Modoc County Record – January 11, 2007 Patricia Ann Barry Patricia Ann Barry was born on Nov. 29. 1928, in Reno, Nevada, to Laurance and Edna Russell Fee. She passed away on Jan. 2, 2007, at the Lake District Hospital in Lakeview, Ore., from cancer-related causes. She was 78 years old. Pat spent most of her youth in Surprise Valley on her parents' ranch in Fort Bidwell, Calif. The ranch was established in 1867 by Pat's pioneer great-grandparents James and Martha Fee. Pat attended high school in Reno, Nev., and, after graduating from high school, attended the University of Nevada at Reno, where she earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in history. She then spent several years in Germany, where she taught English courses to enlisted men during the Korean War. Upon returning to the United States, Pat began her career as a high school teacher. Her first teaching position was at Yuba City High School. She next taught at Tulelake High School. The majority of her teaching career and her final teaching position was at Surprise Valley High School in Cedarville, Calif. At Surprise Valley High School, Pat taught English literature and was also a student counselor. She once estimated that she had over 1,300 students in her career. Always considering how she might help her students advance their education, Pat taught not only basic English lessons, but a variety of related subjects ranging from Latin conjugation to oratory presentations. She was beloved by her students for this variety of education and her down-to-earth good humor. Many of her pupils have kept in contact with her over the years. Pat Barry was extremely well read and enjoyed many forms of art. While teaching at Surprise Valley High School, she initiated the practice of taking students to Ashland, Ore., to attend the Shakespearean Festival. Pat also directed and choreographed several student productions during her tenure, including an all-community cabaret in 1976 in commemoration of the national bicentennial. Pat was also a prolific writer. She wrote numerous articles for the Modoc County Historical Journal, for which she served as editor for many years. She also wrote numerous articles for magazines, such as Range Magazine, and for newspapers. In addition to the individual articles, Pat authored several ongoing series such as the "Echoes" series she wrote for the Modoc County Record. She was an accomplished genealogist. In addition to the genealogies she assembled for her family, she was always happy to assist anyone who might need a helping hand in historical matters from genealogy to the early settlement of Surprise Valley. In her later years, she enjoyed visiting historical places of the Great Basin with friends and explaining the history of the area. Evenings were spent at the local fishing hole. Throughout her life, Pat Barry held a deep affection for Surprise Valley and Modoc County. She loved all things related to ranching, but most of all she was drawn to horses, caring for, training, and most of all riding them. Without a doubt, Pat's greatest love was her family and friends. In recent correspondence to one of her students, Pat wrote "At the end of the day, or at least getting into the afternoon, my greatest accomplishment is having my sons to admire and love. Secondly, my friends. So be it. Life does not rewind." Over the years, Pat developed long-term friendships with a number of remarkable people who continued to assist her in her final difficult years. Her family is immensely grateful for the generosity and love bestowed upon her by these wonderful friends. Pat will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Pat is survived by her brother Jim Fee and wife Susie; her son Ernest James Givan and family Acinda, Fernando, Elizabeth and Christian; her son James L. Olmsted and son Sage Fox. Also surviving Pat are her nephews and nieces Will Cahill and wife Susie, Hugh Cahill and wife Lesa, Joe Cahill and wife Chandra, and Frank Cahill and wife Cynthia, Tom Fee and wife Alyssa, Shannon May and husband Matt, Katie Fee, Mary Gates and husband Byron; grandnephews and grandnieces including James, Jackie, Bill, Donna, Terry, Carley and Rachel Cahill, Savannah, Bailey, Jake and Grace Fee, Jackie, Jeffery, Christopher and Sam May, Taylor and Justin Ritchie, Caralina and Amanda Gates. Pat was preceded in death by her parents Laurance and Edna Fee, her sister and brother-in-law Martha and Terry Cahill and husband Nick Barry. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at noon at the Fort Bidwell Community Church. Pallbearers are Will, Hugh, Joe, Frank, James and Bill Cahill and John Cales. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Hobbs and Terry Cahill. Donations in memory of Pat Barry may be made to Fort Bidwell Civic Club or Fort Bidwell Cemetery c/o Jane Higgins, P.O. Box 124, Fort Bidwell, CA 96112, or the Modoc County Historical Society, 600 Main St., Alturas, CA 96101. Ousley Osterman Huffstutter Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements, (541) 947-326. Susan 'Suze' Flournoy Susan 'Suze' Flournoy passed away peacefully Thursday morning, January 4, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA, ending a brief battle with cancer. Susan was born in Alturas, California, September 3, 1944, to Rob and Lizzette Flournoy. She was raised on the family ranch in Likely, CA, where she attended South Fork Elementary School. Suze graduate from Modoc Union High School in 1962. She was an accomplished horsewoman and a Modoc County Fair princess. She attended business school in San Francisco, CA, where she was later employed in the business office of Cleveland Wrecking Company. She went on to live and work on the Atlantic Coast in Pennsylvania, New York, Maine and New Jersey. She returned to South Fork Valley briefly before meeting Rich Hamel. She and Rich were married and Suze joined Rich's family in the operation of Oak Meadows Registered Hereford Ranch near Herald, CA. They often traveled promoting and studying agriculture and cattle production in the U.S., Australia, and Canada. Rich and Suze relocated from Oak Meadows Ranch to Modoc County on the Romero Place north of Likely. Later, Suze cooked aboard a commercial fishing vessel in the Bering Sea, which she compared to cooking for cowboys on the tailgate of a pick-up. She became an on-board liaison representing small commercial interests in exchange for fish to a Japanese processor ship. Her duties took her to Japan and all over the Bering Sea. She developed a love of puffins there and operated a photo finishing business in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, before returning to Modoc. Suze enjoyed working with friends in Likely and caring, as necessary, for beloved family members. Although she had no children of her own, she helped raise many who treasure crocheted items Suze crafted with love. Suze also enjoyed music, reading, and English language arts and skills. She leaves her parents, brother Pearce Flournoy and wife Lorraine, of Likely; brother Craig Flournoy and wife Valerie of Alturas; sister Joanne Beeson and husband Dwight of Alturas; sister Shelley Flournoy Cooper of Sacramento; Rich and Chris Hamel of Likely, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous dear friends and her cat Kraken. A celebration of Suze's life is planned at the Likely Fire Hall, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. in conjunction with a potluck. Ardellas Poindexter Ardellas Poindexter passed away in the Canyonwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Benton Drive in Redding on November 16, 2006, at the age of 85. She was laid to rest in the Alturas Cemetery on November 22, 2006. Born Ardellas Poindexter on the XL Ranch November 1, 1921, she lost her father to the flu in 1922. She lived with her mother and stepfather in Davis Creek and then Alturas. Her first marriage in Reno was to a man in the Army, "who never came back," shared Neil Crabtree, whom she later married on May 1, 1948. Neil and Ardellas moved to Wendel, CA in 1950, then she moved to Redding for a time. She returned to Neil in Alturas on October 24, 1964, and worked as a housekeeper at the Niles Hotel and for Bill Laxague in Cedarville. Neil and Ardellas lived in Cedarville until May 1, 1974. On September 9, 1980 they moved to 1535 First Street in Anderson, CA. She is survived by Neil Crabtree of Anderson; three half-sisters Dorothy Blocker of Anderson, CA; Alice Doop of Marysville, CA and Margaret Brown of North Platte, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by one sister Marie; nephew Bruce of Sacramento; brother Perry of Alturas and brother Kerry of Idaho. Information submitted by Neil Crabtree. Gilbert D. 'Buck' Purcell Eagleville resident Gilbert D. "Buck" Purcell, 83, passed away January 8, 2007, at Surprise Valley Hospital, Cedarville, CA. Services will be held at graveside at the Eagleville Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. A gathering will follow at the Eagleville Community Hall. Mr. Purcell retired as an Industrial Engineer with the U.S. Federal Government. He had made Eagleville his home for the past 33 years. A native of California, he was born February 21, 1923 in Roseville. He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Eagleville; son Daniel Purcell of Eagleville; son Michael Purcell and wife Ann and their children Tyler and Jessica, all of Chandler, Arizona. Mr. Purcell's photograph and complete obituary will be published next week. Services are under the direction of Kerr Mortuary. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.