Category Archives: In Memory

Valerie Jean Brooks — Class of 1977

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Valerie Jean Brooks, born on June 5, 1959, in China Lake, California, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, in Riverside, California. Valerie dedicated her professional life as a sub-contractor for Searles Valley Minerals, contributing her skills and expertise over many years.

A long-time resident of Trona, California, Valerie was a devoted and loving mother to her two daughters, Jessica M. Sizemore and April Miller (Sizemore). Throughout her life, she cherished the moments spent with her family, and her love for them was evident to all who knew her.

In addition to her daughters, Valerie leaves behind fond memories among her friends who will remember her kindness and warmth. She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald Milton Brooks and Catherine Andersen (Goodman), who shaped her into the remarkable woman she became.

Valerie Jean Brooks will be deeply missed by those whose lives she touched, and her spirit will live on in the wonderful memories shared by her family and friends. Her legacy of love and strength will continue to inspire those who knew her.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituaries/valerie-brooks?ttm_pid=210623895&ttm_affiliate=legacypro&ttm_affiliatetype=standard&ttm_campaign=legacy

John Means — Class of 1960

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JW Means III, age 83, of Reno, Nevada, died Friday, January 23,2026, at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. He was born November 7, 1942, in Red Mountain, California to the late JW and Violet (Williams) Means.

JW is survived by his wife of 62 years, Doreen M. (Neustatter) Means, two daughters: Michelle (Andrew) Stevens of Peoria, Arizona; Dorielle (Brian) Beck of Snohomish County, Washington; three grandchildren: Madison Stevens, Bailey Beckand Mackenzie Beck; and two siblings: Pam McBride and Maureen Ross. He also had a sister Connie Hedland who preceded him in death.

JW graduated from Trona High School in 1960. He also was very active as a professional bowler, golfer and trainer of dogs. He was a lifelong supporter of USC football and Los Angeles Lakers basketball. JW was a devotee of classic cars and enjoyed entering his 1964 El Camino in the annual proceedings of Hot August Nights in Reno.

Final arrangements are being handled by the Neptune Society in Reno, Nevada. A celebration of his life will be held by the family at a date to be determined in the future. In lieu of flowers or other acknowledgements, the family respectfully requests that a donation be offered in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, charities that were dear to JW and that he supported during his life.

Virginia Ruth Hall

Virginia Ruth Hall — Class of 1955

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Virginia was born in 1937 in Oklahoma. Her family moved to Trona around 1947-1948. She had three brothers: Carl, class of 1958, Kenneth (1943-2019), class of 1961 and Richard (1945-2025), class of 1964. She was living in Chula Vista at the time of her death. Both of her parents are buried in the Searles Valley Cemetery.

Our condolences to her family.

Robin (Van Sickle) House — Class of 1982

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Robin House, born in Trona, California, passed away on December 18, 2026. She was raised in California and later made Arizona her home for nearly four decades. She was known for her kindness, compassion, and creativity. She loved reading and spent countless hours sewing, crocheting, and crafting. Making clothes, fabric pieces, jewelry, and purses brought her great happiness and allowed her to share her talents with others.

She worked for 12 years at DHL and later dedicated 10 years to Mesa Public Schools before
retiring. Her strong work ethic and caring nature were evident in everything she did. She is survived by her husband Ken, her son Jon, and her three sisters Sherri, Cindy, and Rhonda.
Her memory wili live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Robert Rascoe — Class of 1955

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I received an email from  Deril “Oogie” Schmitt telling me that his friend Bob Rascoe passed away on December, 21, 2025. In Genoa, Nevada. He moved there with his wife, Pat Finnelly in 2023. Bob and Pat dated in high school and reconnected again in 2018 and were married in 2020. Pat passed away in April of 2024.

The 1955 yearbook says Bob was Class president, Varsity Club president, was in the band for 4 years, played football for 4 years, played tennis, basketball and baseball. It would have been hard not to know who Bob was if you were going to Trona High School from 1952 to 1955. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more about his life after high school.

Our condolences to his family.

Leonard Terral — Class of 1952

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Leonard was born November 8, 1932 and passed away May 10, 2023. Today I noticed that his email address was no longer valid and I decided to investigate. I cannot tell you much about Leonard except that he lived in Ridgecrest and that I was good friends with his nephew, Chuck Terral before he moved to Bloomington, California.

Leonard’s picture wasn’t in the 1952 yearbook so I am assuming he left school to join the Army.

It is better late than never. My condolences to his family.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/254432075/leonard-garner-terral

Clark Curtin — Class of 1962

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On Thursday, September 25th, Clark Cameron Curtin, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed peacefully at home. He was born in Santa Monica, California; raised by his parents, Donald and Peggy Curtin, in Topanga Canyon and Trona. Clark loved the outdoors; cherishing memories of growing up in California’s coastal, inland, and desert environments. As a child, he enjoyed surfing and the beach; exploring the dense canyon hills, and the desert Pinnacles.

He is an alumnus of UCLA and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He started a family and began a career in accounting. He was hired as chief accountant for a resort development company, which brought him to the Lake Tahoe area. His experience in corporate accounting led him to pursue opportunities in the gaming industry, as well as starting his own successful tax preparation service in Kings Beach CA.

After his children were grown, his career in gaming brought him to Clearlake CA, and then on to Santa Teresa NM, where he has resided for 20 years. With an eye for design, and inspired by New Mexico’s local artisans, he became an ardent collector of Native American and Mexican pottery. He was an avid sports fan; also enjoying reading, hanging out at the local garage, and spending time with friends.

He valued his friendships throughout his life; many of which were formed in childhood, and lasting decades. He had a great love for dogs; until recently always having a canine companion or two by his side that brought joy, comfort, and fun to his life. Clark is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Peggy Curtin, sister Linda Bradley, and son Kevin Curtin. Clark is survived by his wife of 47 years, Suzanne Curtin; children, Sean Curtin (Kimberly), Shannon Secrist, and Colin Curtin; grandchildren Cassidy Ockene (Daniel), Riley Curtin, Christian Secrist, and Lev Curtin Lifshin; great grandson, Grayson Ockene; sister Kelly Clark (Ron); as well as many extended family members and loving friends.

Obituary: Clark Cameron Curtin

Cheryl J. (Hill) Sargent Hopkins — Class of 1961

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Cheryl J. Hill Sargent Hopkins, 82, of Polson, Montana, and formerly of Trona, California, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2025. She was born July 22, 1943, in Trona to Euvalva (Val) and Edith Pixler Hill.

At age 16, Cheryl married the love of her life, Kenneth Sargent. After Ken’s Navy retirement they returned to Trona. At the time of his passing they shared 44 wonderful married years. In 2006, she married Nick Hopkins, and they enjoyed many happy years together until his passing in 2022.

Cheryl was known for her creativity, kindness, and laughter. She loved cake decorating, crocheting, and sewing, and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, Pink Lady, and community helper. In her later years, she faced dementia with grace and courage.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Kenneth and Nick; brother Harold Hill; sister Donna Kramer; and daughter Delores Diane Sargent. She is survived by her daughter, Debra (Howard) Vassar; grandchildren Christopher (Andee) Vassar and Caitlyn (Verner) Rose; great-grandchildren Josephine, Diezel, Madalynn, Remy, Josephine and Huxlee; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 13, 2025, at the Searles Valley Cemetery in Trona, California, with a reception to follow at Haughton Hall. A memorial service will be held in Polson, Montana, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Haughton Hall, the Trona Senior Center, or a charity of your choice.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/cheryl-hopkins

Royce Henry Heseman — Class of 1943

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Royce Henry Heseman passed away peacefully in Ridgecrest, California on October
31, 2025 at the age of 99 years and 7 months. Royce was born on March 27, 1926 in
San Francisco, California to Henry and Elsie Heseman. He had one younger sister,
Viola. Royce lived in St. Louis, Missouri and Ontario, California before coming with his
family to live in Trona, California in 1937.

After attending school for a brief period in Inyokern, Royce finished his school career at
Trona High School, graduating from Trona in the class of 1943. Following graduation, Royce joined the Army Air Corps where he served our country during the end of World
War II as a belly gunner on the B17 bomber aircraft.

From his first marriage, Royce became the proud father of three children. Upon his
second marriage to Elaine Rummer, her three children also became part of the
Heseman family.

Heseman’s Argus Market, owned and operated first by Henry and Elsie, then by Royce
and Viola, became a legendary business in Trona for many years. People still talk
about how much they miss that store that carried everything a family needed with
service that was incomparable. The business was sold in 1981, and Royce and Elaine
moved to Ridgecrest where they lived out their days. Royce served his new community
by volunteering at the Salvation Army and delivering meals for Meals on Wheels.

Royce is survived by four of his six children, Kathleen Heseman Courts, Mike Heseman
(Jeanne), Kirk Heseman (Cathy), and Tim Rummer (Joanna); grandsons, Jeff Courts
(Jacqui) and Mike Courts (Jenny); great-grandchildren, Callie, Bailey, and Michael
Courts. He is also survived by his nephews, Mark, Hal, and Tad Smith. Royce was
preceded in death by Elaine, his wife of 63 years, his step-sons, Gary and Lynn
Rummer, and his sister, Viola Heseman Smith.

Royce will be laid to rest at Desert Memorial Park in Ridgecrest, California. A plaque will
be placed alongside that of Elaine. As per his request, services will be private, for
family only.

Royce Heseman was a kind and gentle man, full of integrity, who was very much loved
by his family and all who knew him.

Rest in peace, Dad.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/royce-heseman?fh_id=10738