Jerry Ellis Gardner A memorial service for Jerry Ellis Gardner of Alturas, was held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28 at Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas. Mr. Gardner, 67, passed away April 25, 2006, in Alturas, CA. Born August 17, 1938 in Westwood, Lassen County, CA., he was the son of Ellison Gerald and Beatrice Bernice Gardner. Jerry graduated from Chester High School in Chester, CA. in 1956. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Army and spent 13-plus months in Korea as a Personnel Specialist. Discharged in November 1958, he returned home and was employed by Collins Pine Company for a short time. Jerry then began a career with the U.S. Forest Service which lasted 27 years, mostly in Fire Suppression. Jerry came to Modoc County in 1965 and has been a resident since that time, first residing in Canby and then in Alturas. He was an avid fisherman and loved to dance. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Robert Dean Gardner and one daughter Charissa Louise in 1960. He is survived by four daughters: Bonnie Gardner of Shasta Lake City, CA; Beverly Allison of Kent, Washington; Alisha Grijalva of Alturas, Ca and Amber Gardner of Redding, CA; three grandsons Aaron and Andrew Gardner, Michael Grijalva and granddaughter Kendra Hopkins. Private burial will be in Chester, CA. Floyd "Smokey" Dowell Graveside services were conducted for Floyd Dowell, 80, of Bieber, CA on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at the Foothill Cemetery in Nubieber at 1 p.m. A memorial potluck and service followed at the Bieber Memorial Hall. The Rev. Jeff Bidwell of Grace Bible Church, Bieber conducted the service. Mr. Dowell passed away of natural causes on April 26, 2006 at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills, CA. He was born on September 27, 1925, in Pomona, CA and moved to Bieber in 1954. He was a veteran of World War II in the United States Marine Corps and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, serving in Okinawa, Saipan, Tenyan, and Hiroshima. Floyd was a warden for the California Department of Fish and Game from 1950 until 1980. From 1980 until 1992, he sold firewood as well as operated the Big Valley Nursery with his wife Ethel which they owned and managed together for 44 years. Floyd was also employed by Big Valley Lumber Co. from 1992 until 1996. Floyd was very active in the Big Valley community, donating a large amount of his time helping others. Floyd was a photographer for school graduations, individual portraits, events, and once even for a design and for a potential patent in the late 1950s. He was a member of the Big Valley Fire Department Ambulance and Rescue crew in the 1960s and 70s. He was a member of the Big Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Pit River Rod and Gun Club and helped sponsor and teach hunter safety courses for Big Valley residents. Floyd was a board member for the Big Valley Joint Unified School District from 1970 to 1976. He was an ROP instructor for the Big Valley High School from 1976 to 1978 for the Wildlife and Soil Science fields. He was an honorary member of Big Valley and Pomona Chapters of the Future Farmers of America; a Bieber 4-H Club leader and project leader for vegetable gardening, wildlife, sheep and entomology fields. He served on the Fish and Game Commission Board of Directors from 1985 to 1989. Floyd was a board member for the Lassen County Water and Sewer District. He was the coach for the Bieber Farm team and Little League in the 1970s. He also had a long history of well dowsing in the Big Valley area, locating over 300 drilling sites in his lifetime. Floyd is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ethel Dowell of Bieber; son Daniel Dowell of Sacramento; son Kurt Dowell of Bieber; son Kerry Dowell of Bieber; daughter Cheryl Harris of New Palestine, Indiana; grandchildren Bret Horsley, Jeffery Dowell, Thomas Dowell, Alyson Dowell of Sacramento, Jennifer Dowell, Victor Dowell, Matthew Dowell, Karli Dowell, Evan Dowell of Bieber, Waylon Dowell of Reno, NV. and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Pit River Rod and Gun Club (contact: Hellen Wolters, P.O. Box 65, Adin, CA 96006) or Bieber Museum c/o Big Valley Historical Museum, P.O. Box 463, Bieber, CA 96009. McDonald's Burney Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Andrew Jackson Pearce Andrew Jackson Pearce passed away on April 30, 2006 at the Surprise Valley Long-Term Care Facility in Cedarville, CA, after a long and painful battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was one month shy of 74. Andy was born May 26, 1932 in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After his discharge he owned and operated two barber shops in Long Beach, CA until arthritis began attacking his shoulders. He then went to work for the City of Long Beach at the Alamitos Bay Marina. While working there, he received his AA degree in Police Service. Andy transferred to the Harbor Patrol for the Port of Long Beach. Eventually he became a Wharfinger for the Port and retired in 1988 as Assistant Chief Wharfinger. Andrew is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lois Pearce of Cedarville; his son, Marcus Drew Pearce and daughter-in-law Tracey of Cedarville, CA; his four granddaughters Amber Kovich, Cara Pearce, Jaynie DeKruyf and Victoria Cochran-Pearce; and two grandsons-in-law Richard DeKruyf and Jason Kovich; four great-grandchildren Jacob, Jordan, Jaxson and Austin. He is also survived by six sisters, Mary Hanson of Love's Park, Illinois; Ann Lawson of Battle Creek, Michigan; Betty Cornelison and husband Frank of Portland, OR; Hester Johnson, Lutie Livingston and husband Walt, Faye Wells and husband Doyle, all of Bradford, Arkansas, plus numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter Joanna Pearce, his parents George Henry II and Pearl Pearce, his brother George Henry III and wife Waneva, his sister Marge House and husband Sherman. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to either Surprise Valley Health Care District, P.O. Box 246 Cedarville, CA 96104 or Surprise Valley Community Church, P.O. Box 187, Cedarville, CA 96104 in remembrance of Andy. Joseph John Bohdan Joseph John Bohdan died of natural causes on April 28, 2006, at the Sponseller Ranch in Alturas, CA, while working cattle with his family. He was 64 years old. Joe was born June 17, 1941 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Joseph Cyprian Bohdan, Sr. and Doris Schreiber Bohdan. He attended high school in Stillwater, Minnesota, then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed as Camp Pendleton, CA. and served during the Vietnam War. After his tour of duty, he stayed in Santa Barbara for several years, and then moved to Tuolumne County where he lived for about 10 years, managing the Double C Ranch and framing houses. He then spent about eight years in Plumas County where his daughter Dylan was born and then moved to the Madeline Plains and Alturas areas, where he spent the next 13 years. Joe had a lifetime worth of construction experience and was well regarded for his exceptional framing abilities. Working in California, Nevada, Arizona and Washington. He was a proud member of the Sierra Pony Express Riders and a former member of the Tuolomne County Sheriff's Posse. Joe enjoyed people and would travel many miles to help friends in need. Wherever he went he seemed to run into someone whom he'd known from years before. He knew no strangers. Joe was a wonderful, caring father to his daughter Dylan whom he loved with all his heart. His passions were old cars, hunting, branding calves and cutting firewood. He is survived by his daughter Dylan Bohdan Sponseller, her mother and best friend, Dyan Sponseller of Alturas; daughter Dorthy Bohdan of Santa Barbara; brother James Bohdan and sister Elizabeth Bohdan, both of St. Paul, MN; a sister Doris Urbanski of Chaska, MN, a sister Judy Hirdler of Becker, MN; his beloved niece Denise (Bohdan) Henderson of Groveland, CA; nephews Sean and Kevin Bohdan of St. Paul, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at "Repin' for the Lord" Church, 316 West Eighth St., Alturas, CA on May 13, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "Repin' for the Lord Ministries" c/o Destry and Shirley Campbell, Box 985, Alturas, CA 96101. Joe was much loved by his family and many friends and will be greatly missed. Service for 'Norman' Bettandorff Family and friends of Charles "Norman" Bettandorff will gather Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at the Ft. Bidwell Community Church in Ft. Bidwell, CA to honor his memory. Interment will follow at the Ft. Bidwell Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra will conduct the service. Mr. Bettandorff, who died November 21, 2005, in Reno, Nevada, grew up in Alturas and was a rancher in Surprise Valley for many years before becoming a Brand Inspector for the State of California. Celebration of Life for Stopps Friends are invited to a celebration of the lives of Clarence and Lucile Stopp at the Lake City Cemetery, Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 at 1 p.m. Their immediate family welcomes you to participate in the personal closure of this unique Surprise Valley couple. Expressions of remembrance are welcome. Tea will be served by Ms. Lynn's Tea of Montague, CA. (Personal note: Clarence and Lucile Stopp purchased my grandparents ranch near Lake City in 1946 and still own the property.BCR) ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by avast! AntiVirus. Avast! Is Free To Home Users.