Mary E. Williams, 89, of Treasure Coast, Fla., formally of Sutton, WV, died June 2, 2010, at Martin Memorial Medical Center, Stuart, Fla.

She was born on Oct. 11, 1920, in Hanford, Calif., to the late Kenneth Huntington and Elizabeth Fern Richardson Whitefield.

Mary was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, Fla. She and her late husband of 62 years, Lester W. Williams, raised their family in Sutton, and founded Williams Wood Products and Les Williams Marina before moving to the Treasure Coast area in 1972.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, husband and a son, Lester Lee Williams.

Surviving her are sons and daughter-in-laws Kenneth and Shirley Williams of Hobe Sound, Fla.; Stephen and Joanna Williams of East Bank, WV; her daughter; Cheryl Houghton of Gassaway, WV.; her sister; Lila and husband David Lewis of Upper Lake, Calif.; four grandchildren; and several great- and great-great grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at Green-Robertson Funeral Home, Sutton. Burial followed the service in the Sutton Cemetery.

The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society 301 RHL Blvd. Suite 6 & 7 Charleston, WV 25309.

Ruth Decker was born in Sweden on Nov. 16, 1914, and passed away in Sacramento on March 6, 2010, with friends by her side.

When she was just 7, her family immigrated to the United States, stopping first at Ellis Island.

She met the love of her life, Harold Decker, in Oakland where her family had settled. They formerly owned the Richmond Yacht Harbor. They later sold it and bought an orchard in Scotts Valley where they planted pears.

She was an avid sailor, winning many trophies and was an avid tennis player. She enjoyed her house on the lake, and enjoyed crappie fishing as well as swimming in the lake up until she was 88 years old.

Ruth had a certain gusto for life and will be sadly missed.

She is survived by many friends and family and a son, Tom. She was preceded by her husband Hal and her six siblings.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a favorite charity. A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at a later date.

June Murray died Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

June Murray, a resident of Kelseyville, Calif., since 1993, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from complications resulting from a fall.

Born in San Francisco she was an accomplished musician as was her father, noted concert organist Raymond White.

She worked her way through San Francisco State College in part by playing numerous church organs. Before graduating cum laude with a degree in music she met and married a fellow student Connel Murray, and thereafter bore him three daughters and a son.

In l968 the Murrays left the Bay Area to move to Alaska, where they jointly opened that state's first fully-accredited advertising and public relations agency. Called Murray-Alaska and later Murray-Bradley, it soon grew to be the state's largest, at one time employing some 40 communications specialists. It is now known as Bradley-Reid.

June Murray served as vice president and director of media for the firm, assuming responsibilities for planning and buying millions of media dollars for a wide range of clients, including oil companies, airlines and government agencies.

At the same time she was raising her family and participating in community and business affairs, including the advisory board of the Anchorage Library and President of the Advertising Federation of Alaska. In 1981 that group named her as "Advertising Professional of the Year."

Five years later, with their children grown and gone, the Murrays elected to move to Seattle to manage a branch office established there earlier, with June assuming the presidency of this independent firm.

Avid boaters since their days in San Francisco, the Murrays seized the chance to explore the waters of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska on a succession of boats.

In 1998 the Murrays returned to Alaska, this time with Connel acting as the state's travel director. The travel opportunities and experiences of this position created a love in June for visiting and exploring new places, and thereafter the Murrays became dedicated travelers.

After leaving government service they returned to their roots, settling in the Clear Lake Riviera in Lake County, where they again involved themselves deeply in community affairs. June served on the board of directors of the Lake County Arts Council, and later on the board of Clear Lake Performing Arts – a post she held until her death. She had also been elected as president of CLPA's Auxiliary group

June Murray was widely respected, loved by many and admired by most, especially her family.

Along with her husband, she is survived by daughter Erin Kruse of Houston, Alaska, and her three children, Ian and Matthew, both of Anchorage, and Rebecca, also of Houston, as well as great-granddaughter Alorah; daughter Alison Murray of Seattle with grandson John; and son Connel Raymond and his wife Mary, and their daughter Shannon and son Connel Dean, of Edmonds, Wash.

Family members will announce a celebration of life to take place some time during late spring or early summer.

Franklin Toney Jr. died on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at age 44. Courtesy photo.

A gift from God arrived to bless the world on July 6, 1965, and was given the name Franklin Toney. It is with deep, heartfelt sadness that his family announces that Frank Toney, 44, of Clearlake Oaks, was suddenly stolen from us on May 30. We are all shocked and in disbelief that we will no longer see his smiling face – and those of you who know him remember him best by his big smile! And what a great smile it was ... warm, friendly, true and real. Frank truly loved people and you just knew it by his radiant smile.

There are literally hundreds of people who know and mourn the loss of Frank in our lives. Frank's list of friends would take volumes to write, so we will only list his family here. Please know, you are special and you are not forgotten.

The list includes, but is not limited to: Frank's pride and joy, his beloved son Parker James Toney, who turned 7 last Friday, May 28; his partner, best friend and love, Janet Folmar and her son Dylan Hill, age 7; mom, Sue Burton, stepdad Jim Burton and father Frank Toney Sr., all of Clearlake Oaks; sister, Lynette Toney; brother, Duane Toney and wife Leticia; stepbrother, Tony Burton and wife, Cindy; half-sister Ilene Toney; nephews, Michael and Izzac Toney; nieces, Clorisse, Angelina, Susan Nicole and Lilliana Toney; aunts and uncles, Pat Pirtle, Don and Roberta Williams, Ralph and Yvonne Williams, Loretta Salvato-Williams, Nancy Williams, Robert and Louise Caver, Betty and Chris Holman, Jim and Pat Toney, Phyllis Toney, and Carl and Mary Burton; plus many cousins and even more friends.

Frank has worked as a Clearlake Oaks volunteer firefighter since age 16, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter, Redwood Empire Life Support ambulance paramedic, Homestake Mining Co. heavy equipment operator, various other jobs, and most recently with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as a maintenance operator 1 for the past five years. Frank also served as a water board member to ensure the quality of water safety and to keep water rates affordable for his community. Frank was a member of the Clearlake Oaks and Legion Moose since age 21.

Frank's spirit touches lives and will continue to through the good will he performed in our community and millions of random acts of kindness that he gave us. Frank is a blessing to his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers and the Lake County community-at-large for his big heart and generosity. To say he will be missed does not give adequate tribute nor justice to this fine man who was so quickly taken from us. Frank will forever live on through us. May we all see him as the shining example he is and live our lives accordingly. May God bless our wonderful Frankie. We know you are in Heaven.

You may bid farewell to Frank this Friday, June 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jones & Lewis Mortuary in Lower Lake. There will be a memorial procession beginning at Northshore Fire Protection District's Clearlake Oaks Fire Station at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 6, proceeding to the memorial ceremony at the Lower Lake High School Gymnasium – where Frank graduated in 1983 – at 1 p.m. Following the memorial ceremony, the memorial procession will continue to the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge at the “Y” at Highways 20 and 53.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the trust fund set up at Westamerica Bank in Clearlake for Frank's 7-year-old son Parker James Toney, who also lost his mother Karen Tucker just eight short months ago.

Donations also be made in Frank's memory through the California Transportation Fund Assistance Fund, with all the proceeds going to his family. Checks should note “Toney” in the memo line and be mailed to CTF, P.O. Box 160534, Sacramento, CA 95816.

Love one another.

Longtime Lake County resident David James, a mentor to many local leaders and community members, died Feb. 13, 2010. He was 81.

David Lorey James, longtime Lake County resident, died at home Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010.

David was born Feb. 5, 1929, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. A graduate of the Ohio State University, with a degree in accounting, David became a CPA and had a 31-year career with Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst and Young).

Starting in Cleveland, Ohio, his career took him to Caracas, Venezuela, for three years and then to the Los Angeles office in 1959. In 1961 he opened a new office in Santa Ana. In 1969 he returned to Los Angeles as the managing partner. In the early 1970s David became the western regional partner. He accepted a special assignment to the New York office in 1980 and then retired in 1982 at the age of 53.

David and his wife, Loraine, moved to Lake County from Pasadena in 1978 when they purchased Pomo Ranch in Clearlake Oaks and planted one of Lake County’s earliest vineyards. David served on the Board of First Counties Bank and for many years was chairman of the board of the Clearlake Memorial Health foundation. He enjoyed the Judge’s Breakfast Club and the Lakeport Coffee Group.

Politics were important to David. He was active in both local and state Republican parties. David was chairman of the Lincoln Club in Orange Co. and served as chairman of the Orange Co. Republican Central Committee. Later he became the Finance Chairman for Ronald Reagan during the campaign for his second term. He was an active member of the Lake Elephants and participated in many local campaigns.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Loraine; daughter, Kathy Black of Huntington Beach; granddaughters, Kelly Curtis (Shawn) of Long Beach and Tracy Black of Costa Mesa; sister, Lorey Roggenkamp of Worthington, Ohio; sister-in-law, M. Evelyn Runyan of Eaton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the Little Theater, Lakeport Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice Services of Lake County, 1717 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453 or Northshore Fire Protection District, c/o Station 75, attn: Volunteer Assoc., 12655 E. Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 or The Salvation Army, Lake County Service Unit, P.O. Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834-8000.

Arrangements by Jones Mortuary.

Former Lake County Supervisor Carl M. Larson died Sunday, January 3, 2009, at age 81. Photo courtesy of Kelly Cox.

Former Lake County Supervisor Carl M. Larson passed away on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at the age of 81.

Born in Nebraska on Dec. 9, 1928, Larson was raised in Oklahoma and later joined the United States Air Force. He met Mavis, his wife and best friend, while stationed in England. Carl and Mavis recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.

Carl retired from the Air Force in 1974, after which he and Mavis moved to Lake County, having built a home in Clearlake Park and later relocating to Clearlake Oaks where he and Mavis have resided since 1982.

He was appointed by the Lake County Board of Supervisors to serve as the county’s planning commissioner for District 2 in January 1979, a position he held until February 1981 when he was appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. to fill an unexpired term for the District 2 Supervisor, after the death of Supervisor Bill Whalen.

In 1982 he ran for the seat unopposed and was elected to a full term. Upon completion of that term, he decided not to run for re-election and he retired in January of 1987.

Eight years later, friends and supporters talked him into coming out of retirement and running for the seat again. He was elected to his final four year term on the Board of Supervisors in 1994 and retired for the last time in January 1999, when Jeff Smith, the current District 2 supervisor, took office.

Throughout his years of service on the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Larson was known for his outstanding character, his integrity, his kindness and the dedication with which he served his constituents.

He served with distinction as the Board of Supervisors Chairman and represented the county of Lake on numerous committees, commissions and joint powers authority governing boards.

After retiring for a second time from the Board of Supervisors, Carl continued serving the community in several ways, volunteering as a member of the board of directors of the SPCA of Clear Lake and the SPCA Endowment Fund Board. He also served as a director of the Redbud Health Care District.

His public service and accomplishments on behalf of the people of Lake County earned him widespread appreciation and gratitude.

In addition to his wife Mavis of Clearlake Oaks, Larson is survived by several close friends, many of whom are his former colleagues in county government.

At his request, no services are being held. Donations in memory of Carl M. Larson may be made to the SPCA of Clear Lake or to the local charity of your choice.