Modoc County Record – March 30, 2006 Virgie Rea Meyer Services for life-long Modoc resident Virgie Rosalind Rea Meyer will be held this morning, March 30, at 10 a.m. graveside at the Alturas Cemetery. Dr. Ben Zandstra will officiate.Mrs. Meyer had been the last living charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary to Pete Christensen Post 3327. She enjoyed her 100th birthday party on August 8, 2005. Her unfailing energy well into her 90s, kept her active as a strong, dedicated and patriotic member of her community. Virgie, as she was known to young and old, passed away on March 23, 2006 at the Skilled Nursing Facility at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, CA. Born Virgie Rea at Parker Creek, Modoc County on August 8, 1905, she was the eldest child and never shunned hard work, working beside her father on the family's Parker Creek Ranch. She preferred outdoor work. Until age nine, she attended Hopewell School at Parker Creek, then the family moved and she attended Alpine School on the old road to Cedarville, then Lindale School in Davis Creek. Nothing is left of either school. She graduated from Modoc Union High School in June 1924. She had planned to become a teacher, but met her husband John Meyer at a New Year's Eve Dance at the old Orpheum Theater, where Frank's Carpets is today. They married June 14, 1924 at the old Baptist Church, where Federated Church is today. Virgie worked for the PUCC Telephone Co. when Social Security cards were first issue and she received hers. She and John remodeled and added onto their Alturas home. Virgie wanted a fireplace in the kitchen, so she built it herself. Both enjoyed rock hounding as a hobby. An amateur geologist, miner, lapidary artist and gardener, Virgie operated a rock and jewelry shop out of a separate cabin on their property. During war time, when her daughters were in high school, Virgie organized a volunteer ambulance corps through the Red Cross and loved the excitement of being the ambulance driver. She was also allowed to carry a concealed weapon following an incident in 1945 when picking up an escaped convict on an ambulance run. For 10 years, she volunteered to drive patients to San Francisco, Reno and destinations south. She also organized the community blood drives sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary 3327. Virgie earned a silver badge as Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff John Sharp and worked as a Matron under Sheriff Buck Server. After her husband John retired from the railroad, the two enjoyed traveling for the 15 years that followed, until he passed away Feb. 8, 1983 at the age of almost 81. Virgie continued her work with the VFW Auxiliary, as publicist for the events and blood drives and kept track of the Auxiliary business for years. She started the VFW Auxiliary's giant rummage sale to raise funds to purchase stuffed Teddy bears for local agencies to give to children they come in contact with during emergencies and traumatic situations. She is survived by her daughter Phyllis M. Olson of Alturas, CA; grandson Richard J. Partin, Lakeview, OR; granddaughter Becky L. Dederick, Alturas, CA; four great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband John Meyer; daughter Betty Meyer Partin; grandson Gary M. Partin; brother Lloyd Kirk Rea; sister Nellie Mildred Haney. Memorial donations may be directed to the "VFW Auxiliary 3327" at 414 Archer Way, Alturas, CA 96101, for the Auxiliary's Street Flag Fund which helps replace and maintain the many Alturas Main Street flags flown during Fandango and patriotic holidays. James 'Jim' Ardenel Bagwell Graveside services were held for James "Jim" Ardenel Bagwell on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at the Alturas Cemetery. Pastor Curtis Barber officiated. Jim passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2006, at his home in Alturas, CA, after a short battle with cancer. He was 75. Jim was born April 4, 1930, in Earlsboro, OK. He was a horse trader, worked in floor covering, was an avid hunter in his younger years, and was happiest spending time drinking coffee and talking with his friends. He also served in the United States Army from May of 1946 until December of 1946 when he received an Honorable Discharge. He spent more than 50 years in Modoc County where he owned and operated The Beacon Coffee Shop. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Nell Bagwell, his son Scott Bagwell, and his brother Clovis Bagwell. He is survived by his wife Pat Bagwell of Alturas; his mother Recy Hicks of Alturas; son Robert Bagwell of Roseville; daughter and son-in-law Linda and Roy Harris of Toelle, UT; stepdaughter Rita Merino of Roseville; stepdaughter Patricia Merino Griffin of Bethany, OK; stepson and daughter-in-law Butch and Judy Merino of Oklahoma City, OK; stepdaughter and son-in-law Michelle (Merino) and Kendell Ayers of Yukon, OK; 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous other friends and family. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. The family would especially like to thank Leonard Sykes, Karla Yancey, the doctors and nurses at Merle West Medical/Cancer Center and at the Modoc County Hospital for their support and dedication to his care. We would also like to thank all of Jim's friends for their outpouring of love during this difficult time. Services for Kittie Eades Pastor Steve Black will officiate services Friday, March 31 at 11 a.m. at the Lookout Church in Lookout for Kittie Eades. Mrs. Eades passed away March 26, 2006 at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills, CA. Memorial donations may be directed to the Bieber Historical Museum. A potluck will follow at the Lookout Fire Hall. McDonald's Chapel in Burney has charge of arrangements. Edmund Henry "Bert" Schafer August 22, 1914 to December 5th, 2005 Claudine Frances Schafer February 11, 1915 to February 25, 2006 Edmund Schafer, "Grandpa Bert", was born on the family farm Nebraska, August 22, 1914. He was a simple, wise man with an incredible work ethic. He grew up on a farm in Steinauer, Nebraska, after his parents emigrated from Germany in the early 1900s. He was a farmer at heart, always going to bed early and rising with the chickens, working seven days a week. Bert owned and operated a Chevron service station in Southern California for thirty years, retiring in the summer of 1981, and then moving the family to Alturas, California, where their youngest son, Robert Schafer, was already residing. Their daughter, Phyllis, and her family followed shortly thereafter. In Modoc, Bert enjoyed fishing, card playing, gardening, sports and watching Fox News. He and Claudine also enjoyed Happy Hours with their Modoc friends throughout the years at Benny's and King Wah. Bert kept himself going through the years by creating special goals to live for including living to see the new millennium, seeing a Republican back in the Presidency, the Angels winning a World Series, and celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his sweetheart. The most special and important goal he lived for was to take care of Claudine. He took care of her until the day he died... it was a "labor of love." For this act, he is Claudine's and his family's hero for eternity. Claudine Frances Schafer, "Grandma Claudine", was born Claudine Morrissey , in Columbus, Nebraska, on February 11, 1915. She and Grandpa Bert both graduated from the same high school in Steinauer. She attended nursing school at St Anthony's, in Sabetha, Kansas, from which she graduated in 1935. She cherished being a nurse, specializing in Emergency Room nursing and Labor & Delivery. She loved the excitement and adrenalin, and most of all helping put people back together. She was loved and respected by all her colleagues. In her later years of nursing, she worked as an Industrial Nurse for TRW where she later retired and was greatly honored for her career by having her name etched on a plaque which was sent into space. Claudine married Angelo Durante in 1940 and had two children, Jeannine and Laurence Durante. She later divorced and married Edmund "Bert" Schafer, her childhood friend, in 1946. They had three children, Phyllis, James and Robert. The family left Nebraska in 1951, moving to California, eventually settling in Santa Ana where they both worked and retired. In the late 1960s, Claudine and Bert took in and reared Matthew and Barbara (Phyllis's oldest two children). After Claudine retired, she spent all her time with her grandchildren...they gave her life! Matt and Barb and all the grandkids were envied by the neighborhood children who adopted Claudine as their own "Grandma Claudine." After moving to Alturas in 1981, Bert spent the next four years taking care of Matt and Barbara, making sure they woke up for school in time to catch the "yellow bomber," and then greeting them when school was out. "During this time, we really grew to love and respect him for the wonderful person he was." Besides her grandchildren, another passion in Grandma Claudine's life was to hop into the car and drive, drive, drive...anywhere at anytime. She was the most adventurous, outgoing woman of her time! She carried on this pleasure-seeking tradition until the day she forfeited her driver license in 1996. There are so many adventures to treasure... one special road trip was to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1978 when she spent a week with four of her grandchildren tooling around the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Jackson Hole. It was the summer Jimmy Carter was also on vacation with his family out there. With Grandma Claudine's luck, they all met the president, his wife, and Amy. Claudine became friends with the ABC cameraman, David Garcia, and called into a nationally syndicated radio talk show to give the world all the details of the president's vacation. This was one of the most special vacations of her life...she talked joyfully about it for years. In Modoc, Claudine volunteered for ten years at the Modoc Senior Center. She loved this experience, her co-workers, and meeting all the folks around town. In the later years, Grandma and Grandpa looked forward to family visits during the holidays and summer vacations. We would all sit around the table, playing cards, gazing out the window at the blue spruce, and arguing over how much longer the turkey needed to be cooked. When Grandma was able, she would stay up all night cooking a feast fit for a royal family. We will greatly miss all the "quirky" family traditions. One of our favorites was turning the corner of Pencil Road and Mountain Quail, honking the horn and looking at the excitement on their faces through the dining room window, or having them greet us on the deck or at the front door. The saddest times were always saying 'goodbye', and wondering if that would be the last time seeing them. We were all blessed to have had them for so very many years. They lived long full lives, gave lots of love, and were dearly loved in return. They left an impact on each and every one of us, more than they will ever truly know. While they have left us physically, they spiritually remain in our hearts, minds, and photos forever. I would like to extend a special and deep thanks to all their caregivers in Alturas, and a special thanks to Father Patrick Henry and Rhea Jones for the weekly spiritual commitment and prayers throughout the years. Bert and Claudine are both preceded in death by numerous family members, including their parents and siblings. They are survived by their five children: Mary (Bob) Salt Lake City, Utah; Larry (Suzie) Garden Grove, CA; Phyllis, Alturas, CA; Jim (Joyce) Wildomare, CA; and Robert, Alturas; 10 grandchildren: Mike, Lisa, Matt, Dino, Barbara, Paula, David, Larry, Patrick and Edrie; 11 great-grandchildren and many more family and friends who will miss them dearly. A Catholic service and Mass will be held in their honor on March 31 and April 1, 2006 at Christus St. Joseph Villa Chapel, 451 Bishop Federal Lane Salt Lake City, Utah. "The longer you live, the more you are loved. The longer you are loved, the more memories you create, and the harder it is to say goodbye." With Love, Barbara Girgen. Michael Gardell Estis Michael Gardell Estis, son of Rosalie (Wallbaum) Estis of Alturas, and the late Harold Estis, passed away of natural causes at his home at Dry Creek Basin, outside Alturas, CA on March 26, 2006. He was 47. Born in Napa, CA on June 1, 1958, at Queen of the Valley Hospital, he attended school in Napa and graduated from Vintage High School in 1977. He worked for Kaiser Steel in Napa for a number of years and also on a number of other construction jobs in Napa. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt. He had semi-retired when he moved to Modoc County five years ago. His father Harold passed away in 1995. In addition to his mother, Michael is survived by his three aunts: Beulah Acarregui of Caldwell, Idaho; June Matisohn of Oakdale, CA and Pat Barton of Napa, CA.; numerous cousins and many loving friends also mourn for him, especially Terry Long of Alturas, Ron Long of Napa and Shane Rossmoore of Alturas. ~~~~~~ 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.