Fay B. Chapman Likely native and long-time Modoc resident Fay B. Chapman passed away on Sunday morning, April 13, 2003, in Alturas, CA. Services will be held Friday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Alturas Cemetery. Mrs. Chapman was born Fay Smith in Likely, CA. on August 18, 1913. Memorials may be made to any charity of the donor's choice. Mrs. Chapman's obituary will be published in next week's Record. Arthur Willard Williams Arthur Willard Williams, 79, passed away at a Red Bluff hospital on April 14, 2003. Services will be held at the Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas on Friday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m., with burial to follow at the Alturas Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, April 17, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kerr Chapel in Alturas. Mr. Williams was born to Clayton and Minnie (Morley) Williams in Westwood, CA on November 13, 1923. Alturas woman dies in Big Valley Summit accident An Alturas woman, Toni Lynn Berchtold, age 40, died in a vehicle accident at Big Valley Summit on State Route 299 April 21, 2:15 p.m. According to the Redding Area California Highway Patrol, Berchtold was a passenger in a 1993 Ford F-250 pickup driven by her husband Gary J. Berchtold. The pickup was following a 1995 Kenworth pulling a 28-foot single-axle empty trailer westbound. Steven Guin, 32, Redding, was driving the truck and encountered falling snow and a slushy roadway as he reached the summit. The CHP states the truck was traveling too fast for conditions, lost traction and drifted into the eastbound lane. The truck crossed onto the south shoulder, hit a dirt shoulder and jackknifed. The empty trailer crossed both lanes as the Berchtold pickup approached and struck the trailer. The pickup was lodged under the trailer after the collision and Toni Berchtold, who was in the right passenger seat was trapped in the vehicle. She died at the scene. Gary Berchtold sustained moderate injuries and another passenger, Brittany Berchtold, age 15, sustained minor injuries and were transported to Mayer's Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills. The driver of the truck was not hurt. Both vehicles came to rest blocking the highway, requiring a one-hour road closure. Toni Lynn Berchtold Toni Lynn Berchtold, 40, of Alturas, died Monday afternoon, April 21, 2003, from injuries sustained in a car accident on State Route 299 at Big Valley Summit, CA. Born Toni Lynn Vincent in Willits, CA. on August 27, 1962, she grew up in Laytonville, Mendocino County, where her parents and parents-in-law reside. A service will be held at the Laytonville Cemetery on Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held in Alturas on Wednesday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Modoc High Softball Field. The site will be changed to the Modoc High Griswold Gym if the weather is inclement. . Her husband Gary asks those who knew Toni to light a candle in her memory, as she loved candles. An account has been established at Bank of America at 205 Main St., Alturas, CA 96101, for memorials to assist her daughters Brianna and Brittany. Mrs. Berchtold's obituary and photograph will be published in next week's Record. Fay Bertine Chapman Likely native and long-time Modoc resident Fay Bertine Chapman passed away on Sunday morning, April 13, 2003, in Alturas, CA. Pastor Bud Kirk of the Alturas Baptist Church conducted services Friday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Alturas Cemetery. One of seven children born to Willard and Leona (Roys) Smith in Likely, CA on August. 18, 1913, Fay spent most of her life in Alturas where she completed her schooling. On March 28, 1930, she married James Chapman in Lakeview, OR. They reared their four children and were married for 29 years, when he passed away in May of 1959, leaving Fay a young widow. Never one to be idle, Fay worked outside the home in addition to taking care of her children. She worked in several Alturas restaurants and for many years when the Cooks owned the Alturas Laundry on Main Street, Fay worked there until she retired. She enjoyed traveling with the Golden Modocers' Senior bus tour group throughout the United States, loved to play pinochle, Bunco and in her earlier days enjoyed fishing and taking her grandchildren fishing in the area. She was a member of Native Daughters of the Golden West, Alturas Parlor. As an active senior, she enjoyed meeting with friends at the Modoc Senior Citizens Center for lunch and games. She was preceded in death by her husband James Chapman; father Willard Smith, mother Leona (Smith) Clark, sisters Willetta Blevins, Irma Linville and twin brothers Ron and Don Smith and two grandchildren. She is survived by her children Betty Russell, Eunice Seminario, Johnny Chapman, all of Alturas and Robert Joe of Oroville, CA; grandchildren Kathryn and Manuel Chavez of Klamath Falls, OR; Kenneth Russell of Red Bluff, CA; Susie and John Chelonis of Galt, CA, Karen Ballard of Everson, Washington; Mike and Michelle Seminario of Fairbanks, Alaska, Donna and Danny Golden of Red Bluff, CA, William Seminario of Sacramento, CA, Agnes Johnson of Plainview, Texas, Johnny Karl Chapman of Burney, CA, 16 great-grandchildren, a sister Elsie Cantrall and brother Marion Smith of Alturas and a special friend Lois Thomason of Alturas. Fay's great grandson Jeremy Dawson is serving in Japan with the U.S. Marine Corps. She has five great-great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Modoc Senior Citizens Center, 906 West Fourth St., Alturas or to any charity of the donor's choice. Shirley Ebbe Wilson A private family service will be held for former Alturas resident Shirley A. Ebbe Wilson of Marcola, Oregon, who died March 9, 2003, of ovarian cancer. She was 51. Wilson was born Oct. 8, 1951, in Kingman, Ariz. and adopted six months later by Brewster and Bobbe Ebbe of Alturas, CA. She married John Wilson in Eugene, OR in 1975. Shirley grew up on the Ebbe Ranch and attended elementary and high school in Alturas, graduating from Modoc High in 1969. She moved to Eugene in 1972 and worked as a waitress and as a senior aide. She settled in Marcola in 1990. She and her husband were active members of the Austin-Healy Club of Oregon for 23 years. Her interests also included gardening, gourmet cooking and stained glass. She made and donated many baby blankets to the Dr. Laura Schlesinger Foundation Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Toni Kerr of Springfield, OR; a son, Robert of Eugene, OR: three stepdaughters, Laura Wilson of San Diego, April Wilson of Monroe, Wash., and Sherry Toly of Samamish, Wash.; a sister Jane Prather of Anderson, CA and five grandchildren. Andreason's Cremation & Burial Service in Eugene is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Hospice of Sacred Heart Arthur W. (Art) Williams Long-time Modoc resident Arthur W. (Art) Williams passed away on Monday, April 14, 2003 in Red Bluff, CA, after a long struggle with various health problems. Mr. Williams was born November 13, 1923 in Westwood, CA. to Clayton and Minnie (Morley) Williams. He spent four and a half years aboard a destroyer during World War II. His "Lucky 7" destroyer squadron was one of the most highly decorated units in the South Pacific. After his discharge from the United States Navy in 1946, Williams had a distinguished 32-year career with the Southern Pacific Railroad After his retirement from the railroad, Art and his wife of 32 years, Sammy, moved to Red Bluff in April 1985. Williams was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1250 and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also an avid bowler and gardener his entire adult life He is survived by his loving wife Sammy of Red Bluff; daughter Marlene of Alturas; stepsons Doug and wife Ginger of San Jose, CA., Randy and wife Renee of Red Bluff, Daniel and wife Sheri of Livermore, CA. and Michael and wife Dee of Elko, NV. Art was also blessed with 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren There was an Elks memorial service on the morning of Friday, April 18, at 11 a.m. in Alturas. The funeral and grave side services were conducted by Kerr Mortuary of Alturas immediately following the memorial. An informal gathering of friends and family followed at the Elks Lodge in Alturas Bernice Elizabeth Brabo Bernice Elizabeth Brabo passed away April 19, 2003 in Alturas, California, after a long and brave battle with chronic leukemia. Bernice was born May 17, 1912 in Kansas City, MO. to Harry Lucien and Leona Service Davis. At two years, her parents divorced. At three years, her mother married Edwin George Hallquist. At fourteen she came to Los Angeles, CA. with her grandparents. Her parents came a year later. Bernice attended Downey High School, then Central High School in El Centro and graduated in 1930. She then attended Woodbury Business College in Los Angeles, graduating in 1931. She worked as a secretary until her marriage to Joseph Stephens May 2, 1936 in Wee Kirk 'O the Heather in Glendale, CA. Mr. Stephens was a sign painter and they opened a sign shop and gift shop in Los Angeles where Joe made many gift items and Bernice ran the store. They had their daughter, Diana and then built a house in Inglewood, CA. While living there another daughter, Nancy and a son Michael were born. They moved to Carlsbad, CA. in 1950 to build their home. In January 1959 Joseph Stephens was killed, along with a neighbor, in an airplane crash. Bernice took up secretary work again. In 1962 she served as the Senior Regent of the Women of the Loyal Order of Moose in Oceanside. She married Juaquim (Mark) Brabo in 1965 in Minden, NV. They both worked for the City of Oceanside, CA. The Brabos then traveled in their travel trailer throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. They moved to Anza, CA. in 1978. Mr. Brabo passed away in 1983 In Anza, Bernice was active in the Terwilliger Association, the Thimble Club, and the Anza Organ Club. She traveled with friends to Europe, Korea, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Alaska In 1992, Bernice moved to Alturas and put a home on her son-in-law and daughter's property in Thom's Creek. She joined the Alturas Baptist Church, Southern where she taught Sunday School. She was also a past member of the Alturas Garden Club, and Republic Women. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, crafts, and playing the organ. She was an expert cook and seamstress and sewed many of her daughters' clothes when they were children Bernice is survived by her daughters Diana and husband Kenneth Fuller of Alturas, Nancy Bunch of Boise, ID., son Michael Stephens and daughter-in-law Janette of Escondido, CA; granddaughters Lory Whicker of Manti, UT., Donna Gilmore of Unionville, VA., and their husbands. Grandsons Robert Bunch of Boise, ID., and Michael Bunch of Bolinas, CA., granddaughter Amber Stephens and Sierra Stephens of Escondido, CA., and eleven great-grandchildren. She was also "Grandma Bee" to Kenneth Fuller's children and to 22 step-great-grandchildren who she loved as her own Her presence and participation in the family will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Services were held Wednesday, April 23, at 10:00 a.m. at the Alturas Baptist Church on 4th Street, Alturas. Interment at the Alturas Cemetery James Jerry Stearns James Gerry Stearns passed away on April 4, 2003 at Rideout Memorial Hospital. A native of Lapine, OR., born on January 29, 1922 to a family of Central Oregon cattle ranchers, he would reside for much of his life in California and spend his final years in Yuba City. Mr. Stearns left Oregon State University to enter WWII as a flight instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps, after which he spent 20 years in Tulelake, CA., farming grain and hay. Then a licensed commercial pilot, he also flew for a crop dusting firm. During that time, Mr. Stearns was elected Modoc County Supervisor, holding the post from 1951-1967 and starting a career in civic affairs that would continue for over 30 years. In 1967, he became a director of the California Department of Conservation for Governor Ronald Reagan. He served in that capacity until he was appointed secretary of the State of California Agriculture and Services Agency in 1972 by the governor. Mr. Stearns would retire after serving as Chairman of the Board for the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, Washington DC. Mr. Stearns was preceded in death by his wife, June Stearns and brother, Lt. Robert Stearns, a B-17 Bombardier who died during WWII. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine S. Anderson of Yuba City; sons Robert Stearns of Boise, ID. and Gerry Stearns of Redmond, OR.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services took place on Wednesday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. at Prineville Funeral Home, 199 E. 10th, Prineville, OR. 97754. Arrangements were handled by Ullrey Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Yuba City. Remembrances may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 21-4477, Sacramento, CA 95321. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.