Obituaries: Doris Yvonne Brennan Alturas resident Doris Yvonne Brennan passed away of natural causes on March 7, 2004, shy of her 62nd birthday in Alturas, Calif. A native of Lawrence, Massachusetts, she was born on March 19, 1942, and graduated from Tenny High School in Methven, Massachusetts. A resident of San Diego for a number of years, prior to relocating to Alturas, Mrs. Brennan had a passion for and love of helping people. She worked as a certified nurses assistant for many years, aiding the disabled and elderly in San Diego. She continued in this field when she relocated to Modoc County. She enjoyed working as a C.N.A., with patients at Modoc Medical Center for 16 years, with the last few years in Respiratory Therapy. After retiring two years ago, Mrs. Brennan enjoyed visiting her family in San Diego and traveling. She was a loving and supportive mother, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary 113 in Alturas; an avid and skilled poker player and not afraid to speak her mind when necessary to motivate someone. She also enjoyed camping, fishing and horseback riding. Doris and Patrick Brennan were married in Copperopolis, Calif. on June 2, 1988. Mrs. Brennan is survived by her husband Patrick Brennan of Alturas, Calif.; four children Charles Camarato of Alturas, Calif. and daughter-in-law Cathie Camarato of Redding, Calif.; Sharyn Camarato of San Diego, Calif.; Bobbi Stolte of San Diego; Tim and wife Lori Camarato of San Diego; grandchildren Ruby Camarato of Redding; Steffen Camarato, Alturas; Diamond Camarato of Redding; Nikolai Camarato of Redding; Samantha Emberton of San Diego; IvyRose Hippi Camarato of San Diego; Preston and Dillon Stolte of San Diego; Rick and Amanda Camarato of San Diego and son-in-law Gary Emberton of San Diego. A Memorial service was held with Mrs. Brennan's co-workers, friends and family members at Veterans' Park in Alturas on Tuesday, March 9. A private family service will be held Friday, as her family gathers in Alturas. Memorial contributions may be directed to Modoc Medical Center, Alturas. Kerr Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Melvin 'Mutt' Vermillion Melvin Frank "Mutt" Vermillion, 75, a near lifetime Modoc resident, passed away March 2, 2004, at Surprise Valley Hospital in Cedarville, Calif. A Memorial Service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra on Saturday, March 6 at 11 a.m. at the Four Seasons building on the Modoc District Fairgrounds, Cedarville. A fellowship gathering followed. Mr. Vermillion was born in Davis Creek, Calif. on March 10, 1928 to George and Edna Vermillion. He completed the eighth grade and served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, receiving many medals including the Army Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, U.N. Service Medal and Purple Heart. He received his honorable discharge on August 12, 1952. His marriage to Janice K. Chapman in June of 1952, ended in divorce. Throughout the years which followed, Mr. Vermillion worked as a cowboy, in shoe repair, for the county road department and custom haying. He enjoyed playing pinochle, fishing, hunting, drinking and being with his family. A member of the Surprise Valley Roping Club since 1954, he was active with various horse back riding groups over the years. For about 15 years, he made Fernley, Nevada his home, but spent some 60 years as a Modoc County resident. He is survived by his daughter Candy and son-in-law Kim Maidens of Lake City, Calif.; five brothers and their wives, Lewis and Pauline Vermillion of Cedarville, Calif.; Darrell and Pat Vermillion of Janesville, Calif.; Cecil and Shirley Vermillion of Reno, Nevada; Roy and Catsy Vermillion of Oregon; Chuck and Dona Vermillion of Cedarville, Calif.; one great-aunt Dot Whitby of Redding, Calif.; grandchildren Missy Maidens of Reno, Nevada; Brandie Nolan of Lake City, Calif.; Melinda Krussow, Melaine Maidens and Randy Maidens and spouses, all of Oregon; 10 great-grandchildren and tons of nieces and nephews that he loved very much, especially twins and Loren. Donations in Mr. Vermillion's memory may be directed to the Cedarville 4-H Club, care of Tracey Green or to the Surprise Valley Historical Society care of Candy Maidens P.O. Box 3544, Lake City, Calif. 96115. Edrie Leona "Teddy" Hays Edrie Leona 'Teddy' Hays, 99, Bonanza, OR. died February 22, 2004, of natural causes in Klamath Falls, OR. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bonanza Memorial Park in Bonanza with the Rev. Billy Hamblin officiating. Visitation is until 5 p.m. today in O'Hair and Riggs Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Hays was born February 11, 1902, in Coos Bay to Charles Eugene and Julia Etta (McGee) Gallop. She also lived in Coos Bay until moving with her family in 1910 to Fort Bidwell, where she enjoyed many of the community activities and met her future husband at a function in nearby Lake City. After graduating from Fort Bidwell High School, she moved to Los Angeles and attended a business school there. She later returned to the Surprise Valley and in 1927 married William J. "Bill" Hays in Lake City. They made their home on the Lake City Ranch, living there until moving to Ashland in 1944. When all of her children had reached school age, she went to work as the school cook for Bellview Elementary School. In 1959, she and her husband purchased a ranch at Malin, where they grew hay and grains and raised sheep and cattle. They retired in 1964 and moved to Langell Valley. Mrs. Hays then worked for several seasons sorting potatoes for L.K. Produce. Her husband preceded her in death in 1976. She was a member of Klamath County Home Extension for more than 50 years. While living in the Surprise Valley, she enjoyed gardening and canning produce. At the annual Modoc Fair, she won numerous awards for her canning, baking and sewing projects. In Langell Valley, she was active in the Langell Valley Sewing Club. She enjoyed reading and crocheted a countless number of afghans that she gave as presents to friends and family members. She also enjoyed attending sports activities, especially baseball and basketball, of her children and grandchildren and watching birds that visited her yard. Survivors include her daughter Lois Jean Struve of Bonanza; son William J. "Bill" Hays of Soldotna, Alaska; grandchildren and their spouses Vicky and Charles Ward of Wasilla, Alaska, Cindy Hays of Soldotna, Jeannie and Larry Bopp of Modesto, CA. Ray and Chris Struve of Malin and Carol Matense of Bend; great-grandchildren Jevon Struve and his wife Merridith, Lawson Struve, Kevin Mauseth, Kenny Bopp and his wife Becky, Roger Bopp and his wife Debbie, Tyler Brown, Emily Brown, Chayna Ward and Charles Ward Jr.; great-great-grandchildren Jon, Mike and Justin Bopp and Jordan and Anna Struve. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Vida Hanks and brother Everett Gallop Memorial donations may be made to Bonanza Ambulance, P.O. Box 363, Bonanza, OR. 97623 Henry 'Hank' Messner Hank Messner, who lived in Cedarville, Calif., died February 23, 2004, in Redding, Calif. He was 89, born September 22, 1914 in Cloverdale, Ore. His wife of 63 years, Thais, preceded him in death in 2002. Survivors include daughter Bonnie Chase of Cedarville, Calif. and Doreen Hathaway of Portland, Ore. and one grandchild, Anya Hathaway. An Army veteran of World War II, a substation operator for Bonneville Power Administration for 30 years. He retired in 1970 and started the Felida Nursery where he grew Rhododendrons and living Christmas trees. He moved to Cedarville in 2002, where he lived with his daughter. He made many new friends and was not a stranger to Modoc County. He loved to tell stories of logging at Ballard Lake near Canby, Calif. in 1937 and 1938. Attending dances in Surprise Valley, he drove over Cedar Pass in a Model A. He enjoyed going to Country Music Jams in Cedarville and lunches at the Senior Center. He will be missed by all. The memorial service and burial were held in Vancouver, Wash. February 28, 2004. ~~~~~~ Billie C. Reynolds Anita "Jean" Waters-Reynolds (Family Genealogy) http://www.rh2o.com (Modoc County Genealogy) http://www.rh2o.com/modoc/ --- Our outgoing mail is checked by Norton AntiVirus.