Obituaries: James Wayne Knauss James Wayne Knauss, a resident of Modoc County for most of his life, passed away October 11, 2003 at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento after falling ill in late August and waging a valiant battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Jim had just retired this past December, after more than 22 years of service with the Modoc County Assessor's Office. Jim was born October 17, 1946 in Morrison, Illinois to James Clifford Knauss and Hilda Lucretia Churchill. The family moved to Modoc County when Jim was nine years old. He attended elementary school and high school in Alturas, graduating from Modoc Union High School in 1965. Following high school, Jim attended the College of the Siskiyous in Weed for one year before enlisting in the Army on December 8, 1966. He achieved the rank of sergeant, serving three years, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, the presumed cause of the cancer that brought about his illness and untimely death. Jim served in the 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 50th Infantry 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was awarded numerous medals for meritorious achievement, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. Jim was also awarded the 'Maeng Ho' (fierce tiger) crest of the 6th Republic of Korea (ROK) Tiger Division, making him an honorary member of the Korean force. Following Jim's honorable discharge from the Army in July, 1969, he began working for Carlsberg Financial Corporation as a salesman at California Pines. While with Carlsberg, he studied for and earned his real estate license. He later was promoted to sales manager at Virginia City Highlands in Reno, Nevada and eventually to project manager at Lake Millerton Recreational Park in Fresno, Ca. Carlsberg Financial Corporation offered Jim the position of Sales Manager and Assistant Project Manager at California Pines in 1976, which he accepted, and Jim came back to Modoc, this time for good. At every opportunity, Jim, along with friends and co-workers from Cal Pines, would gather at the lake at the end of the work day to water ski, often skiing after dark, by the light of a full moon. Also, at this time in Jim's life, he enjoyed racing dirt bikes and was involved in many desert racing competitions. It was during this second stint with Carlsberg Financial Corporation that Jim met his future wife, Kathy Lynn Dees of Alturas. They were wed on April 8, 1978. Jim soon turned his love from dirt bikes to horses, and it was Kathy and her father who introduced them. Before long, Jim, who perfected all he did, was team roping and branding. In 1978, Jim, with friends Ken Phillips and Larry Boulade, built the Alturas Roping Arena, located across from the Alturas 4-H grounds. He was a charter member of the Alturas Roping Club and won the champion heeling buckles in 1985, 1988 and 1990. Jim enjoyed branding at Violet and Charlie Jackson's ranch for many years and looked forward to spring branding at Ron and Lynne Schluter's with their family and friends. Jim and Kathy, along with the other directors and wives, marked trail each year for the annual Modoc Tribe Ride. Jim was the MTR President in 1992 and 1993 and attended his 26th Ride this past August. He was a member of the Modoc County Sheriff's Posse as well, and was Captain of the Modoc Sheriff's Posse in 1990. Jim served as the Sheriff's Posse Horse Show Chairman for many years. Jim began his employment with the County of Modoc in March of 1979. Jim achieved the status of an Advanced Certified Property Tax Appraiser in April of 1985. He attained the position of Senior Appraiser (supervising appraiser) within the office until his retirement in December 2002. Jim also was a Past-President of the Northern California Appraisers Council, which included 10 northern counties. Jim served from January through June 1986, as the Director of Emergency Services for Modoc County. During that time, Modoc County experienced one of the worst floods in its history. Jim and Kathy gave birth to one daughter, Amber Dawn, on September 25, 1981. Their daughter was one of Jim's greatest joys in life. He was thrilled when she won a very competitive contest for Miss Modoc Fair Queen in 1999 and proudly attended her graduation ceremony at U.C. Santa Barbara on June 14, 2003, just prior to the onset of his illness. His retirement, brief as it was, enabled him to travel to Santa Barbara and visit Amber frequently. Jim loved hunting and never missed the annual California Pines 3-Shot Honker Hunt. Jim had the great pleasure of hunting with such famous personalities as Roy Rogers, Slim Pickins, test pilot Chuck Yeager, astronauts Joe Allen, Joe Engle, Ron Evans, and artist-sculptor Doug Van Howd, to name a few. Opening weekend of pheasant season always found Jim at his brother-in-law, Gary Davis' homestead family farm in Pleasant Grove. He was a member of a bird hunting club in Chico and spent many weekends with his brother-in-law Scott Wineland and nephew Trevor. Jim was an experienced big game hunter (deer and elk) but, he had a passion for chukar hunting with his dog, Bear. Jim became quite a wild game gourmet cook and loved to have friends over to dine after perfecting a new recipe. He was famous for his smoked venison and elk jerky. His cooking talent, however, was not limited to wild game, and since Jim refused to eat leftovers, guests were usually delighted when they found Jim insisting on sending them home with the remaining portions. Jim is survived by his wife Kathy of Alturas and daughter Amber of Santa Barbara and his faithful German Wirehair, Bear, son of Baron. He also leaves a sister, Jane Davis of Sahuarita, Ariz.; brother-in-law, Gary Davis of Pleasant Grove, CA.; nephew Joe Davis of Pleasant Grove; and niece Carolyn Coker and husband, Jason and their infant son Jacob of Magalia, Ca.; aunt Virginia Griffith of Decatur, IL.; and aunt and uncle Jean and Clyde Booher and family of Decatur, IL.; mother and father-in-law, Emmie and Joe Dees of Alturas, Ca.; sister-in-law Linda Wineland of Chico; brother-in-law Scott Wineland of Chico; niece and nephew Shelley and Trevor Wineland, Chico, Ca.; brother-in-law Eric Dees and wife, Sarah and niece Jennifer Dees of Santaquin, UT. A memorial gathering of family and friends will occur Saturday, November 29, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Alturas, CA. Ronald Ray Rosendahl Veteran Modoc National Forest Fire Dispatcher Ronald Ray Rosendahl of Alturas passed away in Alturas, Ca. of natural causes on Sunday, November 2, 2003. Mr. Rosendahl, 56, had retired a few years ago, from the forest service position he held for many years. With his many years of experience, calm and guiding nature, he was called on to train many dispatchers over the years at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Alturas. Born March 4, 1947, Mr. Rosendahl graduated from Modoc High School, Alturas, with the Class of 1966. No services have been set. Gertrude Fay Curtis A memorial service for well-known, long-time Alturas resident Gertrude Fay Curtis, will be conducted by Pastor Dewey Potter at the Alturas Church of Christ at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. Mrs. Curtis was an active member of the Alturas Church of Christ where she served as treasurer. She had retired from the Department of Forestry in 1985 and continued to keep active as a member of TOPS for several years, helping to create many of the items the local group donated such as lap blankets for convalescent hospital residents, as service projects to aid others. Born Gertrude Fay Gillespie in Redwood Falls, Minnesota on March 11, 1924, she received her education in Redwood Falls and in Alturas, Ca. She married Arthur Curtis in Redwood Falls, Minn. on September 25, 1941. Their marriage sustained 43 years, until his death November 7, 1984. Fay, as she was known to her many friends, had made Modoc County her home for the past 57 years. She is survived by her brothers Arthur Gillespie of Redwood Falls, Minn; Melvin Gillespie of Granite Falls, Minn.; sister Norma Blank of Morton, Minn.; sons Stephen Curtis of Oregon City, Ore., Rodger Curtis of Gresham, Ore.; daughters Linda Loomis of Oregon City, Ore. and Annette McGillvray of Portland, Ore. She also had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, whom she loved to visit, and her pet dog little "Tiger." Mrs. Curtis passed away of cancer on November 1, 2003 in Oregon City, Ore. She was 79. Interment will be at the Alturas Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to Alturas Church of Christ. Allen Douglas Propst. Memorial services are pending for Allen Douglas Propst of Alturas. Mr. Propst passed away November 4, 2003, in Alturas, Ca. Mr. Propst, 76, was born in Merino, Colorado on December 1, 1926. Merril Vern Minto Merril Minto, age 76, died at his Eagleville home on Saturday, November 1, 2003, of complications from lung cancer. Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Eagleville Church, with graveside services following at the Eagleville Cemetery. A community potluck will be served following the service at the Community Hall. Merril was born October 31, 1927 at the family ranch in Eagleville, Calif. His parents were Edyth H. and Robert W. Minto. He died at home on the same property that has been in the Minto Family since 1867. Merril grew up in Surprise Valley, Modoc County, at the base of the Warner Mountains, now a wilderness area. He and his siblings learned at an early age to work hard on the family ranch, but found time to hunt, fish, camp and explore. Merril was a natural mechanic and overhauled his first harvester engine at the age of twelve. He graduated eighth grade from Eagleville grammar school, one of five students, and from Surprise Valley High School with a class of seventeen. After graduation, he worked as an auto mechanic and in the woods, near Auburn, Calif., logging. He was drafted into the Army November 10, 1950 and served in Korea as a mechanic and truck driver in the motor pool. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1952. After his military service, he moved to Chico and started a career of farming and custom harvesting. He met and married his wife, Sharlene Waters, June 26, 1954. They lived in Chico for over 45 years while raising their family. Merril was a master mechanic, and he never met an engine that he did not love. He collected old tractors and used his skill to repair and keep them running. He had been a member of two tractor clubs, whose purpose was to restore antique farm machinery. He has restored a 1947 Jeepster and has been working on a 1919 Model T. A 1930 Buick Marquette was last year's Christmas gift from his family. He said, "I never got a car for Christmas before!" He recently built a 1972 C.J. 5 Jeep, which he assembled from a pile of parts. He enjoyed taking it often to Lost Lake fishing and also exploring the Applegate Immigrant Trail through High Rock Canyon in Nevada. Merril supported the Butte County 4-H program in which his four children participated. He was a past member of the North Valley Volunteer Firemen. Merril aided many fund-raising dinners for 4-H, churches and schools by providing his time and his Chicken Bar-B-Que barrels. The largest dinner was for Rosedale School, Chico, serving 600 people. He supported the Chico High School Ski Team for many years by being a chaperone and providing transportation to ski races all over Northern California. Merril was a skilled skier and taught his four children, as well a many other young people, to ski and enjoy the sport. Never a licensed pilot, he did love flying. Throughout his lifetime, Merril enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing. He like snowmobiling in the South Warner Mountains with his family. In 1969, Merril and his father-in-law, Carl Waters, Sr. developed the Mountain View Mobile Home Park on the Esplanade in Chico. Merril and his wife Sharlene joined a Good Sam group, and since 1980, they traveled extensively with their pickup and fifth wheel. Retiring in 1992, Merril divided his time between Chico and Eagleville, until he became a permanent Surprise Valley resident four years ago. Merril has been active in community life in Surprise Valley. He has participated in the Fair parade each year, and the Eagleville Barbecue. He has been an active member of the Eagleville coffee group, which gathered every morning. One of Merril's favorite times of year was Christmas. He took great pleasure in decorating his yard with Christmas lights. Merril's most recent love was caring for his three Alpacas. Merril and Sharlene celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary by hosting an excursion, for 40 of their relatives and friends, on the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train in McCloud, Calif. He is survived by his wife, of forty-nine years, Sharlene; four children: daughter Deveny Bywaters and husband Kurt of Lake Oswego, Ore., daughter Tanis Minto of Petaluma, Calif., daughter Danelle Grove and husband John of Orland, Calif., son Kerry Minto of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren: Collin, Cody and Grant Bywaters and Megan, Kristin and Trace Grove. Also surviving him is brother Robert Minto and wife Eldora of Durham, Calif.; sister Marlene Eicher and husband Bob of Dayton, Calif.; and brother Keith and wife Caroline of Mariposa, Calif.; and fifteen nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Edyth and Robert and brothers Vrle, Wally and Harlan. Memorials may be made to the Eagleville Community Church Building Association Steeple Fund in care of Angie Benner, Secretary, Post Office Box 654, Eagleville, Calif. 96110 Kerr Mortuary of Alturas is handling the arrangements. Ernest G. Eaton On a beautiful day, Ernest G. Eaton, age 78, returned to Lake City and the land he loved, for the last time. On July 29, 2003, Eaton passed away at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Morgan and Laurie Eaton in West Richland, Wash. A memorial service was held in his honor on October 20 at the Lake City Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra officiated, with the Rev. Steven Frock of Hamlin, Iowa and nephew of Eaton, giving his eulogy. A lifelong outdoorsman, Eaton had retired as District Conservationist from the Surprise Valley District of the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service. Eaton was born in Seligman, Arizona on February 6, 1925 and grew up in various places in Arizona where his father worked on the railroad and as a hard rock miner. Eaton enjoyed horses from his youth. He joined the Army Air Force in World War II and spent time in Italy as an Intelligence Specialist. He attended Arizona State University and Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, where he graduated in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture. He spent most of his summers working as a guide and packer at the Grand Canyon with the mule parties and working on ranches. Eaton married his wife Barbara during his senior year in college and together they lived in various places in Arizona and California. Later, he worked on purebred Hereford ranches and was a packer for parties at Kings Canyon Park in California. In 1961, he went to work for the Soil Conservation Service and was the District Conservationist in Cedarville from 1976 until he retired in 1985. He was very active in the Stewardship Program and the Resource Conservation District activities. While living on their ranch on Soldier Creek, near Lake City, the couple raised Quarter Horses and sheep. After his retirement from the Soil Conservation Service, Eaton was a Brand Inspector for Nevada. His greatest interest was always in horses and ranching. He shod, trained and bred horses. He was also very proud of his two studs, Joey Moore and Fiddle. His love of horses was reciprocated; when Eaton contracted Parkinson's disease, his aging stud Fiddle became ill. Although two states apart, when Eaton died several years later, Fiddle sensed his passing and also died. Eaton is survived by his wife Barbara, son Morgan and daughter-inlaw Laurie Eaton, daughter Renata Earles and son-in-law Marty, grandchildren Korban and Mira Earles, sister Elda Frock and her husband Marion, brother John Vernon Eaton and Phyllis of Kentucky and brother Lawrence Eaton of Phoenix, Ariz. Eaton was preceded in death by his parents John Eaton of Bagdad, Ariz. and Dollie Frock of Phoenix, AZ. ~~~~~~ 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.