Lake County News,California

Obits

: Editor; Posted On Tuesday, 13 July 2021 01:57; 13 July 2021

Leslie Merton Snyder

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Leslie Merton Snyder, born March 20, 1948, took his final ride on June 30, 2021, surrounded by family and friends.

Born in Hollywood, California, he was raised in Santa Paula.

Les served in the US Navy during the Vietnam war. While stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, he met his wife of 49 years, Kristin.

Les is survived by his children, Martin (Jacqueline) Snyder and Aubrey (Erica) Snyder; his three grandchildren, Kerrington, Maxwell and Henry; sisters, Janice (Jim) McNaughton, and Marcia Manes; good friend, Irvin Myers; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents, Geri Cole and Merton Snyder.

Les and Kristin moved to Lake County in 1981. Les worked as an x-ray technician for 40 years.

He was an avid Harley rider and loved boating, traveling back to Hawaii and a good martini.

A celebration of his life will be held for family and friends.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 04 July 2021 01:19; 04 July 2021

Ashley Penrose

Ashley Lynn (Sellards) Penrose
March 23, 1971 - May 26, 2021

As with her life, Ashley Lynn (Sellards) Penrose, could not wait to get her journey started, so much so that she was born to proud and relieved parents, Henry Grady Sellards Jr., and Cheryle Eyerly (Sellards) Yost, March 23, 1971 (at six and a half months) in Detroit, Michigan, giving everyone (especially her mother) a bit of a fright.

After spending the first year of her life in Michigan, her family moved west to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spent her early formative years enjoying the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

At the age of 8, her family moved west to Kelseyville, California, where she discovered that growing up beside a lake could be just as majestic as the mountains. Here, she was blessed with many good friends and a family that loved her dearly.

The years passed as they do, until her graduation day from Kelseyville High school came on a hot June day in 1989.

Ashley’s thirst for knowledge would not stop there, so she sought out higher education and ultimately found her way back to Colorado where she achieved a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Many years passed, and Ashley thrived as a speech-language pathologist. She worked with older adults in the beginning, but as with her spirit she gravitated toward kids and found that her true speech passion was helping and working with children.

This ultimately led her to the schools and classrooms, which allowed her to work with and touch the lives of children on a daily basis. She helped many kids overcome various levels of speech and early development physical communication issues, and helped them to find their voices.

On Valentine’s Day of 2015 Ashley married the man she loved, Robert Corey Penrose in a beautiful ceremony above the fountains at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.

Ashley and Corey wasted no time getting their life together started, and soon thereafter had purchased a beautiful home on a hill with a view of the water in Vallejo, California.

They were very happy together and, in addition to spending time with family on both sides, which was very important to them both, they found the things that made them happy including traveling, enjoying great food, cooking, entertaining and so much more.

Family was more important to Ashley than anything, and she loved embracing and adding to the traditions of Corey’s family as well as her own.

Ashley was a unique spirit. She was a fiercely loyal wife, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. She had a heart of gold and would go to the ends of the earth and back again to help someone in need, or to just put a smile on their faces. She often put everyone else’s wants and needs above her own.

For those who called Ashley “friend,” never a truer friend could they have. She not only cared deeply about each of her many friends, but she also literally cataloged her engagements and logged the memories that were so precious to her.

Outside of work, her greatest passions were her husband, her family, her dog Pepper and being the best “Aunticorn” (a mythical creature related to the unicorn capable of incredible love, patience and fun for her nieces and nephews).

For us, her family, we can only say she was the keeper of our hearts. Ashley wanted every interaction to be a special one and found ways to add to even unambiguous events.

For special ones including holidays and birthdays she always made sure we all remembered the traditions and little details (birthday crowns, sashes and running around the table were a must) which so many take for granted and was always finding the magic, making the day truly ours.

She loved to read and was involved in many book clubs as well as being a beautiful writer. She loved a good party, good food, music to boogie to and had a laugh and smile to fill the room.

Ashley is proceeded in death by her father, Henry Grady Sellards Jr.

Ashley is survived by her loving husband, Corey Penrose; mother, Cheryle, and stepfather, Wayne Yost of Kelseyville; brother, Grady (Reggie) Sellards of Glendale, California; sister, Heather (Josh) Adams of Windsor, California; stepbrother, Bryce (Amy) Yost of Lemoore, California; stepsister, Jinny Spring (Rick) of Roseville, California; mother-in-law, Jan Penrose of Woodland, California; brother-in-law, Nicholas Penrose and Esther Jacobo of Woodland; sister-in-law, Lori Penrose and Gregory Calderon of Woodland; and beloved nephews and nieces, Benjamin, Sebastian, Elizabeth, Emily, Madelynn, Arik, Carina, Joey and Samantha; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

ASHLEY, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

A celebration of life for Ashley is tentatively planned for Labor Day weekend. More information will follow.

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 26 June 2021 00:38; 29 June 2021

Kim Mitchell

Kim Justine Mitchell
Sept. 23, 1961 — June 23, 2021

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Kim was a Big Valley tribal member and elder, born and raised in Lake County.

She is survived by her husband, David Mitchell; children, Lydell, Jeffrey, David, Marvin and Felicia; siblings, Doyle Fred, Troy Fred and Trina Gomez; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Traditional Native American visitation will be held at Kim’s residence starting on Saturday, June 26, at 11 a.m.

Graveside funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Tuesday, June 29, at 11 a.m.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

: Editor; Posted On Tuesday, 13 July 2021 01:54; 13 July 2021

Bill Lawver

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Bill Lawver, a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle, passed away on July 6, 2021.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Lorna; his son, Darell, and his daughter-in-law, Diane; his daughters, Dara and Shellie; his grandchildren, Daniel, David, Jennifer, Jayson and Ross; his sister, Darlene; and many other grieving family members.

Born on Jan. 16, 1931, in Watonga, Oklahoma, Bill was a wrestler in high school and was awarded a scholarship to wrestle in college. However, he chose to turn down the scholarship in order to attend his favored Oklahoma State.

With the onset of the Korean War, Bill left school to join the United States Air Force, where he proudly served from 1950 to 1954. Among other places, he was stationed in England and the infamous base in Roswell.

Bill moved to California in 1963 and settled in Sonoma. He met the love of his life, Lorna, in 1963 at Beasley’s Restaurant in Petaluma. They married on Aug. 21, 1966, and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary next month.

Bill moved his family to Lake County in October of 1970 where he proudly raised his three children. He and Lorna joined the KonoTayee community in 1979, and Bill remained a member of that community until his death.

Bill’s professional life was varied, including working as a loan officer for UCB Bank, as a hospital administrator for Hillside Community Hospital, as the assistant assessor of Lake County, and after a break to personally build his own home, he finished his career as an appraiser for Mendocino County.

Bill took an early retirement in 1991, and Bill and Lorna enjoyed many years camping, fishing, boating on their houseboat “Happy Ours,” taking cruises, traveling in their RV, and visiting their timeshare in Cancun.

He was the champion of the family’s annual Horseshoe Tournament multiple times, and even won a championship at the Lake Shasta Boaters Horseshoe Tournament.

One of Bill’s very special places was Eagle Lake, where he and Lorna spent over 20 happy Septembers there, catching trout with beloved family members.

Above all, Lorna and his family meant everything to Bill. He loved all his family, and he was loved by all of them.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the family still gathered to celebrate Bill’s 90th birthday via Zoom this last January. During that celebration his grandsons told him he was an inspiration to them, teaching them how to be a good man. They aspire to be the husband, father and man he taught them how to be by example. His granddaughter also learned from him how to be a valuable member of the community and a wonderful human being. He was a sterling example to the whole family.

There will be a celebration of Bill’s life on Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. at The Chapel of the Lakes, N. High St, in Lakeport.

The burial and military honors will follow at the Upper Lake Cemetery, Clover Valley Rd, Upper Lake.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Bill’s honor.

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 27 June 2021 02:00; 27 June 2021

Donald Prather

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Donald Prather was born on June 5, 1956, the youngest of seven sons to Lilburn Robert Prather and Evelyn Prather Wolfe.

Donny lived on Cobb and roamed the countryside with his brothers and friends. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother and grandfather. Donny made an impression on those who touched his life.

Donny was an accomplished drummer whose first paying job was at age 8 with his mother, performing in venues throughout Lake County.

He mastered everything that interested him including the drums, songwriting and recording music for himself, his brothers and friends. The Prather Bros. Band has played for 50 years and opened at Konocti for well-known bands such as the Doobie Brothers, Kansas and the Guess Who.

He was a self-taught man who enjoyed many hobbies such as music, RC cars and 3D printing. There was very little that Donny couldn’t fix, improve on, create or invent.

During his 32 years working as a heavy equipment operator for the Lake County Road Department, he supervised the county’s chip seal programs along with the many projects he undertook.

For all who knew Donny, they will miss his humor, smile and laugh; his deep love and pride for his children and family; his mentorship and his incredible intelligence. His passing is a true loss for a family and community.

Donny ended his journey on June 19, 2021, and leaves behind his wife, Mary; children, Tara and Donny Junior; grandson, Colten; stepchildren, Eva and Erik; father and wife, LR Prather (Carol); stepfather, Dick Wolfe; brothers and wives, Steven (Jennifer), Mike (Kathy), Gary (Cathy), Danny and Tim (Linda); first wife, Sharon Ornellas; and numerous relatives.

He is predeceased by his mother, Evelyn and brother, Darryl.

Donny talked about having ice cream social with friends when he was feeling better and to honor his wish there will be one held later in the summer.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 26 June 2021 00:36; 26 June 2021

Delmar Lee Fellers

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Delmar Lee Fellers passed away March 16, 2021.

He was born in Oregon on March 27, 1938.

His mother (Daisy) brought Delmar and his brother Clifford to Pittsburg, California, during World War II.

Later in the 1940s they moved to Lake County where Daisy met and married Mario Lucchesi (of the Lodge Bar and Restaurant fame).

Delmar attended Burns Valley Elementary and Lower Lake High School, graduating in 1956.

While in high school he participated in a work/school program at the local Bank of America branch which started his career in banking.

He later entered a training program with the bank which ultimately led him to become a vice president with postings to international banking in Hong Kong, Spain and Chile.

He later returned to the United States as a lending officer to some of the biggest builders in the country.

Delmar was not born into wealth. He had to hustle and hustle he did. After his banking career he owned and operated several successful businesses in the Clearlake area.

He was a past member of the Lakeshore Lions Club and a director of the Highlands Water Company.

Delmar lost Jeanette, his wife of 61 years, in 2018. At the end of his life he was comforted knowing that they would be together again.

Delmar leaves behind his son, Steven; daughter, Karen; brothers, Clifford and Jocko; sister, Penny; and many old friends.

He was a good guy and will be missed.

Obits

Leslie Merton Snyder

Ashley Penrose

Kim Mitchell

Bill Lawver

Donald Prather

Delmar Lee Fellers

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