Melissa (Oxley) Hart-Clayton Longtime business owner and past Fandango Grand Marshal Melissa Jane (Oxley) Hart-Clayton passed away January 26, 2006 of natural causes at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, CA. Mrs. Clayton had called Modoc County her home since 1934. She was born Melissa Jane Oxley on April 3, 1909 to Arthur and Adah Oxley, near Tribune in Greeley County, Kansas on the family homestead. She was the fifth of six children: Herzel, Vera, Arta, Clark , Melissa and Kenneth Oxley. From the homestead, the family moved to Larned, Kansas where they had a wheat farm, living through the Depression and the Dust Bowl. In the early 1920's, Melissa, her mother and younger brother Kenneth moved to Denver, CO. Melissa came to California as a "nanny," arriving in Dunsmuir, where she decided to stay when her employers moved on. She continued to take care of other children, while she finished high school. She graduated from Dunsmuir High School in 1927. Melissa went to work as a clerk in the new Sprouse-Reitz variety store where she met Billy Hart, her boss. When Melissa became ill, she returned to Kansas to stay with her sister Arta. Billy sent an engagement ring and proposal of marriage and then followed her to Kansas. Bill and Melissa were married in 1934 in her sisters' home. Bill and Melissa returned to California and moved to Alturas in 1934, where they bought their own variety store. Billy passed away in 1971 and Melissa continued to operated the business for many years known as Hart's 5 and Dime for a total of over 50 years. Melissa reconnected with a former suitor, Fred Clayton, who she married in 1973. They continued to live in Alturas while Melissa ran the store. Fred passed away in 1974. Melissa enjoyed being a business woman with buying trips and working with people. She also loved to fish, walking and fishing streams along with her brothers and husband for many years. When no one else could go, Melissa would go fishing alone and share her catch. She also enjoyed hiking and four-wheeling the hills around Cedar Pass. Melissa enjoyed reading and playing puzzle games. She played the piano and accompanied the family in singing, especially during the holidays. Melissa also enjoyed entertaining friends and strangers alike, inviting folks home for Sunday dinner. She made many of her life-long friends because of her trust, her desire to help and especially to teach others about her loving God and Savior Jesus. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Cronie Oxley, who is now 103 and the last of the generation. All her brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Melissa is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. Many years ago Melissa found a poem that she had kept in the family Bible to read on her death. The following is that poem. Miss me-but let me go; When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me. I want no rites in a gloom-filled room; Why cry for a soul set free! Miss me a little- but not too long. And not with your head bowed low; Remember the love that we once shared. Miss me-but let me go! For this is a journey we all must take, And each must go alone; It's all part of the Master's plan, A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart, Go to the friends we know. And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me-but let me go. –Author Unknown. Services for Melissa were held by Pastor Dewey Potter at the Church of Christ in Alturas at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 31. Burial was at the Alturas Cemetery.Obituary Jeffery Warren Conger A memorial service for Jeffery (Jeff) Warren Conger will be held on Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m. at Truth Tabernacle at 117 West Modoc Street in Alturas. Mr. Conger, 47, passed away on January 28, 2006 at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, CA. He had beaten lung cancer, but was diagnosed with a brain tumor last October, said his bride Jennifer. Jeff, as he was known to his friends and family, grew up in Lakeview, OR. At one time he owned an auto body shop in Lakeview and owned his own big rig as an independent truck driver. He was a shop foreman and mechanic for Fitch Sand & Gravel in Modoc County for some 13 years until the end of 2003. Over the years, he enjoyed building transmissions, painting and building cars and was an "awesome mechanic," his wife described. Jeff loved to spend time with his children. He also had a great lifetime love for flying and building remote control planes, a passion that was fueled by his father. He kept the first plane he and his father built and flew together. Over the years, he amassed a collection of some 30 planes he had built. Jeff and Jennifer Salsbery were married on May 14, 2005 in Alturas, CA at Truth Tabernacle. He is survived by his wife Jennifer of Alturas; his parents Warren and Ora Conger of Lakeview, OR; daughter Jordana Conger, Colleville, WA; son Jo Kline, Homer, AK; son Jeffery Conger, Jr. Sandpoint, Idaho; daughter Briana Wallace-Conger, Alturas, CA; daughter Lacey Conger, Alturas, CA; sons Colton and Ethan Conger, both of Alturas, CA; brother Brian Conger, Lakeview, OR; sister Angela Yates, Lakeview, OR; brother, Kenneth Conger, Lakeview, OR; sister Dawnella Riley, Springfield, OR; three grandchildren, with one due in July and nieces and nephews. Kerr Mortuary in Alturas is handling arrangements. Jack Marius Patereau Lookout resident Jack Marius Patereau, 82, passed away at Mayer's Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills, CA on January 28, 2006, after a long illness. Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Lookout Fire Department Hall with his grandson Mr. Matt Patereau as officiant. Interment was at Lookout Cemetery. Mc Donald's Chapel, Burney was in charge of arrangements. Jr. Patereau was born June 30, 1923 in Mt. Hood, Oregon. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, serving on the USS Brown during most of the war. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion Post #163, Alturas and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1900 in Ukiah. He had moved from Willits, CA. to Modoc County in June 2002. He retired from Boise Cascade as a truck driver. He is survived by his wife Chlola Patereau of Lookout; son Rene Patereau and daughter-in-law Jane of Lookout, CA; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Modoc County, California "The Last Frontier" www.rh2o.com/modoc --- Our outgoing mail is checked by avast! AntiVirus. Avast! Is Free To Home Users.