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Gloria (Higgins) Stowers Trachsel — Class of 1945
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Category Archives: Obituary
Jess Ygnacio Dominguez — Class of 1959
Linda Cunningham Monroe asked me to pass this along:
I am sad to report the passing of our friend, classmate and very talented artist, Jess Dominguez, class of 59. Jess was the “best of the best!” He was smart, compassionate, thoughtful, kind, funny and talented.
He taught at San Diego State University and retired from there in 2002.
In our 50-year reunion book he said that the lesson he had learned from life was to follow your heart, do things for the right reasons and judge yourself before you judge others”. That would be Jess, listening, observing, always learning, and forever accepting.
If you visit San Diego, you will likely see one of his many sculptures. I will send photos of just a few.
Rest in Peace, Jess.
Linda
If you’d like to contact his wife, Mary Lynn you can email her leave a message here and I will forward it to her or contact me and I will send you her contact information.
The statue, named Forever at the Finish Line, currently stands at 90th street and the East Drive at Central Park. On the first Sunday of November, however, park workers lift the 600-pound sculpture from its sturdy base into a truck, carefully driving it to a location near the Marathon’s finish line.
Judy Atwood — Class of 1960
Judy Atwood was diagnosed with stage four cancer on the 8th of February after being hospitalized on the 1st of February. She passed away February 22nd. A Celebration of Life service will be on April 15th at the First United Methodist Church in Arroyo Grande, California. The time is not set yet but will probably be at 11:00 a.m. She is survived by: Cristy (Atwood) Van Hook (class of 1966) and her husband, Lamar; her nephew, Cody Castleman and her cousins. Special friends she worked with in Kansas also survive her and she will be missed by the congregation of the church in Arroyo Grande.
Rhonda Lee (Larson, Gurule’ (gur-LAY)) Straayer
Rhonda is the half sister to David Larson, class of 1962 and Marla (Larson) Dickson, class of 1966. If Rhonda had graduated in Trona she would have been in the class of 1971. Her obtuary follows:
Aged 69, born to parents Lawrence and Alice (Rice) Larson on July 12, 1953 in Trona, California and deceased (she will never die, in our hearts) on January 10, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. “Willow” is survived by her loving husband of 19 years, Steven “Doc” Straayer; brother, Leo (Helen) Larson, of LaJolla California; children, Matthew (Michelle) Gurule’, Austin (Kellie) Gurule’, Gayle (Tim) Gallagher and Ryan (Sedef) Gurule’; grandchildren, William and Henry (Matt) Gurule’, Rio and Rook (Austin) Gurle’, Gwendolyn and Emilia (Gayle) Gallagher and Atesh (Ryan) Gurule’ all of Northern California, and her BFF Kathy Gavin. She was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence Larson and Alice Hughes.
Rhonda’s love for people led her to obtain a Baccalaureate degree in Social Work from Long Beach State University in California. After completing her degree Rhonda married her first husband and raised four wonderful children while working as a Teacher’s Aide in Northern California. In the next chapter of her life, she moved to Jackson, Michigan and married the Love of her life. She continued working first as a Teacher’s Aide for a few years and then as an Aide on the countryside retirement campus until she retired.
An avid baseball fan, she continued to root for ‘her’ Giants while adopting the Tigers as her favorite American League Team (the 2012 Fall Classic was a conflicted time in our household). She also learned to enjoy wine tasting while traveling to Sonoma County to visit her precious Grandchildren, the true joy of her life. Rhonda was happiest when she was caring for others. Her kind and giving spirit will live on in the hearts of all who love her. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and we will sprinkle the Ashes of our beloved Wife, Mother and Grandmother in a Sunny Meadow in Sonoma County California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cascades Humane Society (she loved the little critters, too!).
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/jackson-mi/rhonda-straayer-11101902
Donna (Rich) Phillips — Class of 1963
Donna passed away on December 22, 2022. I will post more information when it becomes available. She is the younger sister of Doris Rich class of 1953, and Buddy Rich class of 1955. Her cousin was Roy Wheeler class of 1960. Her brother-in-law was Bill Fuller class of 1951. Bill Fuller’s cousin was Harvey Crandall class of 1957.
Obituary
Donna Jane Phillips the daughter of John and Inez Rich was born January 5, 1946, in Trona, California, and departed this life on December 22, 2022, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at the age of 76 years, 11 months and 17 days.
Donna loved her family. She enjoyed the outdoors whether she was working in her garden, taking care of her horses, or just enjoying some time fishing. She loved to cook, especially for her family. Her grandkids made her the most happy. Donna touched many lives over the years and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother John Buddy Rich; her sister Doris Fuller and her grandson Chase Cape.
She is survived by a loving family which includes her children Paul Phillips of Bakersfield, CA, Angie Sweeten and husband Craig of Durant, Chris Cape of Tahlequah, Janez Worster and husband Rich of Arizona and Jody Lynn Dallis of Tahlequah; 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives also survive her.
https://obituaries.tahlequahdailypress.com/obituary/donna-phillips-1086889283
https://tahlequah.hartfuneralhome.net/obituary/Donna-Phillips
Freda Jean (Rains) Gonzalez — Class of 1961
Freda Jean Gonzalez, 79, passed away after battling a number of prolonged illnesses, August 12, 2022 at Antelope Valley Care Center, Lancaster, Calif. She was born May 18, 1943 in Norman, Oklahoma, daughter to Earnest and Carrie Mae (Wilson) Rains.
Although she spent the majority of her high school years at Trona High School, Trona, Calif., Freda completed her studies at Sherman E. Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest, Calif., Class of 1961.
Marrying her high school sweetheart, John Gilbert Gonzalez, they began their married life and soon welcomed a daughter. As a family, they settled in Glendale, Calif., where Freda had a long career of 30+ years as a Cosmetologist where she had a loyal and extended clientele. In her spare time, Freda liked watching and playing golf, watching football (USC Trojans were her favorite), cooking, reading, listening to music, and traveling along the West Coast where she would enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air and warm sun.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by; one brother, Ray Rains, of Trona, Calif. and her two sisters, Maxine (Rains) Mower and JoAnn (Rains) Wright also of Trona, Calif. Survived by; one daughter and son-in-law, Saundra and Ross Horman of Lancaster, Calif., one granddaughter, Nicole Williams of Marysville, Washington, one brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and Lisa Rains of Trona, Calif., as well as many nieces and nephews.
At Freda’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Instead, she asked that friends and loved ones celebrate her life by living each day to its fullest and enjoy spending time together.
See the original here:
Vicki Jo Hudson — Class of 1974
Vicki Jo Hudson was born on May 20,1956 in Trona, California. She passed away peacefully on July 30,2022 in Ridgecrest, California. She is survived by her son Joseph T. Bing. Vicki Jo was Trona High School’s homecoming queen in 1974.
Keith Pinman – Class of 1967
Keith C. Penman, 73, of Terre Haute passed away peacefully on May 1, 2022, after a long fight with Alzhei- mer’s Disease.
He was born June 22, 1948, at home in Vigo County to the late John Robert Penman and Ella Mae (Britt) Penman. At the age of seven he and his parents moved to the desert community of Trona, California, southwest of Death Valley where they lived for years before returning to Terre Haute.
You can read the rest of Keith’s obituary by going here: https://obituaries.tribstar.com/obituary/keith-penman-1085090304
Alfred Wesley “Al” Travis — Class or 1969
Alfred Wesley “Al” Travis, 69, of Checotah, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at the OSU Medical Center of Tulsa. Al was born on November 13, 1951, in San Fransisco, California, the son of James William and Ann Mae (Henderson) Travis. He graduated from high school in Trona, California in 1969. He worked for the Harrington’s Service Center in Choctaw, Oklahoma for over ten years. He then owned TNT Landscaping for over twenty years before retiring. On March 25, 1988, Al married Kathy Lyn Weygandt. They were happily married for thirty-three years. Al enjoyed working on golf carts and taking care of Twin Rivers Estate. He was the president of Twin Rivers.
Survivors include: his wife, Kathy, of the home; sons, Wes Travis and wife Cynthia of TN, Billy Travis and wife Aimee of MO, Paul Travis of MO, Derek Travis of Moore, and Jonathan Williams and wife Rebecca of Jones; daughters-in-law, Trisha Travis Ratliff and Christina Travis; brother, Gary Travis and wife Lisa of TN; sisters, Patty Galyardt and husband Chuck of TX and Dorothy Harvey of IL; sixteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Albert Travis, Sonny Travis and Jeannie Sanders.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233479100/alfred-wesley-travis
Nancy Elaine (Mullis ) Quidachay — Class of 1988
Nancy Elaine (Mullis ) Quidachay age 51 passed away very unexpectedly on November 26, 2021 in El Paso TX.
Nancy was born in Lone Pine, Ca on February 16, 1970, to Paul, class of 1958, and Patricia Mullis of Trona CA.
She went to school in Trona, nursery school through high school graduating in 1988. She enlisted in the US Army in 1988 after high school where she served 9 years. Her military duties took this small town girl to the following areas during the 9 years. Starting in For McMullan Al, Fort Monmouth NJ, Stuttgart Germany, Persian Gulf, Fort Irwin Ca, Korea and ultimately Fort Bliss TX.
Nancy while stationed in Germany met Vicente (Ben) Quidachay also in the Army and they were married December18, 1993. Together they have one daughter Leilani age 6. She had 4 adult step children, Vicente Quidachay Jr, Irene Cortez, Natasha Quidachay and Inas Quidachay, and 9 grandchildren.
Nancy attended Citrus College and became an LVN- she completed her RN training while serving in the Army. After returning from Korea her and husband Ben made their way to El Paso which they ultimately called home.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 28 years Vicente Quidachay, her daughter Leilani Quidachay, 4 adult step children and 9 grandchildren who always referred to her lovingly as “honey”. Her mother Patricia Mullis, brother and sister- in-law Michael and Melinda Mullis of Ridgecrest CA.
She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and patients.
Military Service is pending and will be held at Fort Bliss, El Paso TX.