Lake County News,California

Obits

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 29 July 2021 02:19; 29 July 2021

James A. Smith

James Arthur ‘Jim’ Smith
Feb. 7, 1943 — July 27, 2021

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — Jim Smith, 78, of Upper Lake, passed away July 27, 2021 after battling many health issues.

Jim was a very loving and caring husband, father and Papa to all of his much-loved family.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Marilyn; daughters, Gaylene and Shelly; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his loving son, Steven.

Military honors will be held at Upper Lake Cemetery on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 9:30 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at the Upper Lake Methodist Church at 10:30 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, 27 July 2021 01:10; 27 July 2021

Lyle Graf

"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." — Kahlil Gibran

Lyle Wayne Graf, 78, of Georgetown, Texas, passed away at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 19, 2020.

He was born on Jan. 6, 1942, in Cumberland, Wisconsin, to Marion Albee Graf and Frank Graf.

After graduation from Shell Lake High School in 1960, where he loved his time in basketball, baseball and football, he attended Wisconsin University LaCrosse, where he earned his education degree in 1964. He then enlisted in the US Peace Corps, where he served in Brazil for two years.

At the end of Peace Corps he set up in California, where he used his education to work in schools, the first to be in Sacramento teaching sixth grade. He ascended from there to a Junior High Principal in Sacramento.

During this principalship, he earned his master’s degree at the California State College in Sacramento. He then became superintendent of schools in Diamond Springs, California, in 1975.

For 12 years he remained in Diamond Springs until a higher salary level became his, at which point he earned his Doctorate in Education.

During his superintendency in Santa Rosa, California, following his marriage to Suzanne Joyce Lemke in Lake Tahoe, 1988, he traveled the state for golf tournaments with other superintendents in the Bay Area.

His last district was the most enjoyed; probably because it had two junior highs and one elementary, wherein his office was located. The primary students visited him each day, brought him presents which he shared with them, and wanted to make his office table their "desks."

It was a joyful end to his career, and he had smiling memories from Upper Lake Union Elementary District.

He and Suzanne both retired from education in 2001, when they moved their location to Georgetown, Texas, where they had 19 more happy years with his family, golf, concerts, world travel and Texas friendships.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne; sister, Barbara Hammes of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; brother, Frank Graf Jr.; and his surviving children, two adopted sons, Matthew Michand and his wife, Katherine, of Pflugerville, Texas, Andrew Michel of Austin, Texas; and one daughter, Anita Valoy, of Ithaca, New York. Wayne also adored his two grandchildren, Devin Michand and Abigail Michand.

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 25 July 2021 02:36; 25 July 2021

Betty Jansen Culbertson

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Betty Jansen Culbertson was born in Sacramento in 1924.

Graduating as senior class president from San Juan High School she began college at San Jose State University where she met her future husband Robert, both freshmen.

She attained a BA in education in 1947, with Robert earning his engineering degree before entering the Army Air Corps in World War II.

With three sons, Steven, Jeffrey and Robert IV, they lived throughout the Valley in Willow Glen, Campbell, San Jose and Los Gatos.

In a time when most spouses were housewives, Betty chose to follow her passion for teaching professionally at the kindergarten and elementary levels at Oak Grove and Los Alamitos schools. Inspiring her students with a love for their own creative instincts, she tempered this spirit with a respect for discipline.

The Culbertsons retired to “the Villages” in San Jose where they enjoyed golf, bridge and socializing with their many friends, living there for 26 years, vacationing in Lake County where they owned lakefront property. It is in Lakeport that they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary before Robert’s death in 2007.

Betty is survived by her three sons, Steven Dean, Jeffrey Dean and Robert Dean IV; grandchildren, Amy Arredondo and Robert Morgan Culbertson; and her eight great-grandchildren, Sofia, Sam, Sienna, Seth, Sadie, Ashby, Dannon and Heston.

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

: Editor; Posted On Wednesday, 28 July 2021 01:57; 28 July 2021

Martha Stokes Panella

Martha Stokes Panella
Oct. 21, 1957 — July 25, 2021

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Martha Stokes Panella, born Martha Blanche Stokes and called Muffie all her life, passed away in her sleep at her home on July 25, 2021, succumbing to metastatic breast cancer at age 63.

Family members cared for her in her final weeks and joined together to surround her with love at her passing.

A lifelong resident, Muffie is a beloved member of a Lake County family that extends back multiple generations on both her mother’s side (Monroe and Moore) and father’s side (Keithly).

An aptitude for accounting and attention to detail showed up in her early years, and Muffie worked in the office of her parents’ company, Stokes Ladders, and sold pears in the family’s farm stand to earn money for college.

At California State University, Chico, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, with a minor in nutrition. She worked in the office of Carpenter and Carpenter, CPAs, during the summers and continued there when she graduated and returned to Lake County.

In addition to continuing with the Carpenters and Stokes Ladders, she worked for a period for CPAs Leon Turner and Dan Panella, and in more recent years she worked at Clearlake Redi-Mix and had a number of private clients.

Muffie took real joy in her work and formed many warm relationships through it. She served her clients steadfastly until she recently became unable to work. Her adding machine skills were legendary; she would have won the world championship for no-look speed and accuracy.

The center of Muffie’s world was — and always remained — her children. She married Dan Panella in 1982, and together they had three children: Russell, Greg and Caitlin.

Muffie was the kind of mom who sewed individually designed sleeping bags for her children, baked them birthday cakes in unique shapes, taught them to raise chickens and gather eggs, and showed them in every way that they were loved. To this day, her home is filled with treasures from throughout her children’s lives.

After Dan Panella’s life was cut short at age 44, Muffie moved her family from Finley to a property on Bottle Rock Road, where she built a new home with a swimming pool and large shop. Her home and shop became the gathering area for her three children’s friends and their projects. During this time she was married to Greg Campbell, also of Kelseyville.

Muffie always had a smile and an open door, a generous heart, and a full refrigerator for hungry teens and twenty-somethings. In recent years, she treasured her time with her four young grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Muffie remained part of a tight knit group of friends from grade school, hosting summer reunions at her home. Everyone — family, friends and colleagues — found her to be exceptionally generous, willing to lend a hand and put others’ problems before her own.

She brought a high level of efficiency, reliability and organizational skill to any task she took on, whether it was organizing the vendors at the annual Kelseyville Pear Festival or preparing payrolls for businesses.

Muffie is survived by her son, Russell Panella; her son, Greg Panella, daughter-in-law, Allison Panella, and grandchildren Audrey, Daniel and Jocelyn; her daughter, Caitlin Panella, her partner Chris Carlino, and granddaughter Finley.

She is preceded in death by her father, Russell Stokes; her sister, Sheryl; and her niece, Sherita; and is survived by her mother, Janice Stokes; brother, Syd Stokes and sister-in-law Diane Henderson; sister, Laura Stokes and sister-in-law, Amy Schliftman; brother, Pete Stokes, sister-in-law, Heather Stokes, nephews, Peter and Graham, and niece, Sylvie; niece, Marcela and nephew, Javier, as well as her companion, Bill Fleming, and an extended family of cousins.

A celebration of Muffie’s life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the home of Janice Stokes, located at 2970 Merritt Rd, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

To honor her generosity and faith in family, cook a nice meal and enjoy it with your family or share it with a friend.

Please direct any questions to Allison Panella, 707-483-2383.

: Editor; Posted On Sunday, 25 July 2021 23:59; 25 July 2021

Kenneth Kelley

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Kenneth (Ken) Kelley, 74, of Kelseyville passed away suddenly July 21, 2021.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother is survived by his wife of 35 years, Karen; children, Patrick and Theresa; stepchildren, Suzanne and Cheryl; sisters, Joan and Bonnie; brother, Glen; seven grandchildren; and former spouse, Shari.

Ken was born in Central City, Nebraska.

He joined the Navy and worked as a carpenter most of his life.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Lillian (Veed); brothers, Dennis and Mike; and sister, Janet.

A celebration of life will be held Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their home in Kelseyville.

: Editor; Posted On Saturday, 24 July 2021 03:28; 24 July 2021

Hason Johnson

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hason Johnson entered into rest July 19, 2021, at the Elem Tribal Community in Clearlake Oaks, California.

Hason Johnson was born Nov. 1, 1947, in Choctaw Country Idabel, Oklahoma, to Leo Dale Johnson and Eva Carolyn Johnson.

Hason was the eldest of his siblings, Eva, Darlene, James, Carol and Dave Johnson.

He graduated from James Logan High school in Union City, Cabot Jr College in Hayward and Cal State University in Hayward where he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and became a CPA.

Hason was Oakland city assistant auditor for numerous years, as well as a fiscal officer in tribal government.

He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War and was active in supporting other Native American veterans.

Hason married his loving wife, Geraldine Brown Johnson, in 1975 in Nevada.

His interests included traveling to many continents following the Grand Prix. He enjoyed oldies like the Beach Boys. He was a Raider fan and a long-time bay area Oakland A’s and Golden State Warriors fan.

Hason was very athletic and played basketball, men’s fast-pitch softball and was an avid golfer. He sponsored Native American youth boy’s basketball teams in Lake County.

Hason is survived by his daughter, Jessica Brown; brother, Dave Johnson; sisters, Carol and Darlene; brother-in-law, Jim Brown III; sister-in-laws, Gail Brown and Carol Brown; granddaughters, Virginia and Angela; grandsons, Xalya and Ryan; 23 nieces and nephews and over one hundred great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Hason is predeceased by his parents, Leo and Eva Johnson; brother, James Johnson; wife, Geraldine Johnson; and granddaughter, Niyla Anita Brown-Gonzalez.

Traditional Native American visitation will be held for Hason Johnson at Elem Community Center in Clearlake Oaks, starting on Friday, July 23, 2021 until Monday, July 26, at 10 a.m.

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

Obits

James A. Smith

Lyle Graf

Betty Jansen Culbertson

Martha Stokes Panella

Kenneth Kelley

Hason Johnson

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