LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Nancy Grebnau passed away Dec. 1, 2013, at the age of 74.

She leaves behind her children, Sharesa, Sheena, Christina, Shori Price, Trina Denton, Daniel Rice, Danice, Andrew, Alicia, Oliver Bond, Vicki, Nicole, Cory Warden, Mike Fontaine, Tamara Ryan and Joshlyn Rector Grebnau.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eric.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A memorial service for Richard and Dorothy Mertz of Clearlake Oaks will be held this Saturday, Dec. 14.

The service will begin at 3 p.m. at Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church, 12487 The Plaza. Pastor John Pavoni will officiate.

Richard “Dick” Mertz, 78, died recently at the Veterans Hospital in Livermore.

His wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Baines Mertz, 84, died May 11.

Dottie Mertz was born March 18, 1929, in Pickens County, Alabama.

She was an active member of Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church. Dottie was loved dearly by family and friends, including friends of her longtime residence in Clearlake Oaks. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Richard Mertz was born Sept. 13, 1935, in Williamsport, Penn.

He joined the Navy when he was 17 and was an Aviation Electronics Technician AT2 1952-1956 with VP-21 in Brunswick, Maine and served from 1958-1962 with VP-30 and flew on the P-2 Neptune. He was awarded the National Defense Ribbon during his first enlistment. He was an Electronics Technician at Kaiser Electronics.

Richard was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was most at peace while in the woods, field, lake, pond or stream. Richard will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents, Sam W. Baines and Lucy Plowman Baines of Gordo, Ala., and her brother, Joe Baines.

Richard was preceded in death by his mother Emma “Sue” Totten and stepfather Marvin Totten of Clearlake Oaks.

Together, their survivors include sons, Jerry W. Smith of Gordo and Terry Smith (Marie) of Tuscaloosa; daughter, Ann Nyberg (John) of Modesto, Calif.; Dottie's sister, Louise Huffman of Gordo; Dottie's brother, Dale Baines (Linda) of Gordo; six grandchildren, Ronald Smith (Tania) of Reno, Nev., Jennifer Smith of Tuscaloosa, Jessica Harcrow (Chris) of Tuscaloosa, David Nyberg of Modesto, Calif., Victoria Murti (Ben) of Orange County, Calif., and Soll Avelino (Karla) of Valley Village, Calif.; and 10 great-grandchildren.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A great man, James Andrew Tarpley, went to rest with the angels on Dec. 7, 2013.

He has touched so many lives and will be remembered by all.

Jim was the oldest of three children born to Mirl James and Grace Fern Tarpley on July 18, 1937, in La Grande, Ore. He moved to Lake County in the early 1950s.

Jim had many hobbies and jobs. He worked for Tule Lake Bean Farm, drove hops to Hopland, built concrete swimming pools and eventually found his passion as a pump technician.

He was a member of many groups including Lake County Rod and Gun Club, Elk Mountain Gun Club and the Lions Club.

Jim absolutely loved being outdoors. His favorite hobbies were hunting, fishing, camping, collecting guns, flying in airplanes and taxidermy.

He wore many hats, some of them being: volunteer firefighter with the Upper Lake Fire Department, a firearms dealer, a race car driver with his brother Lee and being a hunter safety instructor.

Jim also was one of the best trap shooters in Lake County in the early 1970s and won many awards. He was a very knowledgeable man who loved to read books and fell in love with the Internet.

He successfully owned and operated his own pump company, Jim's Welding and Pumps, for more than 20 years with the help of his two sons, Jimbo and Jeff, his brother Lee, and his grandson Joe.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Mirl and Grace; and the mother of his three children and wife of 43 years, Sally Esther Tarpley.

He leaves behind many family members including his wife, Rebekah Tarpley, and her three children, Jeffrey, Miles and Danielle; his sons, Jimbo and Jeff (Mary); his daughter, Debbie (Chris); his brothers, Lee and Ted (Nancy); his granddaughters, Jamie (Joe) and Nikki; his grandsons, Jeffrey, Robert and Tony; his nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of life for Jim on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m. at his son Jeff's house, located at 12130 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake. There will be a potluck lunch, so please bring a small side dish and your memories to share with all.

For more information, please contact Jeff at 707-349-8277 or Jamie at 707-349-3737.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Brandon Brian Helmer was taken to be with our Lord on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013.

Brandon was born on June 14, 1987, in Modesto, Calif.

He moved to Lakeport in March 2010 to start a new job, bringing his family with him. Brandon had just purchased a home for his family in Kelseyville in February 2013, where he was currently residing. He worked for TCS Metals at the Lakeport Transfer Station since March 2010.

Brandon and his wife, Kate, attended Grace Church in Kelseyville. Brandon was involved in the children's Awana Program at Grace Church as a leader, and was involved as a church usher.

Brandon knew no strangers. He had a charisma that made everyone that met him immediately like him. He was always trying to learn new things, such as speaking Spanish from the men he worked with and customers he grew to know at the transfer station.

He had a way of making everyone around him laugh, even when you wanted to be mad at him.

Brandon was so in love with God and his family. He leaves behind his wife, Kate Helmer; his three daughters, Kameron, 8, Audrey, 5, and Maylee, 3; and a new baby that is due in June.

He also is survived by his mother Annie Yarnell and stepfather Richard Yarnell of Modesto; three sisters, Maranda Yarnell of Monterey, Marissa Yarnell of Modesto and Amber Helmer, who resides in Idaho; and his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

There will be a celebration of life service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville.

Donations can be made online at http://www.gofundme.com/5nt0ro .

LUCERNE, Calif. – Robert Kizer passed away Dec. 3, 2013, at his Lucerne home.

Robert was a retired truck driver, an avid reader and fisherman.

He is survived by his wife Mildred; children, David, Kay and Karen; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Surrounded by family and wonderful friends, Gayla Whitehead went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, after a nine month battle with cancer.

Gayla was born in Topeka, Kansas, on Feb. 28, 1955, to Frank and June Bunce, and moved to Lakeport, Calif., in 1972. She married John Whitehead in 1974.

She was employed in the local construction industry for 35 years, finishing her career as an office manager for Lake Aero Styling at Lampson Field, Lakeport.

Gayla, in addition to her husband and parents, is survived by her daughter, Staci of Topeka, Kansas; her son, Brandon of Vancouver, Wash.; goddaughter, Stacey May Mansell of El Dorado Hills; brothers, Joe (Francis) Bunce of Hidden Valley Lake, Pete (Joni) Bunce of Casper, Wyo., and Jeff Bunce of Topeka; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Hospice Services of Lake County; great friends, Donna Bruch, Paula Connors, Loa Booth and Mike Davidson (and spouses for their understanding); and innumerable others for their wonderful care and compassion during Gayla's illness. Without their help, the task would have been insurmountable.

A celebration of life is planned for a later date.

The family prefers donations to an animal rescue organization of your choice or take the opportunity to pay kindness forward in her memory.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .