Modoc County Record – June 8, 2006 Mary Charlotta Rojas A funeral mass for Mary Charlotta Rojas, 74, of California Pines, was held this morning, June 8 at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alturas, CA. The Rev. Patrick Henry gave the service with interment following at the Alturas Cemetery. Mrs. Rojas passed away of natural causes on Saturday, June 3, 2006 in Alturas, CA. Born Mary Garcia on November 17, 1931 in Huntington Park, CA., she graduated from Jordan High School there. She met Samuel Garcia Rojas at a dance while he was in his Air Force uniform at the Zenda Ballroom in Los Angeles. Sam was stationed in Sacramento at the time, but fate played its role as one year later to the date, they attended a wedding, as separate guests, not knowing the other would be there. It was nine months later that Sam and Mary were married on June 17, 1956. They reared their three daughters and Mary enjoyed being a Girl Scout, Brownie and Blue Bird leader through each of her daughter's experience in the troops. "My car was full of kids, every race, color and nationality. We called ourselves the United Nations," she told the Record for a story about the Rojas family published in the California Pines Log in Winter of 1997. She also worked as a medical assistant at Ranchos Los Amigos, a county hospital that specialized in caring for burn patients. The Rojas purchased property at Cal Pines in 1983. They left their custom-built home of 37 years in Downey, CA. to move to Cal Pines June 1, 1993. Mary was a gracious, fun loving and family oriented person who became involved six months later with the California Pines Fire Department Auxiliary for which she served as President for two terms. The Auxiliary's Mexican and Spaghetti dinners, bingo nights and bazaars managed to earn the Auxiliary $11,000 during her tenure, which all went to purchases to aid the fire fighting unit. She found it rewarding to work as a Skill Developer at Modoc Work Activity Center, in Alturas, working beside her daughter Liz. Mary loved playing Bingo down south every Wednesday and Friday and continued the weekly games at the Little Red Schoolhouse, working the events on Saturday nights all year through. She enjoyed outings to Burney and Reno with girlfriends and in more recent years, enjoyed playing Bingo at the Desert Rose Casino in Alturas. She was very involved with activities through her church, Sacred Heart in Alturas. Mary had many talents and the first time she entered any category at the Modoc District Fair, she earned the first place, Blue Ribbon for a crocheted afghan with a bear design, she made without a pattern. She was chosen as the 1995 Volunteer for the Year for the Auxiliary and donated countless hours to their causes, including creating crafts to sell at their annual bazaars and cooking for the firefighters and special events. Some of her unique and amazing crafts included Model T's, ships, trains and buggies made of paper bags, but resembling burnished metal sculptures that are three-dimensional and framed for wall hangings. She loved all the seasons and always found something to do. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Mary and Sam shared a wonderful, loving and mutually respectful marriage of 45 years, before he died July 10, 2001. That same year, she was also preceded in death by her grandson Frankie Madrigal of Irwindale, CA and her parents. She is survived by her three daughters, Linda Madrigal and husband Frank of Irwindale, CA; Diana Chrisco of Horseshoebend, Arkansas and Liz Gladu and husband Lenny of Alturas, CA; grandchildren Roxsanne Papka and husband Lance of Petaluma, CA; Meagan Gladu, Petaluma; Lenny Gladu, Alturas; James Chrisco, Horseshoebend, Arkansas; great-grandson Samuel Gladu, Petaluma; great-granddaughter Taylor Papka, Petaluma. Mary's sole surviving sister, Carolina Torres of Norwalk, CA is the last of the seven siblings. Contributions in Mary's memory may be directed to the Modoc Work Activity Center, P.O. Box 1629, Alturas, CA 96101.Obituary Lois Aleen Emery Lois "Aleen" Emery died of natural causes at her home in Lakeview, OR. on May 29, 2006. Mrs. Emery was 86. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 3 at 2 p.m. at the Davis Creek Community Church, followed by interment at the Harmony Hill Cemetery in Davis Creek. The church and cemetery were gifts to the community from her great-grandfather, Martin Henderson. Mrs. Emery was born February 20, 1920, at Davis Creek to Ralph Theodore and Ida Jane (Henderson) Renner, who were members of two Goose Lake Valley pioneer families. She attended grammar school at Davis Creek and graduated from Modoc Union High School in Alturas. She next graduated from Cosmetology School in Oakland, CA. She married Stanley Ylinen in 1942. Their daughter Arthada Jane was born in Oakland. That marriage ended in divorce and she returned to Modoc in 1946. She married Richard "Dick" Emery in Reno, Nevada on May 29, 1948. Their daughter Sherry Lynn was born in Alturas. The family moved to Lakeview in 1952. Mrs. Emery was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and was a founding member of the Alturas and Lakeview chapters. She loved the Goose Lake Valley and the Oregon coast. She was an avid gardener, fisherwoman, rock hound and antique collector. Her entire life was devoted to her family. She will be deeply missed by her daughters and their husbands: Arthada "Punkie" and Jerry Sawyer of Bend, OR and Sherry and Russell LaSota of Lakeview, OR; grandchildren, Tara Sawyer, Jerry Sawyer, Jr. and Tye Grisel; great-grandchildren, Taylor Lee, Olivia Perry, Timberlyn Ortega, Frank Perry and Travis Long; step-daughter, Joan Kiley and step-granddaughter Jennifer Vallejo. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister, Arthada Weber. Donation in the memory of Mrs. Emery may be made to Lakeview Home Health and Hospice, 700 South J Street, Lakeview, OR 97630 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Desert Rose Funeral Chapel of Lakeview was in charge of arrangements. Service for 'Criss' Clark Friends and family members of Cristal "Criss" Clark will gather in his memory at the Alturas Cemetery on Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m. for a graveside service. Mr. Clark, a resident of Modoc County for 76 years, passed away December 21, 2005 in Alturas, CA. He was 83. He was born in New Pine Creek, OR. His wife Phyllis, of almost 60 years, resides in Alturas, CA. Donations in his memory may be directed to the American Heart Association, 1372 Longfellow Ave., Chico, CA 95926 or the Alzheimer's Society of Northern California, P.O. Box 1824, Sacramento, CA 95812. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.