Cristal 'Criss' Clark A Modoc resident for 76 years, Cristal Omar Clark of Alturas, passed away December 21, 2005 in Alturas, CA. He was 83. For the past month, Mr. Clark had been residing at Modoc Medical Center's Skilled Nursing Facility, due to his illness. Born in New Pine Creek, Oregon on July 29, 1922, "Criss" as he came to be known, grew up on ranches his father leased in Modoc County. He attended schools in Davis Creek, New Pine Creek and high school in New Pine Creek. Many of the skills he learned from his ranch experiences, he put to use during his adult life. He quit school at the age of 18 to enter the U.S. Army. He received his training on the west coast, then served his tour of duty during World War II in Italy and Africa. He received his discharge as a corporal, after five years of duty from 1940 until August 1945. On January 6, 1946, he married Phyllis Wells, a local girl raised on Canyon Creek and whom he met in Modoc, after his time in the service. He had learned to operate machinery very well and worked in the lumber mills and plowing ground for different ranchers, including George Weigel. He was the first person with the Alturas Post Office to deliver mail to homes and businesses throughout Alturas. "He did the whole town himself," recalls his wife. He held that solo position for 10 years, working with Postmaster Bob Nelson, until he retired following a heart attack. Criss loved to fish and hunt and enjoyed camping. He also loved to take his daily walks and stop and talk to everyone he knew. He was tall in stature, friendly and looked younger than his years, late into his life. Mr. Clark was a member of the Alturas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3327. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Phyllis Clark of Alturas, CA; daughter Marie White of Alturas, CA; son Duane Clark and wife Janet of Billings, Montana; grandsons Jerry Atkison of Peru, Indiana and Chris Stiles and wife Shellie of Peru, Indiana; granddaughter Stacey Jennings of Billings, Montana; granddaughters Penny Robinson of Rhome, Texas and Holly McPhee of Billings, Montana; 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father Luther and Ella (Cannon) Clark; his four brothers, Don Clark, Henry Clark of Prineville, OR; Floyd Clark of Alturas, CA; Virgil Clark, Lansing, Michigan and one sister Ethel Chatfield, Prineville, OR. 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. Graveside services will be held in May or June of 2006 at the Alturas Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Kerr Mortuary, Alturas, CA. Kathryn M. Asher Alturas born Kathryn Marina (Smith) Asher, 94, passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 3, 2005, following a stroke. Mrs. Asher was one of seven children born to Fred and Ermina Smith, a loving and happy family who lived on Henderson Street in Alturas for many years. Kathryn was the last surviving child. She was born on February 18, 1911 in Alturas, CA and graduated with the class of 1929 from Modoc Union High School. She married Leroy D. Asher of Alturas in 1937. He worked for many years with the railroad, and they made their home in Dunsmuir. After Leroy passed away in 1992, Mrs. Asher moved to a community (Edgewood) just outside Albuquerque, to be near her daughter Ardeth. Her many works as a talented poet, lyricist and composer were copyrighted during her lifetime. She was a homemaker, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also a member of the Lutheran Church. Services were held at 10 a.m. December 13, at Mt. Shasta Memorial Chapel with Pastor Cavener. Burial was at Mt. Shasta, CA. Mrs. Asher is survived by her daughter Ardeth and son-in-law Abel McDuffie of Edgewood, New Mexico; two granddaughters, Kathe McLaughlin and Beth Day and their families; six great-grandchildren all of New Mexico. Many nieces and nephews reside in California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon. Relatives in Alturas include sister-in-law Georgia Smith and cousins Peggy (Sloss) Dekker and Warner Asher. She was preceded in death by her brothers Nolan, Albert, Merrill and Robert Louis Smith and sisters Doris Doherty and Emerald Wogan. Mary O. Lowes Mary O. Lowes, a former Alturas resident, was born to Sylvester and Mable Butler in Sulfur Mountain Santa Paula, California on Ocotber 21, 1916. She was living in Kingman, Arizona at the time of her death December 23, 2005. Survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Bill Lowes of Golden Valley, Arizona, a retired CalTrans Supervisor of Alturas, daughter Janice Rorrick of Santa Barbara and her children by marriage, Bill Lowes of Mountain View, CA, Janice Gnekow, Bakersfield, CA and Fred Lowes of Golden Valley, AZ, her 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, along with one sister, Rosy, of Missouri. Mary was one of 13 children, a gal truly blessed with a Big Heart and a very compassionate one. She gave, served and loved not only her husband Bill, her two children at home and two in college, and also became a God Mother to many of her family's children along with any and all who Fred may have brought home as Bobby Clark and Aaron Forrest, Jr. She was a tough lady at times when needed. She carried out her promises, always working alongside her husband and keeping things up on the home front. Mary was a cultivator. She could plow, plant or sow and harvest able to handle any of the machinery. She carried this over in all her relationships, always there willing to give a hand or do it all. She was strong and was loved by all those in her life. She never let the tough things rob her of her life, she never gave in, or let it get the best of her. Mary loved to garden, can, bake and share her love with others, through these gifts. She also loved bowling. In 1977, she was a great impact on the lives of the Tom Price family when they first moved to Alturas. She gave her love as a Mom and taught the skills she knew. Mary and Bill moved with the Prices to the Rim Rock Motel in 1983 and was right by their sides restoring the old Allerton Motel. They were right hands and often managed the motel while the Prices went on vacation. Mary was a truly valuable gem of a person. All will miss her, but value the memories she gave all. Mary will be brought back to her family's plot in Santa Paula. Family graveside services will be held on December 30, 2005. ~~~~~~ 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.