James Robert Smelcer Life-long Adin resident and civic supporter, James Robert Smelcer passed away of natural causes unexpectedly at his home Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005. Mr. Smelcer was born August 6, 1929, in Adin, CA to Oliver Peter and Imogene (Blair) Smelcer. He graduated with a small, close-knit class from Adin High school in 1947. From the time he was a young boy, he enjoyed hunting, hiking, and later driving in the mountains. He married Josephine Fern Howard of Red Bluff, CA on June 25, 1951 in Reno, NV. The two shared over 53 years of marriage, making Adin their home throughout the years, with the exception of Jim's military service. A veteran of the U.S. Army, as a Private, Mr. Smelcer was wounded and captured by the Chinese who took him as a prisoner of war for 42 days during the Korean War. Upon his discharge in 1953 and return to Adin, he went to work in the lumber industry with Edgerton Brothers and Clear Pine Products of Nubieber until the mill closed its operations. His work in the lumber industry spanned over 40 years. He also spent the latter nine years working with the U.S. Forest Service as a fire lookout on Round Mountain and Manzanita lookouts, from which he retired in 2001. Mr. Smelcer was a leader and core member of the VFW, putting up the flags for holidays and special occasions, and serving for many years as the sexton for the Adin Cemetery. He was an active member of the Adin Volunteer Fire Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars Adin Post, a great supporter and fan of Big Valley school sports, also an avid San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49'ers fan, and an avid Bingo player. On his 73rd birthday, he attended the Giants ball game where in the seventh inning stretch, his daughter Genie had arranged for a "Happy Birthday Jim Smelcer" to be shown in the billboard lights. Jim was so surprised, he turned to everyone around and said, "Hey, That's Me!" He had many long-time friends, as a respected and dear member of his community. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community. His community and every dog knew Jim from his daily walks, with his kind word of hello, or with a smile and wave as folks drove by, or as he stopped to pet every dog on his route. "He had a kind heart for animals and was a friend to every dog," described his son Jimmy. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 4 at the Community Center in Adin, followed by VFW Post 714 Color Guard. The Rev. Jeff Bidwell of Bieber conducted the service, followed by a potluck reception at the Community Center. Mr. Smelcer is survived by his wife Josephine "Josie" Smelcer of Adin; son Jim "Jimmy" Smelcer and wife Mary of Ashland, OR and their two sons Keith and Kyle Smelcer; his daughter Genie Bone and husband Tom of Danville, CA.; two sisters, Alice Criss of Adin and Margaret "Peg" Vanderlaan of Sacramento, CA and brother Pete Smelcer of Burney. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society, High Plateau Humane Society, P.O. Box 1383, Alturas, CA 96101; Merle West Cancer Center, 2610 Uhrmann Rd., Klamath Falls, OR 97601 or to the American Heart Association, 1372 Longfellow Ave., Chico, Ca. 95926. Services were under the direction of Kerr Mortuary of Alturas. Darrell L. Ferguson Memorial services were held for Darrell L. Ferguson (Fergie) of Cedarville, CA on March 9, 2005 at the Cedarville Community Church. Dr. Ben Zandstra officiated. Son-in-law Guy Ascherman officiated at the graveside. Mr. Ferguson died March 5, 2005 at home, surrounded by his family. He was 79. Fergie was born in Smith Center, Kansas, on March 31, 1925 to Harvey and Nora Ferguson. He was the sixth of eight children. Fergie had his first job at age 14, driving an ambulance. Later, he came to Modoc as a truck driver on a road crew. While in Modoc he married Dolores Rinehart and they made their home in Cedarville. Three children were born to them. Fergie worked as a heavy equipment operator, ranch hand, as well as owned and operated two ranches with his father-in-law Earl Rinehart where they raised horses, cattle and hay together in Surprise Valley and Long Valley, Nevada. He also loved to buckaroo for the Alkali Cattle Company. In his later years, some of his favorite times were fishing with his son Dusty and his good friend George Stucey and gathering wood for winter Fergie is survived by his wife Dolores of 57 years. His three children and their families, Dusty and Margret Ferguson of Vya, NV; Eddie and Vicki Hill of Lake City, CA; Guy and Anita Ascherman of Redding, CA. There were also seven grandchildren, Dustin and wife Renee of Hubbard, OR; Stephanie Renee Ferguson of Santa Barbara, CA; Michael Ferguson of Santa Barbara, CA; Darrel Hill of Lake City, CA; Brian Ascherman and wife Ruth of Redding, CA; Jeremiah and wife Traci of Redding, CA; Josh Ascherman and wife Jocelyn of Santa Cruz, CA; and six great grandchildren. There were four grandchildren, four brothers, and three sisters who preceded him in death. Fergie will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to Surprise Valley Hospital, and to the Hugh Currin House in Klamath Falls, OR. Dorothy Anne Chase A memorial service for Dorothy Anne (Barrett) Chase will be held on March 17, 2005 at 11 a.m. at the El Cajon Mortuary, 684 South Mollison Ave., El Cajon, CA. Mrs. Chase passed away February 27, 2005. She was 62 years of age. Born Dorothy Anne Barrett in San Diego, CA. on May 18, 1942, she lived in the San Diego area, Imperial, CA and Alturas, CA. In addition to being a loving and devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Chase worked as a secretary, office manager and instructor until her retirement five years ago. "She liked everyone she met and everyone who knew her, loved her," describe family members. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Stacy Chase of Alturas; daughter Diane Obeso and grandsons Thomas and Jamie; son David and wife Shaundra and granddaughters Danyell, Devin and Shelby; mother Josephine Barrett; mother-in-law Vera Becht; brother Robert and wife Linda and children Tim, Tammi, Tom and Terry; sister Judy Grayston and husband Joe and children Jodi and Gina; sister Joanne Bishop and husband Bill and children Michael and Jessie; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws in San Diego and across the U.S. and by friends, wherever she resided. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Madeleine Sophie's Center for the Handicapped, 2119 East Madison Ave., El Cajon, CA 92019-1111. John Sanders, Jr. A memorial service for long-time Surprise Valley resident John Sanders, Jr. of Cedarville, was held Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the Community Church in Cedarville. Dr. Ben Zandstra will officiate. Mr. Sanders passed away February 28, 2005, at the Surprise Valley Hospital in Cedarville, CA. He was born to Grannison M. and Jesse (Priutt) Sanders on August 24, 1920 in Santa Paula, CA. As a young boy he moved to Boise, Idaho, but finished high school in Long Beach, CA. He served with the Army Paratroopers 101st Airborne Division and fought at the Battle of the Bulge and Bastogne, France, serving from Dec. 17,1941 until his discharge on Dec. 4, 1945. Mr. Sanders was working on his unfinished book, documenting his war experiences. He always wanted to be a ranch hand and loved being outdoors, but he went to work for a well known cement company in Costa Mesa, CA. after his return from military service. He worked there for many years, until he retired in 1970 and moved to Surprise Valley. He worked for John Laxague as a ranch hand for 17 years, then left the valley for Sun Valley, NV. for two years, before returning to Surprise Valley. He loved western music and had an extensive collection of tapes. He and Leona Phipps were married on June 26, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nevada and shared 47 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Leona of Cedarville; their children Linda Johns of Kelso, WA; James Asher of Cedarville; Mona Foster of Victorville, CA; Ernest Asher of Auburn, WA; Diana Roberts of Perris, CA. and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Chicago, Washington, Oregon and California. Services were under the direction of Kerr Mortuary. Death Notice: Johnny W. Chapman Johnny Willard Chapman, a native Modocer, passed away March 7, 2005, at Surprise Valley Hospital in Cedarville, CA. Mr. Chapman was 67 years old and had lived most of his life in Modoc County. Graveside services will be conducted by the Alturas Veterans organizations at the Alturas Cemetery on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. Mr. Chapman's obituary will follow in a future issue Modoc County Record – March 10, 2005 Addie Rose Mulkey Martin Addie Rose Mulkey Martin, 91, died at her home in Alturas, Calif., Feb. 28, 2005. Rose was born Sept. 26, 1913. She attended grammar schools in Davis Creek, Willow Ranch, Calif., and Union Grade School on the west side of Goose Lake. She graduated with honors from Lakeview High School in 1931. After graduation she worked for Towers Soda Fountain and for an attorney, Mr. McKinney, in Lakeview. She married Blaine Thornley Martin on Jan. 11, 1934, in Alturas. In later years she worked for the new U.S. Post Office in Willow Ranch and became postmaster in the spring of 1950. In 1955 she moved with her family to Hyampom, Calif., Trinity County, where she worked for Fosters Grocery Store. Rose finished her working career in Hayfork, Calif., Trinity County, at the U.S. Postal Department and retired in 1983. Rose loved to spend time with her family whom she dearly loved. She had a passion for gardening, playing pinochle and traveling to the coast. She loved reading a good novel and was a member of the Sisters of Pythian affiliated with the Masonic Lodge. Her husband preceded her in death on March 18, 1984. In November 1998 she moved to Alturas to live with her daughter Myrnalee Harden and son-in-law Ron. She was preceded in death by husband, Ron; parents, Grover and Georgia Howell Mulkey; one sister; and two brothers. She is survived by her three daughters and two sons-in-law, Myrnalee and Ron Harden of Alturas, Judy Martin of Alturas and Donna and Bart Scrivner of Lakeview; nine grandchildren, Ronnie Harden, Jr., of Alturas, Suzanne Eilts of Redding, Calif., Sean Harden of Burney, Pam Bosiger of Redding, Karen Lovell of Sacramento, Calif., Lauri Parent of Sacramento, Bart Scrivener of Bend, Debra Scrivner of Redmond, Teena Cobian of Lakeview; 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; sister, Louise Huff of Hayfork; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was Monday, March 7 at Kerr Mortuary in Alturas. Dr. Ben Zandstra officiated. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Modoc County Medical Center Ambulance Crew or to the Modoc Senior Citizens Center, 906 W. Fourth St. Alturas, CA 96101. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Alturas Cemetery. James Heryford Ousley James Heryford Ousley, 87, passed away Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at Midway Hospital, Los Angeles. Ousley was born Sept. 13, 1917, in Lakeview to Abner "Abe" J. and Amy Heryford Ousley. His parents raised him in Lakeview, and he graduated from the University of Oregon. He lived for over 50 years in Los Angeles. Ousley was single. He was a member of the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles and the Elks Club (Lakeview Lodge No. 1536). He is mourned by cousins and numerous friends. Ousley left his entire estate, estimated at more than $5 million, which includes property in downtown Lakeview, in trust for the benefit of the Amy Heryford Ousley and James Heryford Ousley Educational Fund. Income from the fund will be used to provide scholarships for graduates of Klamath and Lake county high schools attending public universities and colleges in Oregon. Graveside services were at 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, Calif. Lake County Examiner – March 10, 2005 ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Modoc County, California "The Last Frontier" www.rh2o.com/modoc --- Our outgoing mail is checked by Norton AntiVirus.