Here is the obit you requested for the following: STAPP HIRAM W born: 09/17/1902 M TEXAS died: KERN 09/24/1970 age: 68 yrs requested by: [email protected] The Bakersfield Californian, Sunday, September 27, 1970 Pg. 32 Stapp, Hiram W. - Masonic services will be conducted at the Hillcrest Mortuary Chapel at 11 p.m. tomorrow for Hiram W. Stapp, 68, of 618 Walnut St., Arvin, who died Thursday in a Bakersfield hospital. Master Cecil Davidson, marshal Phil Krauter, chaplain John Carter and eulogist Allen Johnson will officiate. Mr. Stapp was born in Adice Texas and had resided in Kern County for the past 47 years. He was a member of the Arvin Masonic lodge 738 and twice pastmaster of Tehachapi Masonic lodge 313. Survivors include the widow, Anne; sons John of Palmdale and Lloyd of Bakersfield; daughters Margaret Stapp of Arvin, Jane Stapp of San Mateo and Louise Erickson of Bakersfield; sisters Myra Denzer of Alamo, Texas, and Lois Sharpe of Georgetown, Texas; brothers Oswald Stapp of Florence, Texas and Glenn Stapp of Houston, Texas; and 6 grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Philip Maex, George Koutrowlis, Dr. Orestes, Delbert Harris, Curtis Mecham, and Ivan Sprahan. Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Sharon Kern Co. Volunteer

Here is the obit you requested for the following: TAYLOR CHARLES L born: 11/25/1909 M OHIO died: KERN 03/03/1969 age: 59 yrs requested by: [email protected] The Bakersfield Californian, Thursday, March 6, 1969 Pg. 40 Taylor, Charles Leroy - Graveside services will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Park Friday at 10:30 a.m. for Charles Leroy Taylor, 59, 6713 Cherrywood Ave., who died Monday in Bakersfield. The Rev. Allen Stringfellow, First Baptist Church, will officiate. Mr. Taylor was a native of Ohio and had resided in Kern County 12 years. He was last employed by Kern County as a carpenter and gardener. Survivors include two daughter's, Patricia Cook of Bakersfield and Charlotte Baer of Ohio; a sister, Mildred Stanifer of Modesto and 5 grandchildren. Greenlawn Mortuary Sharon Kern Co Volunteer

Here is the obit you requested for the following: BAKER DAR born: 02/02/1884 M ARKANSAS mother: deleted in compliance with CA law died: KERN 07/21/1968 age: 84 yrs requested by: [email protected] The Bakersfield Californian, Wednesday, July 24, 1968 BAKER, Dar - Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Hopson Mortuary Chapel for Dar Baker, 84, of 31 MacArthur Place, who died Sunday in a Bakersfield convalescent hospital. The Rev. Pat Beeber of the Baptist Church will officiate and interment will follow in Union Cemetery. Mr. Baker was a native of Arkansas and had resided in California and Bakersfield for 22 years. He had worked as a farmer for 15 years and was last employed by W. B. Camp. Survivors include his widow Dollie; a son Alfred of Oildale; two daughter's Mary Jo Williams of Oklahoma and Clara Roper of Bakersfield; 23 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Doug Shinn, Danny Willis, Randy Keith McDonald, Verlan McDonald, Powell and Roy Lynch. Sharon Kern Co Volunteer

Here is the obit you requested for the following person: BAKER DOLLIE A born: 03/22/1893 F MISSOURI died: KERN 04/10/1973 age: 80 yrs requested by: [email protected] The Bakersfield Californian, Friday, April 13, 1973 BAKER, Dollie - Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Hopson Mortuary Chapel for Dollie Baker, 80, 535 Meacham St. who died April 10 in a Bakersfield hospital. The Rev. Pat Beeber will officiate and interments will follow in Union Cemetery. Mrs. Baker was a native of Missouri and had resided in California and Kern County the past 27 years. She is survived by a son, Alfred Baker of Bakersfield; two daughters, Mary Jo Williams of Oklahoma and Clara Roper of Bakersfield; 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Gary Willis, Robert Bolden, Larry Grider, Junior Kastner, Jackie Willis and Danny Willis. The Hopson Mortuary Sharon Kern Co Volunteer

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Jefferson_HS/index.htm If this is the Jefferson High School you're talking about, in South Central, you could contact them directly and see if they have a collection. Jefferson High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, 1319 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA 90011-3399. Ph: (323) 232-2261. FAX: (323) 231-4755. -----Original Message----- From: Karla Everett [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 3:04 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Jefferson HS 1939 - 1941 Sorry. That would be Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. Karla --- [email protected] wrote: > Karla, > What town would this High School be in? > > Sharon > Kern Co. > > In a message dated 7/15/2003 6:39:56 AM Pacific > Daylight Time, > [email protected] writes: > Does anyone have any Jefferson High School yearbooks > from 1939 to 1941? I have had a very special > request > for information from one or all of these yearbooks, > but I don't happen to have those years. Please > contact me privately if you can help. > > Thank you. > > Karla in Bakersfield > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

Sorry. That would be Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. Karla --- [email protected] wrote: > Karla, > What town would this High School be in? > > Sharon > Kern Co. > > In a message dated 7/15/2003 6:39:56 AM Pacific > Daylight Time, > [email protected] writes: > Does anyone have any Jefferson High School yearbooks > from 1939 to 1941? I have had a very special > request > for information from one or all of these yearbooks, > but I don't happen to have those years. Please > contact me privately if you can help. > > Thank you. > > Karla in Bakersfield > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

Karla, What town would this High School be in? Sharon Kern Co. In a message dated 7/15/2003 6:39:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Does anyone have any Jefferson High School yearbooks from 1939 to 1941? I have had a very special request for information from one or all of these yearbooks, but I don't happen to have those years. Please contact me privately if you can help. Thank you. Karla in Bakersfield

Does anyone have any Jefferson High School yearbooks from 1939 to 1941? I have had a very special request for information from one or all of these yearbooks, but I don't happen to have those years. Please contact me privately if you can help. Thank you. Karla in Bakersfield __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

Table Rock is (or at least was in 1914) in the northwest corner of Sierra County, see http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shastaca/maps/1914plumasmap.html Joyce Wafford wrote: >There was a lady on the list last night looking for the location of Table >Rock, Sierra County, CA. > >I accidently deleted her email address. I do have some information for her >if she will email me. > >Thank you, >Joyce >Brookings, OR >[email protected] > > > >==== SOCAL Mailing List ==== >Contact Yvonne Bowers, Listmom <[email protected]> > > > > --

There was a lady on the list last night looking for the location of Table Rock, Sierra County, CA. I accidently deleted her email address. I do have some information for her if she will email me. Thank you, Joyce Brookings, OR [email protected]

Hi folks, Don't you just hate it when the link you send gets cut off half-way through? Here are two really handy ways to shorten a long URL when you're trying to send someone a link: http://tinyurl.com/ http://www.makeashorterlink.com/ (No, this isn't an advertisement!) Carol De Priest Carol De Priest <mailto:[email protected]> Honest Intellectual Inquiry <http://www.dakotacom.net/~depriest>

Wanted to think Sheila and Peggy for there help. I know if there was anyone I need to ask it was this list. Thanks Sharon

Is there someone who know of a site that would have a list of question to ask someone when you are interviewing them? Any help would be appreciated. Sharon D.

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 17:20:21 -0500 "sharon davis" <[email protected]> writes: Is there someone who know of a site that would have a list of question to ask someone when you are interviewing them? Any help would be appreciated. Sharon D. Hi Sharon, The following are some things I've collected on this subject...hope there's something in here that might help! Sheila :) ***************************** The California Historian lists a Web site for the Oral History Association concerning Oral History Evaluation Guidelines which might be of interest to you. www.dickinson.edu/oha/EvaluationGuidelines.html ======================================================= "DO YOU EAR WHAT I EAR?" by Michael John Neill <<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> ======================================================= Last week's article used the term "birder" house. One astute reader gently indicated that I most likely meant "brooder" house. I thank them for the correction and must plead ignorance for while I was raised on a farm, we did not have chickens. You can be certain I will not make the same mistake using bovine phrases--I would never hear the end of it! The mistake makes a point and I'm actually glad it happened. Mishearing and misinterpreting words and phrases can cause problems genealogically in several situations. I have categorized the difficulties here, but bear in mind that there might be some overlap and that the distinction between some categories is not really important. DID NOT HEAR CORRECTLY Just as I misunderstood Grandma, it might be that the respondent on an official document or record did not hear correctly and gave "incorrect" information as a result. This same difficulty can arise when family members are asked for information. In one of my families, confusion arose between the two names "Augusta" and "Geske." These names are distinct, however, an individual with a hearing problem might easily confuse the two. MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION The respondent might have heard all the words and thought he understood the meaning of the question. If your ancestor gave an "incorrect" birthplace for his mother or father, is it possible that he interpreted the question as "where is your mother from?" instead of "where was your mother born?" Mother might have been born in one place and "been from" somewhere else (depending upon where she grew up and where her family originated). It might have been this place that she considered herself "from" even though it was not actually where she was born. We cannot know for certain what our ancestors were thinking when they were answering questions for the census taker or the marriage license clerk. All we have is the document they left behind. When interviewing family members use as many names as possible. Relationships can create confusion. When interviewing my grandmother, it took several minutes to make it clear to her that I was asking about her grandfather Trautvetter, not her father. She had referred to her own dad as a grandfather for so long (to her own children) that she originally answered the questions as if I was asking about her father. Using her grandfather's name of John reduced the confusion (her father, fortunately was named George). While it may not be possible use names exclusively, minimizing the number of relationships used when asking questions can reduce confusion. DID NOT KNOW THE LANGUAGE Was your immigrant ancestor answering questions that were asked in a language he did not understand? Even if your ancestor could speak English, it seems reasonable that she might have easily mistranslated a key word or phrase. WAS NOT LISTENING Have you ever answered a question without ever really listening to it? Asking your parent, spouse, child, or co-worker might provide a different answer. Is it possible your ancestor was not paying one hundred percent attention when the 1920 census taker knocked on his door? Did your ancestor assume no one would ever really care about the answers eighty years later? NO ONE CARED When the clerk was filling out my marriage license, he asked me how to spell my mother's maiden name. And so I spelled it out. If I had married in the county where I was born and raised, most of the office staff would have known how to spell the surname (and many would have known it without even asking). Close attention is not always paid to detail today and it certainly was not one hundred and fifty years ago either. SPOKE A DIALECT, USED SLANG, OR HAD AN ACCENT Dialects and variations in pronunciation can impact how words are spelled in records. "Gibson" can easily be pronounced so that it is spelled like "Gepson." There are numerous names where this is a problem, a problem compounded by dialects, "drawls," and "twangs." While it may be possible to know how our ancestors pronounced a name or a word, this information is generally not available. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WAS ABLE TO "EAR" IT In some cases, it is literally a lifetime from the day when a family tradition is heard until that day it is told. You grandfather might have heard a story when he was a child and not repeated it until he had grandchildren of his own. The chance that as a child he misunderstood something is reasonable. This difficulty is compounded by the effects time can have on one's memory. THE ANCESTOR WAS NOT LITERATE If your ancestor was unable to read, she could not "proof" any answers or words listed on any form she might have signed. Even if your ancestor could read, if the forms were not in her native tongue, she might have easily misunderstood a question (or her answer). The clerk might not have been concerned about explaining it to her either. Genealogists need to bear in mind auditory difficulties when dealing with records. These difficulties are compounded by problems with how our ancestors might have interpreted various terms and phrases. Documenting these difficulties may be impossible in many cases. When it can be done, it should, especially with pronunciations. I always track the ways names are pronounced when I know it. One of my ancestral surnames is Behrens. My great-grandmother pronounced it as "barns" (the kind cows sometimes reside in). This pronunciation is duly noted in my files. While it's not written as technically as it would be in a dictionary, it serves the purpose. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS PRONOUNCED Asking older family members is a good first step, but not always possible.As your research progresses further and further back in time, the chance that living family members have heard the name decreases. Researchers who do not know how a name is most likely pronounced may wish to post such a question to one of the mailing lists for the surname or the message boards at http://www.familyhistory.com or http://www.genforum.com. Individuals with the name may post replies, but it is important to remember that the pronunciation today may be significantly different from one hundred and fifty or two hundred years ago. Genealogists use their eyes for the bulk of their genealogical work, and rightly so. But we must also use our ears and mouths--for that's how many of those words made their way from our ancestor's minds to those records. Good Luck! ************************************************************ Copyright 1999, Michael John Neill. Michael John Neill, is the Course I Coordinator at the Genealogical Institute of Mid America (GIMA) held annually in Springfield, Illinois, and is also on the faculty of Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Michael is the Web columnist for the FGS FORUM and is on the editorial board of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly. He conducts seminars and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical and computer topics and contributes to several genealogical publications, including Ancestry and Genealogical Computing. You can email him at: mailto:[email protected] or visit his Web site at: http://www.rootdig.com/ ======================================================

Just to throw in my two cents worth - I finally tracked down the ownership changes to a mortuary in Santa Cruz (I know that is Norcal) and learned that the last 'new' owner dumped the 'old' 'useless' records. I think I broke his ear drum with my screaming. Margie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 1:16 PM Subject: Re: Mottell's & Peek Mortuary/Crematory Susan, Mike, and All: FYI --- I called Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell's Mortuary yesterday. (Yes, when he answered, I said, "That was a mouthful". He just laughed and agreed.) This is what I was told regarding past records: When Dilday Funeral Directors merged with Mottell's, they had records only as far back as 1979. Since Luyben Family Mortuary has merged with Dilday-Mottell's, no records exist of the previous mortuaries. Hmm. It seems there should be some records somewhere. Maybe another call is in order...and hoping a different person might answer (with different information). Sorry, wish I could be of more help. Pat in Long Beach CA ----- Original Message ----- Subject: Re: Mottell's & Peek Mortuary/Crematory > Hi Susan & All, > Try here: > Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell's Mortuary > 5161 E. Arbor Rd., Long Beach > 562-425-6401 > > They seem to have changed hands a few times over the years. I'd sure hate > to be the one who answers the phone there! > > Mike Powers > Long Beach, California > > > ==== SOCAL Mailing List ==== > Do NOT post virus notices to the list. > ==== SOCAL Mailing List ==== Do NOT post virus notices to the list.

Susan, Mike, and All: FYI --- I called Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell's Mortuary yesterday. (Yes, when he answered, I said, "That was a mouthful". He just laughed and agreed.) This is what I was told regarding past records: When Dilday Funeral Directors merged with Mottell's, they had records only as far back as 1979. Since Luyben Family Mortuary has merged with Dilday-Mottell's, no records exist of the previous mortuaries. Hmm. It seems there should be some records somewhere. Maybe another call is in order...and hoping a different person might answer (with different information). Sorry, wish I could be of more help. Pat in Long Beach CA ----- Original Message ----- Subject: Re: Mottell's & Peek Mortuary/Crematory > Hi Susan & All, > Try here: > Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell's Mortuary > 5161 E. Arbor Rd., Long Beach > 562-425-6401 > > They seem to have changed hands a few times over the years. I'd sure hate > to be the one who answers the phone there! > > Mike Powers > Long Beach, California > > > ==== SOCAL Mailing List ==== > Do NOT post virus notices to the list. >

Hi Susan & All, Try here: Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell's Mortuary 5161 E. Arbor Rd., Long Beach 562-425-6401 They seem to have changed hands a few times over the years. I'd sure hate to be the one who answers the phone there! Mike Powers Long Beach, California

Thanks Paula - I learned that she had lived in Glendale from the Colorado newspaper in the town she lived before. They carried a 'brief notice' about her death and that she was living with her son in Glendale. I will contact the Glendale Public Library to see whether they have the obituary. Thanks so much for answering me and giving me this clue on where to go for the information. Yes, I do understand the logistics of Los Angeles County but when you need the information you must spread your nets wide. Margie <<snip From: "Paula Hinkel" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 7:12 AM Subject: RE: Obit look up Please - Glendale Hi Marge. There are very few people that do obituary lookups in LA County. One of the major reasons is because so many searches end up as wild goose chases. snip>> -----Original Message----- From: Margie [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 1:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Obit look up Please - Glendale I would like to request an obituary look up please for: Lamear, Amanda J., age 90, county 90-Los Angeles, died 7-26-34, #37855 Lamear, William D (AE-wife), age 59, county 70-Los Angeles, died 4-22-39 #23339 This is mother and son. I was told that they died in Glendale. Thank you - I do not know Los Angeles County and would not have the foggiest idea about looking for these obituaries. Margie Hinton

Hi Marge. There are very few people that do obituary lookups in LA County. One of the major reasons is because so many searches end up as wild goose chases. Before looking for an obituary (or before sending a volunteer on a search), you should obtain copies of the death certificates to confirm the facts. The biggest mistake that obit searchers make is relying on what they were "told" instead of what they have "proven". Here is a link to the Los Angeles Vital Records office: http://regrec.co.la.ca.us/recorder/birth_death.htm When you get the death certificates, look for some key information: 1. What was the usual address? That will help you figure out where to look for an obit. 2. How long had they lived in the area? If they were here a long time, you have a better chance of finding an obituary. "Better chance" means about a 50/50 shot. Lots of people in LA did not have an obituary. It was a usual practice for papers to sell obituary space, much like today's classifieds. If you're lucky, you'll find an obit. You may find only a death notice. 3. What was the name of the funeral home? This is another lead to tracking down an obituary, if you strike out in the newspaper search. 4. Where did the remains end up? Some cemeteries keep obituaries. Again, this is another search opportunity. When you get the death certificate, get back in touch. I'll help you find out the newspapers that may have your obits, and will also point you toward the libraries and other repositories that hold those newspapers. If it turns out that Glendale is where they *lived* you're in luck because the Glendale Public Library does lookups for free. The SoCal Obituaries web site will give you all the in's and out's of searching for obits here in Los Angeles County. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~socalobituaries/ -----Original Message----- From: Margie [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 1:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Obit look up Please - Glendale I would like to request an obituary look up please for: Lamear, Amanda J., age 90, county 90-Los Angeles, died 7-26-34, #37855 Lamear, William D (AE-wife), age 59, county 70-Los Angeles, died 4-22-39 #23339 This is mother and son. I was told that they died in Glendale. Thank you - I do not know Los Angeles County and would not have the foggiest idea about looking for these obituaries. Margie Hinton ______________________________

In 1996, my brother passed away in Tucson, AZ. We picked up his ashes from the mortuary to bring them back to California and no questions were asked. We supposed we could do what we wanted with the ashes, so part of them were spread in the Sequoia National Forest. (Okay, I knew it was against the law - but that would have been our story if we'd been caught.) Many of my family are buried / inurned in Salinas, so we traipsed to Salinas with the remainder of the ashes. Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas would not place the ashes in a niche without a CALIFORNIA death certificate. It was a weekend, so the ashes came back to Kern County, where a death certificate was issued the next day. The ashes returned to Salinas and were inurned. So, my brother died in Arizona, buried in Monterey County, CA with a death certificate issued by Kern County, CA. My brother's ashes traveled nearly as much as my brother did when he was alive! On Tuesday, July 08, 2003 2:35 PM, GARY RADCLIFFE [SMTP:[email protected]] wrote: > Mike Huggins writes: > > On my relative's DC there is no mention of the disposition of the ashes. I > would assume that the disposition was completely at the discretion of the > surviving party in carrying out the deceased's last wishes. > > ========================================= > > My neigbor was a well-known expert of growing cactus from seed. > His wife scatered his ashes in the back yard where he did so much work. > I'm told this is not lawful The funeral industry in California certainly got > their way during the 20th century. Has the law been changed? > > Gary Radcliffe > West Covina, CA > > > ==== SOCAL Mailing List ==== > Do NOT post virus notices to the list. > --- > Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 6/30/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 6/30/2003