Eletha Jean Mackey Described as a very friendly and outgoing woman, Eletha Jean Mackey spent most of her adult life in Santa Rosa, until she moved to Modoc County six and a half years ago. She and her husband Bill were devoted to one another and enjoyed life together. Mrs. Mackey, 72, passed away on November 22, 2003 in Alturas, Calif. Born Eletha Jean Taylor in Vallejo, Calif. on July 19, 1931, she graduated from Petaluma High School, Petaluma, Calif. She worked at the Post Exchange "PX" Presidio Army Base in San Francisco earlier in her life. She married William W. Mackey in Reno, Nevada on August 10, 1963. While her children were young, she was active in the Parent Teacher Association in Santa Rosa, Calif., in addition to being a wonderful domestic engineer, wife and mother. She enjoyed the spectator side of horse racing in Santa Rosa, was a fan of singer Kenny Rogers and enjoyed attending his concerts. She also had a passion for cooking and gardening. She is survived by her husband William Mackey of Alturas, Calif.; daughter Cindy Kleman of Blaine, Wash.; son Marshall Caston; daughter Katie Cahill of Calif.; daughter Lisa Mackey of Santa Rosa, Calif.; stepson Richard Sullivan; brother and sister-in-law Charles and Mary Catherine (Bunny) Tayor of Alturas, Calif. and several grandchildren. Private family services will be held at a future date. Contributions in Mrs. Mackey's memory may be directed to the Alzheimer's Research Fund, 2065 West El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View, Calif. 94040. December 11, 2003 Mary Marie Ford Mary Marie Ford, a resident of Modoc County since 1946, passed away of natural causes on December 4, 2003, at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, Calif. A homemaker, mother, grandmother and a wonderful cook, Mrs. Ford will be greatly missed by her family Born Mary Marie Herrick in Keno, Oregon on May 7, 1926, she married Roy E. Ford on May 11, 1942 in Emmett, Idaho, where they lived while their children were young. The family relocated to Modoc County in 1946, where they put down roots for the next 57 years. Regarded as a wonderful cook and homemaker, Mrs. Ford cooked for the whole family and loved taking care of her children and grandchildren. An avid reader, she especially enjoyed mysteries and romantic novels and loved doing ceramics. Later in life, she enjoyed watching television. She is survived by her sons Jim and wife Barbara Ford of Emmett, Idaho; son John and wife Charlotte Ford of Alturas, Calif.; daughter Barbara Aristo and husband Don of Emmett, Idaho and daughter-in-law Cheryl Ford of Alturas, Calif. Her grandchildren include Jim and Barbara's children: Gary Ford of Nampa, Idaho, Wendy Renfro and Holly Elliott of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho and Andrew Ford of Emmett, Idaho. John and Charlotte's children: John, Jr. of Reno, Nevada; Katina Ford of Sacramento; Tiffany Ford of Alturas, Calif. David's and Cheryl's children: Robert Watson, Boise, Idaho; Heather Northrup, Alturas, Aaron Ford, U.S. Navy, Hilary Ford of Alturas, but currently abroad. Barbara and Don's children: Brandon Aristo and Jordan Aristo of Emmett, Idaho. Mrs. Ford also leaves half-sisters Beverly Kaltsokis of Crescent City, Calif. and Shirley Nealey of Powers, Oregon She was preceded in death by three of her children, sons Ken Ford and David Ford and daughter Janet and husband Roy of 46 years, on October 4, 1988 Pastor Rod Bodmer of Faith Baptist Church, Alturas, officiated services at graveside at the Alturas Cemetery on Monday, December. 8. Mrs. Ford was 77. Services were by Kerr Mortuary of Alturas. Barbara Rae Slinkard Services for Barbara Rae Slinkard will be held Friday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Federated Church in Alturas. Dr. Ben Zandstra will conduct the service. Mrs. Slinkard, 82, passed away at her Alturas home on December 9, 2003. She was a native of Lake City, Calif., born Barbara Rae Hobbs on November 16, 1921. An obituary will be published in a future issue. Phoebe Coffer Young Funeral services for Phoebe Rachael Coffer Young, 101, will be held Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Lakeview, Ore. Rev. Van Culpepper will officiate. Interment at the Westside Cemetery to be private. A luncheon reception will follow at the Eagle Lodge at approximately 4 p.m. Ousley Osterman Huffstutter Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements Mrs. Young, daughter of Leatha Parlee Dorris and Elliott Vanburen Coffer, passed away December 6, 2003 at Lake District Hospital, Lakeview, Ore. Ava Jo Harden Alturas native Ava Jo Harden passed away unexpectedly at her home in Alturas on December 9, 2003. Born Ava Jo McGhee in Alturas, Calif. on November 2, 1927, Mrs. Harden was 76 An obituary will be published in a future issue. Service arrangements are pending. Jacqueline 'Jackie' O. Collis Jacqueline "Jackie" Olive Collis, 81, passed away in Alturas, Calif. on Monday, December 8, 2003. Pastor Destry Campbell will officiate graveside services on Friday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. at Alturas Cemetery. Mrs. Collis was born in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1921. Services are being arranged by Kerr Mortuary. A complete obituary will be published in a future issue. December 18, 2003 Surprise Valley all aglow over holidays The Greater Surprise Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who entered the Holiday Decorating Contest. Many families didn't enter but still put up beautiful lights, adding to the holiday spirit up and down the valley. The following nine residents and one business joined in the fun: The Minto Ranch, 14461 County Road 1 in Eagleville; The Cockrell Ranch, County Road 31, eight miles south of Cedarville; Chuck and Donna Vermillion, 748 North Main Street, Cedarville; Joann Kemble, 435 Ann Street, Cedarville; Barb and Jim Hill, 667 Lincoln Street, Cedarville; Tracey Cochran and Marc Pearce, 341 Center Street, Cedarville; Brushworx by Travis and Abraham, 539 Main Street, Cedarville; Sandra Parriott, County Road 19, three miles north of Cedarville; Alan Pratt, County Road 190, four miles north of Cedarville; Lee and James Haley, 4484 County Road 17, Lake City. (The list starts in Eagleville and works north for anyone who doesn't want to miss one entry!). Heather Travis, Chairman of the Decorating Committee, appointed seven anonymous judges to choose the winning entries. Each home or business was judged on originality, creativity and overall appearance. 1st Place was awarded to the Haley Family of Lake City. This home's decorations are breathtaking. Lee and her husband have created their own winter wonderland, and it's well worth the drive to check out their display featuring a full-size nativity scene, plus many original and humorous Christmas models well-lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Three years ago, Lee was inspired by the late Delbert Vaughn, a former resident of the S.V.C.H.D. who had a few wooden frogs in his room he had made. He gave Lee a pattern book and she soon started her first projects. She's already planning for next year's contest. Lee also has seasonal yard displays on view throughout the summer. 2nd Place goes to the Minto Ranch. The Minto Family decorated in honor of their father and grandfather, the late Merril Minto, who recently passed away after a long illness. He urged his family to carry on their holiday tradition of putting up their delightful country Christmas display. 3rd place goes to Brushworx by Travis and Abraham. Kim and Heather are the newest business owners in our valley. They went all out to show their Christmas spirit. You can't miss their shop while driving down Main Street in Cedarville. Each family who entered had some special component that made their display unique and beautiful. The Cockrell Ranch and Lodgings now has a very inviting holiday, entrance way to welcome all of their guests. The Vermillions have a playful Christmas scene, one that warms your heart. Joann Kemble's decorations are very colorful and make you think you really are at the North Pole. Barb and Jim Hill went crazy with their lights. The polar bear is a great addition, especially surrounded by our recent snows. Tracey and Marc Pearce have an elegant window display. Don't miss the tiny cottages in the windowsill. The Parriott home has that perfect "Country Ranch" Christmas feel, making you long for a similar place to come home to for the holidays. Alan and Heather Pratt must have put in a great amount of time and effort for their highly visible, colorful Christmas message to withstand our Modoc winds. Choosing only three winners from among so many varied and lovely displays proved a hard decision for the judges. It's well worth the drive to take your family and friends around the valley to enjoy everyone's efforts in spreading their own distinctive holiday cheer. Ava Jo Harden Ava Jo Harden of Alturas passed away unexpectedly on December 9, 2003 at her home, where she had lived for the past 41 years Born on November 2, 1927, to Hal and Tessie McGhee in Alturas, Calif., Ava Jo was frequently at her mother's bakery "Polly Ann Bakery," in Alturas, while she was growing up. The bakery was located in a portion of what is today, Brown's Pharmacy. Ava Jo attended Alturas Grammar School and was a member of the high school drill team, graduating from Modoc High School in 1945. She attended Mills College in Oakland, Calif. for the year that followed graduation and married Harold Harden of Alturas on Dec. 7, 1946, after he returned from war. For the next 16 years, they lived throughout California, Oregon and Nevada, while Harold worked on the booming power line construction after the war. They returned to Modoc in 1962, when their son Brian was age three. They settled into the home across the street from the house in which Ava Jo was born An avid sports fan, Ava Jo loved listening to Giants baseball games and watching football and basketball. She was a loving mother who always had a gentle smile on her face. Anyone who knew her will describe Mrs. Harden as a "really nice lady." She was also proud to have earned her 50-year pin as a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Alturas Mrs. Harden was a cat fancier and quite a horticulturist, able to grow and keep tropical plants, such as Bird of Paradise, blooming indoors over the years. Many of her large palms and plants were inherited from her mother. Mrs. Harden is survived by her son Brian Harden of Alturas, his wife Sheri and their children Jessi and Jason; brother and sister-in-law Sheldon and Dot Harden of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews and some long lost cousins in Texas Interment will be private at Alturas Cemetery. A memorial time of remembrance for family and friends will be held at the Harden home, 947 Main Street, Alturas on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Harden Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of U.S. Bank, 346 N. Main St., Alturas, Calif. 96101 ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.