Category Archives: In Memory

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 Today I noticed that his email address was no longer valid and I decided to investigate.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

Pauline Rae (Elledge) Martilla — Class of 1962

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Pailine’s oldest son Larry wrote this about his mother:

I lost my mom, Pauline (Elledge) Stevens Martilla, on the 19th of October 2025 . She was truly an amazing mother. She was born in Trona in April 4, 1943. Pauline lost her mother in 1961.

She rode dirt bikes and had me and then 5 other boys while living in Trona. She was always finding one of our animals from the desert in our drawers or hanging on a curtain rod or hissing at her in the kitchen.  She raised us, mostly on her own, after moving to California City and then to Lancaster.

She put herself through college in the medical field became a laboratory tech in Lancaster at the community hospital. Then she moved to the Ventura, California area where she started doing phlebotomies. After she retired she returned to the Lancaster and Palmdale area.

I love you mom and miss you already so much . I hope you are now smiling with Bob and your son, Steven, now.

Pauline was the daughter Laurence and Marie Elledge. Laurence was the postmaster in Trona in the 50’s 60′ and 70’s. Pauline’s son, Larry, remembers that his grandfather was also a barber in Trona. Her mother, Marie, who had been ill for quite a while passed away a few months after her first son, Larry, was born. Pauline’s third son, Steven, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1989.

Pauline has one sister, Janet Stanley, who is a member of the THS class of 1963.

Helen Ann (Dolman) Cunningham — Class of 1954

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Helen Ann passed away on August,19, 2024.

The 1954 yearbook says, “A newcomer to the class last year, Helen Ann livened up the cast of Nine Girls, the Junior class play. It is a shame Trona High School didn’t continue the tradition of presenting plays in the auditorium it would have made school much more interesting.

Helen’s sister,  Joyce “Mickey’ (Dolman) Vagasy, was in the class of 1957.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/273840169/helen-ann-cunningham

Ted Hall

Theodore “Ted” Hall — Class of 1956

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We recently learned of Ted’s passing. Ted graduated from Trona High School in 1956.

Ted was the son of John and Nettie Hall. He was the last of 10 children. The Hall family lived in Trona from about 1954 to 1960. Before moving to Trona they lived in Tulare County, CA. 4 of the 10 Hall children attended Trona High School. The other three were Harold Hall, class of 1957; Peggy Hall, class of 1959 and Jim Hall, class of 1961.

Ted was married to Sally Klein from the THS class of 1958.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Ted’s family.

Margaret Odine “Peggy” (Hall) Collier– Class of 1959

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Margaret Hall Collier age 83 passed from this Earth on April 11, 2024. She was born on December 6, 1940 in Woodville, CA the 9th of 10 children born to Nettie and John Hall.

She was in her youth, an avid athlete. Later in life she became an excellent bowler and golfer. Peg retired in 1999 after 28 years of service working for the Department of Defense U.S. Marine Corps. In her career she achieved many accomplishments and awards and retired as the Inventory Control Officer for the United States Marine Corps. She loved her Marines and served her country proudly.

She and her husband Russel (Russ) Collier moved to The Villages in 1999. They enjoyed traveling, cruising, golfing and dancing. In their lives together they rescued from shelters 6 dogs and loved all animals. They were active members of The Villages Community and are deeply missed by friends and neighbors.

Peggy came from a family of 10 children. The Halls were only in Trona for a few years and left before Peggy graduated. Three of her brothers also went to Trona High School, Ted ’56, Harold ’57, and Jimmy ’61.

Margaret Collier