Born Jan. 22, 1936, in his parents' home in Clearlake Park, Calif., Edward Garrison Coll Fitts passed away unexpectedly Jan. 22, 2012, on his 76th birthday.

From an early age, Ed worked with his father at the family business, Fitts & Holmes Boat Shop, selling and repairing Chris-Craft boats. In 1953, at the age of 17, he started working as a backhoe operator for Will Hodges.

In 1956 Ed joined the Lakeshore Volunteer Fireman's Association. He retired as a captain in February 1985. He was also a longtime member of the Clearlake Elks Lodge. Ed became a licensed sewer contractor in 1965, going into business for himself.  He continued to operate his backhoe up until his passing.

Ed loved everything about living in Lake County, especially the lake. From the time he was a child he spent countless hours boating, fishing, hunting, waterskiing, swimming and sailing.

He loved animals, especially his dogs. It wasn't often that he went anywhere without them.

He loved his house on the hill, his cars, his boats and all of the other treasures he acquired over the years. Ed was a kind and generous man who spoke his mind. He lived his life the way he wanted, working hard and playing harder.

Ed leaves behind his two daughters, Kathryn Fitts and Jennifer Fitts; his son-in-law, Corey Ferris; his three granddaughters, Samantha, Julia and Kathryn; his closest nephew, Lee Carmack; his brother, George, and sister, Alvina; his two dogs, Annie and Oscar Jr. (OJ); and many more beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ed had so many friends that he cherished we can not even begin to name them all. But you know who you are and he loved all of you and the time you spent together. Ed will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Ed's life will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at the Lake County Fire Protection District, 14815 Olympic Drive in Clearlake, beginning at 1 p.m. Donations can be made to the Lake County Volunteer Fire Fighter Association in lieu of flowers.

Ed's family entrusted arrangements to Jones & Lewis, Lower Lake, www.jonesandlewis.com.

Joseph Lewkowitz Jr. of Middletown, Calif., died on Jan. 3, 2012. He was 76 years old. Courtesy photo.

Joseph Lewkowitz Jr. of Middletown passed away on Jan. 3, 2012, after a long fight with diabetes and the complications that came with it.

His loving wife and caregiver of 54 years, Clarine, was by his side along with his children.

His survivors include his wife, Clarine; daughter, Vicki Lewkowitz (Paul Moore) of Middletown; son, Joseph Lewkowitz III (Theresa) of South San Francisco; son, Wade Lewkowitz (Christine) of Elk Grove and daughter Sarah Bucini (Craig) of Pacifica. He also leaves eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brothers, Jack and Victor; sisters, Terry, Fran and Darlene.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Charles.

Joe was born in Silver City, New Mexico, on March 27, 1935, to Joseph Sr. and Sarah Lewkowitz.

He proudly served his country in the US Air Force from 1954 to 1958. After returning, he landed a few different jobs but then became employed by Local 38 Steam-Fitters Union out of San Francisco. He was a proud Union worker and retired after 30 years.

Joe and Clarine moved to Lake County in 1984 and settled in Middletown. Joe found he preferred working to retirement, so he took a position in the Middletown Unified School District. He worked in several positions and was most recently known as “Security Joe.” He retired from the school district in June of 2010.

In his time he was an avid fisherman, hunter and scuba diver. Growing up, baseball was his passion and it took him as far as trying out for the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitcher. He was a faithful 49er and Giants fan and was a diehard Middletown High School Football supporter. He was a faithful member of the Lions Club, the NRA and was president of the Hobi Hobiknocker Club.

A celebration of life will be held at the Lions Club, 15399 Central Park Road in Middletown on Saturday, Jan. 21, at noon.

His family prefers that any donations in his name be made to the Middletown High School Booster Club or St. Joseph Catholic Church in Middletown.

He will be missed, but his family knows he is up in heaven with a whole new audience to entertain!

He was raised in Sonoma County, attending McNear, Valley Vista, Petaluma Junior and Senior High Schools.

He will be lovingly missed by his parents, Duane and Debbie Clarke; his aunts, Bridget McLeran and Gail (Steve) Wilkins; his cousins, Cristy, Candace, and Cody Cash; his stepbrother, Hudson (Lori) Clarke; as well as his father, Ricky Lamar Dee.

He lived his life like it was an adventure, and he endeared himself to all that knew him.

He was a waiter, sous chef, bartender, and DJ in establishments in Petaluma, San Francisco, Miami Beach and Manhattan.

A private family gathering will be held in Lake County, and a celebration of his life will be held for his friends in Petaluma during spring, his favorite season.

Donations can be made in his name, to your community's Boys and Girls Clubs of America here: https://secure2.convio.net/bgca/site/Donation2?df_id=4001&4001.donation=form1 .

Phyllis Gernns' life will be celebrated at a memorial on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Courtesy photo.

Phyllis Gernns, having begun life’s adventure on Dec. 22, 1923, and having married her greatest companion on the journey George Gernns on Nov. 15, 1947, has now left this life for the greatest adventure of them all, eternal life in that place prepared for her by her Lord.

In this life Phyllis traveled from the top of the world to the bottom and around it twice! Come and celebrate her journey with us at United Christian Parish (UCP) on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m.

Phyllis requested that any memorial gifts or donations be directed to United Christian Parish for the kitchen.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, Lakeport.

Charley Hershel McDaniel, born Nov. 13, 1921, in Jonesboro, Ark., passed away on Dec. 29, 2011, at the age of 90.

Known as “Bud” to friends and family, he was a devoted family man and outdoorsman.

Bud served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the South Pacific islands as an infantryman and was involved in several battles on different islands.

He was sent into Japan six weeks after the bombs were dropped, and discharged from the Army as a sergeant after serving four years.

Upon returning home after the war he married his wife, Inez, whom he was still married to when he passed away.

In the late 1940s Bud and Inez moved to Humboldt County, Calif., with their only child, where Bud went to work for awhile making roofing shingles in the redwood forests.

In the early 1950s Bud went to work for the Pacific Lumber Co. in Scotia, where he worked until he retired 35 years later.

In 1986 Bud and his wife moved to Lakeport to be closer to their son and grandchildren.

Bud loved his family and spent as much time as he possibly could with his family. He taught his son to hunt and fish and spent a great amount of time teaching his grandchildren about the outdoors.

He spent hundreds of hours teaching his grandsons how to trout fish on the Mad River, how to fish for salmon and steelhead on the Eel River in Humboldt County, and how to deer hunt in the mountains of Trinity County.

His grandchildren will never forget all of the camping trips on trout streams and hunting camps in the mountains with their grandparents.

His wife Inez was along on every single camping trip, and was constantly with him on the streams and rivers catching fish along side him.

He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, but they have lasting memories of their grandfather that will be cherished throughout their lives.

Bud was predeceased by his only child, retired Lakeport Fire Chief Chuck Hinchcliff.

He is survived by his wife Inez McDaniel; grandsons, Richard Hinchcliff (Denise) and Pat Hinchcliff (Jenelle) of Lakeport; granddaughter, Linda Rouland (Bob) of Chester; great-grandchildren, Deitra, Jamie, Shannon, Cerra, Kacie, Brent and Brooke; and great-great-granddaughter, Olivia.

Rest in peace, Grandpa.

Patricia Leon, age 70, passed away on Dec. 30, 2011. Formally of San Francisco, she has lived in Lake County for 30 years.

Patricia is survived by her family: daughters, Robin Shorten of Portland, OR, Donna (Quentin) Parker of West Linn, OR, Jennifer (Ricardo) Garcia of San Bruno and Rosa (Moses) Reyes Leon of Clearlake; sons, Andre (Jenny) Lopez Jr. of Cabot, AR, Filipe Leon Jr. of Clearlake and Anthony (Jessica) Leon of Sacramento. She also leaves behind her sisters, Robin Freeman of Clearlake and Shea Broerson of New Jersey; sister-in-law Gisela McClean of Florida; 21 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She loved to play gin rummy, playing the slots at Twin Pine Casino, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be held for Patricia at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Clearlake on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 11:30 a.m.