to Northern California where she and her brother Jim owned and operated a small motel in Shingle Springs for several years. She later moved to Lake Tahoe. In the 1970's, while living at Tahoe, she wrote and illustrated a book, The Three Pebbles, which she had published. She gave copies of this book away rather than sell them. Also during this time, she was employed by Harrah's Club where she worked 10 years directly with Bill Harrah as his event coordinator/decorator. Following her employment with Harrah's, Jody moved to Doyle, California where she single handedly turned two acres of bare desert into a lush garden spot in a few short years. In 1982, while living in Doyle, she met Russ Winje. They moved to Surprise Valley in 1987. They lived as husband and wife for 20 years. While Jody had no children of her own, she and Russ raised his two children, Zev and Lanaya, on the ranch they bought together. With her green thumb and vast knowledge of plants and organic practices, they turned the old Martinez ranch into a garden spot. Jody was a consistent winner at the county fair in Cedarville for many years with her garden produce, theme displays and houseplants. Jody felt she had at last found her true home in the Valley. Jody was well known and loved in the Valley and made many friends. While she didn't get out much, her home was always open to welcome a guest or visitor. Her maternal grandfather was Native American and for the last five years Jody has been studying her past and connecting with her Native roots. She waited most of her life to make this connection and it gave her much peace to do so. She was a loving and generous person and will be missed by many who knew her and loved her. Her parents and brother predeceased her. She is survived by a niece, Christine Smith of Lake Tahoe, Eric Smith of Las Vegas, and a half sister Sandy Martin of Illinois. A memorial service is planned for June 9 at 11 a.m. at Lake City Fire Hall. Thelma E. Gooch Thelma Elaine Gooch, age 92, of Grants Pass, OR died Friday, May 18, 2007 at an adult foster home. A graveside service was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 23 at Cedarville Cemetery in Cedarville, CA. Thelma's grandson, Rick Hayes conducted the service. Thelma Elaine Welch was born November 15, 1914, in Mandon, CA to George and Goldie Welch and grew up in Davis Creek, CA. On January 12, 1936, she married Winfred Gooch of Cedarville, CA. In 1948, they moved from New Pine Creek, CA to Grants Pass with three children. During her working years, Thelma was head cook at Fruitdale Elementary School. Also, she and Winfred were assistant managers of the Oregon Caves for seven years. The last seven years of Thelma's life were spent at Hollingsworth Adult Foster Care Home in Grants Pass where she received loving care. She was a member of the Fruitdale School Board, PTA and Fruitdale Grange. She was very involved in Redwood Christian Church where among other things, she served as a Sunday school teacher. Thelma volunteered as both a leaders for Brownies and Girl Scouts. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, cake decorating and coppertooling. Survivors include a son, Phillip C. Gooch and his wife Elizabeth of Grants Pass; two daughter, Goldie A. Hayes and her husband Dick Hayes of Napa, CA; Evelyn A. McFarland and her husband Barry of Williams, OR; two sisters, Carolyn Smith of Sacramento and Shirley Linderman of Dunsmuir, CA; a brother, George Welch of Idaho; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, a sister and her husband Winfred. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements. Remembrances may be made to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE Eight Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.