Friday, July 26, 2024
Silvia Maria Leonardo
December 21, 1939 – July 8, 2024
Posted on Fri, Jul 26, 2024 at 10:58 AM
With great sadness our beloved mother, Silvia Maria Leonardo passed away peacefully on July 8, 2024, at the age of 84 with both her children by her side.
Born December 21st, 1939, in Fortuna to John and Lena Saottini. Mom and her older brother Eugene were raised on their parents' dairy and vegetable farm in the Coffee Creek area of the Ferndale Valley. Spending her entire life in Ferndale, she attended Coffee Creek Elementary School then graduating from Ferndale High School in 1957.
Marrying Frank Leonardo in the spring of 1962. Settling in Grizzly Bluff. Together side by side they worked the dairy. Raising their two children Lydia and Frank. Mother's love for dairying led to her large cow collection, of which no two were alike. An avid card player, she enjoyed many hours spent with neighbors, friends and family playing her favorite card game 'Pedro'. She liked to win!
Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling with family and friends. Most memorable were trips to Reno, Willows, Tracy and visiting Italy and Portugal (Azores) They were both very proud of their heritage.
Besides family, volunteering and interacting with community brought her so much joy. A proud and generous supporter of many organizations. A lifelong member of Assumption Catholic Church, the Ladies Guild, helping with the church bazaar and fundraisers.
The District 1 Dairy Princess contest was among Mother's most rewarding and happiest days. So very proud of each and every contestant. Genuinely encouraging and comforting was her heartfelt nature. Her commitment to the contest and industry spanned over 40 years.
Not only serving on multiple Portuguese Celebration Committees over the years, she was also a member of the Supreme Council of the S.E.S. / PFSA organizations. Serving as Secretary of the Ferndale Council No. 98. Both Mom and Dad traveled throughout the state making forever friendships and memories.
Always eager to volunteer, Mother looked forward to sitting with friends and enjoyed greeting visitors of the Ferndale Museum.
Other organizations that she was a supporting member of were the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Ferndale Lions Club, Portuguese Hall Association, and the Lady of Fatima.
Survived by her two children Lydia Leonardo and Frank Leonardo. Stepdaughter Merrilee Mosher and Step Granddaughters Shanna Borgensen and Jenna Leonardo.
Proceeded in death by her parents John and Lena Saottini, husband Frank H. Leonardo, brother Eugene Saottini, Stepson Mark F. Leonardo, Brother and Sister in laws Charles and Mary Manzi, Allen (Timer) and Evelyn Paine, and Ione Franz.
A rosary-viewing will be held at the Assumption Catholic Church in Ferndale on Sunday, July 28th from 6 pm – 7 pm. Reciting of the rosary beginning at 7:00 pm. Mass of Resurrection at the Assumption Catholic Church on July 29th at 11 am.
Concluding services for family burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ferndale with reception to follow at Portuguese Hall.
Memorial contributions in Silvia's honor may be made to Assumption Catholic Church – Maintenance Fund, Ferndale Museum or to any charity of your choice.
Monday, July 15, 2024
Catherine Ellen Barnes
August 31, 1950- March 13, 2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Catherine Ellen Barnes went to do God's Laundry, her departing flight was out of Eureka. She loved the sensation of flight, as she would bungee jump over the waters of Mexico. Born in Long Beach, California, to Betty Jean Hubbard (Barnes /McElhill) and Philip Barnes, she spent time as a young person fishing in Humboldt County with her Grandmother Harriet "Jane" Hubbard. Having raised her daughters Wendi D. Wood, Deborah L. Hart, and Karyn B. Hart in Martinez, California, children of her marriage to Gregory E. Hart, she moved to Eureka in 1996 to enjoy the ocean with her grandchildren: Kelli Wood, Kevyn Harris, Dylan Hart Arnold and Gage Hart Arnold.
Being an excellent cook, she taught them how to run a proper kitchen and make pies. Any child under her influence emerged with excellent comprehension of the English language. She loved babies and considered her job done when they were able to speak in complete sentences. The friends of her children were taken under her wing as family, most notably Missy Ferguson.
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Gary Lee Markussen Jr.: 1951-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sun, Jul 14, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Gary grew up in Arcata, California, and spent his youth with friends and family throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties. In his younger years, Gary was a self-taught musician, which was a lifelong love of his and was something that he shared by teaching the guitar and performing in the Paul Moon Band. After high school, Gary attended Humboldt State University as an ITEPP student and met many lifelong friends while also teaching at College of the Redwoods as a student professor.
After college, Gary began his career focused primarily on Indian law and ICWA advocacy for Native American children and families throughout Northern California. His work as an ICWA expert for various tribes, community organizations and families defined Gary’s career. He testified in countless child and family court cases and provided immeasurable assistance to native families and communities for more than 40 years. Continuing his work toward assisting his community, Gary served on numerous executive boards and committees, empowering and uplifting those around him.
David Keith Boston: 1951-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sun, Jul 14, 2024 at 6:30 AM
David was born to David Ray Boston and Betty Jane Boston (Stallman) on May 21, 1951, in Lusk, Wyoming. In his early years, after David’s family moved to Hennessey, Oklahoma, in his teens David worked on hot rods, hauled hay, worked in the oil fields and did welding. He earned his LVN degree in 1974.
Robert Vernor Ford: 1931-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sun, Jul 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Bob's life was marked by his deep passion for fishing, a hobby he cherished throughout his years. Many Saturdays were spent with his fishing buddy, Gerald. When they weren’t fishing together, they would attend local events, creating cherished memories. Bob always had great stories about those Saturday adventures. Many times, “Uncle Bob” would spend time with his family over at Coffee Creek in Trinity County, where he would eagerly wait for someone in the family to be headed to the nearby fishing pond.
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Pat Hassler: 1935-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Jul 13, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Janis Nees: 1944-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Jul 13, 2024 at 6:30 AM
Janis is survived by her husband, Bud Nees, and two children: David Shaffer and Kim Lueras. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Janis had a 31 year battle with conjestive heart failure.
Janis worked much of her life as a waitress and knew many, many people. She was very outgoing and would strike up a conversation with anyone who crossed her path! She would light up any room she entered. She was funny and witty, and full of light! She instilled in her children the importance of hard work, promptness, honesty and being mindful of those around you!
Janis was very generouse and loved helping people. She was dependable and a woman of her word! She was often found in one of the resteraunts where she worked or frequented, giving it right back to anyone heckling her.
She will be deeply missed! Until we meet again!
Elaine Vogt: 1935-2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Jul 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM
On June 1, Elaine Vogt passed peacefully in her home in McKinleyville, surrounded by family and loved ones.
She was born Sept. 20, 1935, to William (Hartford) Pearl and Ada Pearl near Fresno, California. Her greatest passion of her life was her family. She married Earl Lee Vogt on Sept. 2, 1950. She had a busy life raising their five children, Mickey, Randy, Janice, Carol and Lee in Westhaven, California. Elaine excitingly took up cake decorating so she could make both of her daughters' wedding cakes. She then became at the cake baker of the family. Fishing was an enjoyable pastime for her. She loved volunteering at Hospice and at the Clearlake Senior Center. As Elaine got older her favorite pastimes were reading, working crossword puzzles, which kept her mind sharp. she also enjoyed crocheting, and she loved to set in her favorite chair and watch the hummingbirds feed and play in the water fountain.
Her warm, easy smile and infectious laugh will be missed by many.
Friday, July 12, 2024
Dorothy Blackcrow Mack: 1934-2024
December 24th, 1934 - June 15th, 2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Dorothy Lee Mack passed away June 15, in Eureka. Dorothy was born on Christmas Eve, 1934, and grew up in upstate New York. She was the second child born to Guilford and Dorothy Mack. She had an older sister named Helen who died in early childhood, and a younger brother Guilford, now deceased. She was married twice, so also took the names Lambert and Blackcrow.
She was a rebel, a tomboy and a rule breaker. She didn't like dresses or dolls and preferred to play with boys or play the violin. She was an excellent student and a trailblazer, being one of the first women to attend college at Oberlin, get a PhD in linguistics and teach at the university level. She was proud to turn down an offer of graduate school admission at Harvard for a place at Yale, and that is where she met her first husband Robert Lambert. Dorothy and Robert had three children, two biological and one adopted, and named them after great poets: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and David Elliot King. Unfortunately the marriage did not last and Dorothy raised the children as a single parent.
Petey Brucker: 1952-2024
October 15,1952 - April 22, 2024
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 6:30 AM
Peter (Petey) Daniel Brucker passed away peacefully, in the arms of his loved ones. After a decline from the disabling neurological disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Petey took his last breath as the sun rose on Earth Day, April 22.
Born in Nyack, New York, on Oct. 15,1952, the son of Mildred and Daniel Brucker, Petey was known as a loving and wily child who favored his sense of connection to the earth over being in school. In the spring of 1975, Petey followed his older brother Phil to the Salmon River, where he met Geba Greenberg in 1977 and spent the rest of his life with her. Petey's sister Donna soon joined them.
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