Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Richard William Evans: 1942-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Tue, May 9, 2023 at 12:53 PM
On April 26th Richard William Evans transitioned to the next realm with love, song, poetry, and light, surrounded by friends.
Richard was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Starting young, he was always an adventurous music and art enthusiast. His first musical adventure was playing the bugle in
The Knights of Pythias Drum and Bugle Corps (see photo). This early memory of his music reaching out and touching people brought joy to him even close to his departure from this life. Later in life he took up the flute.
Richard was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Starting young, he was always an adventurous music and art enthusiast. His first musical adventure was playing the bugle in
The Knights of Pythias Drum and Bugle Corps (see photo). This early memory of his music reaching out and touching people brought joy to him even close to his departure from this life. Later in life he took up the flute.
At 18 in Greenwich Village, New York City, Richard plowed the fertile fields of expression there, assisting in editing the Village Voice Newspaper. At age 21 he attended the 1963 March on Washington and witnessed the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., a touchstone event for him. In 1966 Richard moved to Paris, France where his calling in art grew. That career spanned pen and ink, glass, and paint. This passion and profession sustained Richard throughout his life.
Stateside in 1967, Richard immersed himself in the radical communal life of the Haight-Ashbury. Throughout his life he was amazed and inspired by the flowering of creativity and taboo-busting antics of that time and place. He ventured to Humboldt County in 1971, getting an intoxicating taste of the Back to the Land Movement.
Back in San Francisco, in 1979, Richard was a founding member of the Stellar Arts Collective. This group of designers, glass artists, and activists obtained a grant from the State of California to construct a one-of-a-kind glass work as an entry to a large State building in The City. The epic stained glass doors, ceiling, and chandelier of the lobby, were completed in 1980. This was Richard's major opus as an artist, capturing the essence of his multi-faceted life, spirit, and craft. As a gay man, this creation was an expression of the light and love he projected throughout his life. Ironically, the glass work was destroyed on September 30, 1991, during the AB101 Riots, in protest of Governor Pete Wilson’s veto of a gay rights bill (Assembly Bill 101). Emblematic of his compassionate and forgiving nature, Richard felt no bitterness, only a sense of loss of a great work of art.
In this era of his life he joined The Billy Club, a group of gay men dedicated to the rural life style, healing and compassion. Life-long bonds were formed and Billy members were at his side when he passed, singing a traditional Billy Heart Circle song of love.
He met his life partner Richard Beyer in 1977 and returned to Humboldt County in the 1980s. They built a house on the Zenia Bluffs in a style that Richard aptly described as “intimate grandeur,” a description that well describes his entire life path. A gifted teacher, and personal growth facilitator, Richard Beyer passed from complications from AIDS in 1995.
Richard Evans was dedicated to building community wherever he lived. In Southern Humboldt, he was active in Redwood AIDS Information Network and Service (RAINS), serving multiple terms as board president. A stalwart supporter of KMUD radio, he built the studio booth glass windows, among other duties, including Board service. Radio audiences may remember him as the voice of “Condy the Condom” from the 1998 “Straight Talk About AIDS” public service series. He was a master of the twinkling eye.
After moving to Eureka in 2006, he served on the Board of Directors of Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) and was a catalyst for the fruitful partnership between RCAA and the Westside Community Improvement Association, and the creation of Jefferson Park and Community Center, one hallmark among many of his legacy on the North Coast. Bringing his depth of experience and critical eye to the written word, he contributed regularly to the Art Beat column in the North Coast Journal.
Throughout his long and storied life, he transcended many of the social stereotypes imposed upon us, and modeled behaviors that reinforced acceptance, inclusion and tolerance. Still, with humor, he suffered no fools.
On the forefront to the end, Richard would want all to know that his was a medically assisted death. He was very grateful to the physicians and caring team who supported him in this decision.
A Celebration of Art in Richard’s honor will be held September 30th at Skyhorse, 216 Third St., 5 p.m., Eureka. Stay tuned for updates as the date approaches. Richard remained his funny, cheerful and optimistic self to the end.
One of Richard’s signature expressions exemplifies his rich life and graceful passing: “FABULOUS!” Say it again: “FABULOUS!”
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Linda Davidson Steele Clark (Cozyris): 1938-2022
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sun, Apr 2, 2023 at 7:00 AM
On Dec. 21, 2022, Linda Davidson Steele Clark left this auditorium, and traveled to the next stage.
Linda was born in Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 28, 1938, to parents Trevor Arnett Steele and Helen Davidson Steele. She passed away Dec. 21, 2022, in Eureka, California. Linda is survived by her husband Terry L. Clark of Arcata, California, her three children: Trevor Cozyris (Caroline) of Santa Cruz, California; Kali Cozyris (Peggy) of Eureka, California, Kristian Cozyris (Emily) and grandchildren Amalia and Claire Cozyris of Edmond, Oklahoma; and her beloved dogs Razzy and Ebony, and cat Sookie. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her former husband, Dr. George A. Cozyris.
Linda was an incredibly accomplished and beloved woman. She was active in theatre as an actor, director, critic and consultant. She was a businesswoman, a teacher, a mother, a wife, a poet, a writer, an animal lover, rescuer and advocate. Her departure leaves an immeasurable hole in the hearts of so many, especially her devoted husband Terry and her three grown children. Linda was a force of nature who impacted and enriched many lives through her love, generosity and expanse of spirit, laughter, wit, energy and presence. She was vivacious, witty, brilliant, sophisticated, strong, beautiful and stylish. Linda was all the colors of the rainbow with every hue saturated to the fullest.
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Kathy Thompson: 1945-2022
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Thu, Mar 23, 2023 at 12:30 PM
Kathy Cauble Thompson, a 53-year resident of Humboldt County, passed peacefully on Nov. 27 from an illness that was terminal but of slow progression until suddenly it wasn't. The morning before her death her buddy cattle dog, Sara, galloped in and jumped on the bed to Kathy's joy and amusement. Hugging, tail wagging and laughter ensued.
Kathy was always full of smiles and laughter. She will be greatly missed by her husband of 52 years Jack Thompson, her brother Keith Cauble and his wife Lois Masin, her aunt Ruth McCarthy and family, her uncle Fred Fisher's extended family and her many friends, including Sigrid Casey, Bibbi Lee and Charlie Simonds, Lois Mellert, Laurel North, Vinnie Peloso and Debbi Krukonis, Geronimo Tagatac, Mark and Nadine Lancaster, David and Audrey Selby and Joe and Morris Robinson and their families. In the final months of her life she received kind and gentle support from the staff and her friends at Adult Day Care at Mad River.
Friday, March 3, 2023
Rose Joy Crutchfield Sundberg: 1932-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Fri, Mar 3, 2023 at 7:14 AM
Rose Joy Crutchfield Sundberg peacefully returned to her Creator on Feb. 25, 2023, at the age of 90. She was surrounded by family that loves her deeply. She was born March 25, 1932, at Yah-ter he-wan on the Klamath River, the third of five children, to Lila and Edward Crutchfield. She grew up in Blue Lake and attended elementary school there and graduated Arcata High School with the class of 1950.
Joy was Yurok and descendant from many Yurok villages, both river and coastal ner-er-nerh. Her paternal grandmother was Susie Donnelly Crutchfield, born at the village of Cho’-kwee and the original land holder of their family property at Yah-ter he-wan within the Yurok Reservation. Her maternal grandmother was Mary Shaffer Natt, born at Tsurai village in Trinidad, and the granddaughter of Big Lagoon Charlie. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Natt Sr. from the village of Hop-pew on the Klamath River.
Joy was Yurok and descendant from many Yurok villages, both river and coastal ner-er-nerh. Her paternal grandmother was Susie Donnelly Crutchfield, born at the village of Cho’-kwee and the original land holder of their family property at Yah-ter he-wan within the Yurok Reservation. Her maternal grandmother was Mary Shaffer Natt, born at Tsurai village in Trinidad, and the granddaughter of Big Lagoon Charlie. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Natt Sr. from the village of Hop-pew on the Klamath River.
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Sherae Marie O'Shaughnessy: 1985-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Feb 25, 2023 at 7:00 AM
On Jan. 10, the world lost one of its brightest stars in Sherae Marie O'Shaughnessy. Children lost a mother, parents lost a daughter, siblings lost a sister and countless friends lost someone who they'll never forget.
Sherae Marie Meyers was born May 17, 1985 and raised in Southern California, and moved to Eureka when she was 19 years old. She came from a long line of celebrity family names, and was the granddaughter of the famous guitarist and Musicians Hall of Fame inductee Louie Shelton. A legacy of which she did not disappoint.
Sherae was a lot of things to a lot of people, all over the world. In Humboldt, many knew her as the voice on the radio that would take them home after work or wake them up in the morning while introducing you to artists you'd likely never heard before. She was the ruler of the airwaves for years but she was also the queen of the stand up comedy stage, as well. Whether she was hosting an event, making the filthiest jokes ever on a show with her beloved "Ba-Dum-Cha" crew or giving a band their first break on Late Night With Sherae, she was always the star of any stage she stepped on. She was also a regular columnist for the Times-Standard newspaper and The Emerald Magazine, and put on a TED Talk about parenting developmentally delayed children. It was because of her talents, incredible personality, razor sharp wit, impeccable style and, let's be honest, very pretty face ... that she was able to claim the title, “The Most Famous Not-Famous Person In The World!”
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
David Lee Fouché: 1945-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Tue, Feb 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM
On Monday, Feb. 6, David Lee Fouché passed away, with his loving wife and children by his side, after an unexpected and aggressive cancer diagnosis.
Born in Sacramento on July 6, 1945, to parents Daniel and Lorraine Fouche, David attended grammar school, junior high and McClatchy High School in Sacramento.
David moved to Eureka in 1975, where his faith in Christ led him to join Gospel Outreach Christian Church and pursue his passion of ministry work. David’s love of Christ was his foundation, and on this he built his life, which included an unconditional love for all his cherished family and friends.
Born in Sacramento on July 6, 1945, to parents Daniel and Lorraine Fouche, David attended grammar school, junior high and McClatchy High School in Sacramento.
David moved to Eureka in 1975, where his faith in Christ led him to join Gospel Outreach Christian Church and pursue his passion of ministry work. David’s love of Christ was his foundation, and on this he built his life, which included an unconditional love for all his cherished family and friends.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Virginia Ann Ciszek Felter: 1946-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Feb 11, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Virginia Ann Ciszek Felter, "Ginny," was born at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital and grew up in a Marine family. Most of her youth was in southern California during the surf and car culture days but horses were always her love. She got her first horse as young teen and she and a friend would pack lunches and ride way out into the hills. Occasionally her horse would open the gate latch to visit the horses at the ranch down the lane. She’d hear the latch click so would have to walk down in her nightgown to bring him home.
She always loved animals and started working for a veterinarian. That led to getting her license as a registered veterinary technician. Horses became a secondary career, both in raising and jumping. Heaps of prize ribbons remain, along with plates and bowls around the house commemorating Hunter and Jumper events that she was in across the region. In the ’90s she became the head of the Equine Division of the Helen Woodward Animal Hospital.
Her dad was a Marine WW2 war hero and a tough father to grow up under. Her older brother never satisfied dad’s expectations so Ginny would step in and try to fill her brother’s shoes. An example is when brother Bob had no interest in the family airplane, Ginny took up flying and soloed. She paid attention to her dad’s business savvy and began a portfolio at a young age.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Richard 'Dick' Lindsay: 1936-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Richard “Dick” Lindsay, loving husband to wife of 31 years, Barbara Lindsay, and adoring father to his children, Michelle and Renee, passed away at home on Jan. 30, 2023.
Dick was born May 24,1936, to Alfred and Olga Lindsay in Cambridge, Minnesota. The oldest of six children, Dick joined the U.S. Air Force on June 15,1954 and served until Dec. 9,1957. After his military service, Dick moved to Hawaii with his first wife, Marie, where they had two children, Michelle and Renee. Dick managed a New Holland dealership on the island of Oahu, before moving to California after learning of an opportunity to own his own dealership. That place was Fernbridge and the dealership was Barnes Tractor & Equipment Co. Together with his business partner, Clayton Andrew (Zeke) Van Deventer, they ran the John Deere dealership for many years until Zeke’s death in 1990, when Dick took sole ownership. In 2010, Dick and his son-in-law, Mike Bibby, became partners in Fernbridge Tractor & Equipment, which remained in operation until 2018, when the business was sold to Papé Machinery.
Dick was born May 24,1936, to Alfred and Olga Lindsay in Cambridge, Minnesota. The oldest of six children, Dick joined the U.S. Air Force on June 15,1954 and served until Dec. 9,1957. After his military service, Dick moved to Hawaii with his first wife, Marie, where they had two children, Michelle and Renee. Dick managed a New Holland dealership on the island of Oahu, before moving to California after learning of an opportunity to own his own dealership. That place was Fernbridge and the dealership was Barnes Tractor & Equipment Co. Together with his business partner, Clayton Andrew (Zeke) Van Deventer, they ran the John Deere dealership for many years until Zeke’s death in 1990, when Dick took sole ownership. In 2010, Dick and his son-in-law, Mike Bibby, became partners in Fernbridge Tractor & Equipment, which remained in operation until 2018, when the business was sold to Papé Machinery.
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Gerhard Drumm: 1929-2023
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 AM
Gerhard Drumm, born in Yugoslavia on Feb. 2, 1929, died peacefully at his home in Loleta on Jan. 25, 2023 after a long, well-lived life.
Gerhard’s family survived the violence and hunger of WWII, only to be interned in concentration camps with other Yugoslavians of German descent by Tito’s forces after the war was over. They were able to flee and eventually emigrated to Pasadena, California. In 1934, Gerhard married Elisabeth Lindner. After completing a B.S. in chemistry, he entered the ministry and was ordained into the (United) Methodist Church in 1961, serving churches in Potter Valley, Fresno, Oakdale and Eureka, California. In addition to ministering to their congregations and raising eight children, Gerhard and Elisabeth opened their home to a stream of relatives, exchange students and refugees.
Casey John Ray: 1973-2022
Posted By North Coast Journal Staff on Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Casey passed away on Dec. 21. He was born on Nov. 18, 1973, to Jennifer and Geary Ray.
He spent his early years in Southern California. His mother remarried in 1982, and his family moved to Ferndale when he was in third grade.
Casey was involved in Boy Scouts, church activities and especially sports. He was very proud that in his senior year at Ferndale High (Class of ‘93!), the football team went undefeated, and he was named co-MVP of the league. After high school, he played football at Ventura JC and at Santa Barbara Community College. During high school and college, Casey shared his love of sports with many young people, coaching in multiple youth leagues.
Submit an Obituary
The North Coast Journal publishes free online obituaries, allowing people to share news of a loved one's passing with the community and celebrate their life. Submit your obituary with or without photos to obituaries@northcoastjournal.com at least three days before you would like to see them posted. Please include your name and contact information. Submissions may be edited for spelling and grammar. (For some tips on how to write a compelling remembrance, click here.)
The Journal also offers paid obituaries in our weekly newspaper as an option for those who would like to see them print. For more information on print obituaries, contact Mark Boyd at mark@northcoastjournal.com or (707) 442-1400, extension 314.
The North Coast Journal publishes free online obituaries, allowing people to share news of a loved one's passing with the community and celebrate their life. Submit your obituary with or without photos to obituaries@northcoastjournal.com at least three days before you would like to see them posted. Please include your name and contact information. Submissions may be edited for spelling and grammar. (For some tips on how to write a compelling remembrance, click here.)
The Journal also offers paid obituaries in our weekly newspaper as an option for those who would like to see them print. For more information on print obituaries, contact Mark Boyd at mark@northcoastjournal.com or (707) 442-1400, extension 314.
