LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Howard Rudy Chavez Jr. attended local elementary schools and graduated from Lower Lake High School in 1975.

After high school he entered into the US Coast Guard and served for two years.

Howard received encouragement from his elders to pursue a career in education, and so he did and received his bachelor of arts degree at Humboldt State University in June of 1980.

He followed this up by completing his master's degree at the University of San Francisco in 1985. He was a teacher for the Konocti Unified School District from 1981 to 1990.

Howard then worked as the principal of the Round Valley High School from 1990 to 1997. He also worked for a year as the superintendent /principal at the Pyramid Lake High School.

In his later years Howard worked with different agencies to help Native American programs, offering his writing skills in obtaining federal grants and development of training and social involvement addressing various tribal issues.

Howard leaves behind sons, Justin Latham and Matthew Chavez; daughters, Summer Porter, Roberta and Cassandra Chavez; along with numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews; his brother, Ron Montez; and sisters, Leora John and Jeanne Lopez.

He also leaves behind his love and life partner of 20 years, Janice Freeman. He loved that she was a traditional Indian woman, believing in the old ways, and that she was a great cook.

With Janice, Howard opened his heart and home to shelter and raise many needful Indian and non-Indian grandchildren. They provided a home and family atmosphere for these children that they would otherwise be without.

Affectionately these children called Howard “Papa” and he always had a word of encouragement for the kids, little quotes like “the early bird gets the worm” or “ quitters never win and winners never quit.”

He believed in education as a way to make a difference for yourself and to help set an example for the generations to come.

A traditional Native American wake will be held at the Big Valley Rancheria gymnasium at 4 p.m. Friday, March 21, to Monday, March 24.

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 23, to 9 a.m. Monday, March 24.

Contributions may be made to Jones Mortuary in care of “Chavez Funeral.”

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary www.jonesmortuary.com FD311, Lakeport, Calif.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Madeline passed away peacefully on March 11, 2014, in Clearlake.

Madeline will join her husband, our father, in Heaven.

Madeline was married for 53 years to our father, Anthony Torres Sr.

Madeline was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She loved bingo.

Madeline will be truly missed. She leaves behind four children: Anthony Jr., Timothy and Sherry; son-in-law, Terry White Eagle; grandchildren, Christopher and Nicole, and twins George III and Michael; and one great-grandchild, Gabriel, age 5.

She was preceded in death by her son, Kenny.

Madeline will join our father, Anthony Sr., on March 19, 2014.

Ann L Warren
1937-2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ann Warren – née Ann Hopkins, known as Ann Ciarrocchi in her early Lake County years – a beautiful wife, a wonderful mother, a dear grandmother and esteemed great grandmother, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 9, 2014.

Ann was born on Oct. 22, 1937, to Woodrow and Katherine Hopkins in San Diego, Calif.

She spent her early childhood years growing up on a small farm in Virginia only to later return to San Diego, Calif.

In 1967 she moved to Lake County where she met and fell in love with Buster Warren and married him in 1976.

They lived in Lower Lake until 1990. They then lived in Nebraska and Oregon before returning to Clearlake, Calif., in late fall of 2013.

She loved cooking for her family and enjoyed growing fresh vegetables in her garden. She was a passionate reader and shared this passion with her children.

She enjoyed the great outdoors, walking on nature trails and tending to the beautiful flowers of her garden.

Ann is loved and missed by her husband, Buster; her children and their spouses, Carol and Wayne, Jim (deceased), Patty and David, Anthony and Jill, Danny and Sook, Theresa, Shawn and Jeanice; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service for family and friends will be held on March 17, 2014.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice or plant flowers in your own yard. She would love that best.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones & Lewis Clearlake Memorial Chapel.

Please sign Ann's online guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Steven VanDervoort passed away suddenly on Feb. 19, 2014, at the age of 49.

He is survived by wife, Jeannie of Clearlake Oaks; sister, Teri Lyn of Hawaii; brother, Todd, and father, Donald, both of Las Vegas.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Clearlake Oaks at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Carollou Goetjen, 74, of Santa Rosa, Calif., passed away suddenly on Feb. 27, 2014.

Carollou was born in San Francisco, Calif., on Dec. 16, 1939, to Roy and Nellie Watson. She graduated from Mission High School.

Carollou was married to Drew Goetjen on July 12, 1961. They were married 52 wonderful years.

Carollou worked as a seamstress for Sonoma State Hospital for 17 years. She enjoyed doing crafts and raising a variety of pets, which included her favorite Chihuahua, lil Bit.

In her youth she was a force to be reckoned with, as a blocker for the San Francisco Bay Bombers roller derby, better known as #32 “Butterball Watson.”

Carollou is survived by her devoted husband, Drew; her daughter, Gina Goetjen of Hayden, Idaho; her son, Troy (Tawn) Goetjen of Nice, Calif.; her grandchildren, Camden, Colton, Chase, Chad and Shalyn; her brother-in-law, Jimmy Goetjen; lifelong friend, Eldon Bradshaw; and other family and friends.

Carollou is preceded in death by her sons, Roger Goetjen and Gary Wilson; her sister, Barbara Jennes; and her brothers, Roy and Johnny Watson.

Carollou will be buried next to her sons Roger and Gary at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg.

Per her request there will be a private memorial service.

Donald A. Ellis
1923-2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Donald A. Ellis – also known as “Don,” “Dad” or “Papa” – died peacefully on Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

At 90, he fought to the end and we miss him dearly already.

We will miss his ongoing “projects” (seldom willing to sit down for a day), his grit, his integrity, his tender-loving care and concern for Mom, and most of all, his stories and his sense of humor.

We can see him in heaven with his golf clubs slung over his shoulder, a fishing pole in hand, wearing a SF Giants shirt and his SF 49er jacket. You are one of God’s special angels, Dad.

Don was born to Myrtle (Gonnie) DeVecchi and Phillip (Papa) Ellis Sr. on Nov. 26, 1923 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

They moved to Clearlake in 1927 and Don has been a resident for 86 years. He attended Burns Valley Elementary and Lower Lake High School.

Don married Patricia (Pat) Reichert in 1944, celebrating their 69th anniversary last December.

Don served in in the US Navy Air Corps during World War II, 1942-1946, on a B-24 bomber on Tinian Island and Iwo Jima.

Returning to Lake County, he became a walnut rancher with his father-in-law, Walter E. Reichert.

Don belonged to the Lakeshore Lions Club for more than 10 years and was involved in many charitable activities, including the construction of the original firehouse in Lower Lake during the early 1950s.

He was a volunteer Lower Lake Fireman for more than 10 years and commissioner of the Lower Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

He coached high school basketball for three years and was one of two original founders, along with Ted Weiper, of youth baseball (Little and Pony Leagues) in Lower Lake and Clearlake, 1958. They constructed the original Little League field in Clearlake. Don coached youth baseball for four years.

He was a Konocti Unified School District Trustee and board president for 24 years, 1948-1972. He served as chairman of the Lake County Grand Jury from 1967 to 1968 and was a Lake County supervisor from 1972 to 1976.

Don was a former member and past president of the Lake County Air Pollution Resource Board and one of the original founders and directors of Lake Savings and Loan.

He was a member of the Clearlake Masonic Lodge. He also received the Stars of Lake County Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.

Don was a member and past president of the Redbud Community Hospital Advisory Board and fought with perseverance to save our local hospital, which endures today as St.Helena Hospital Clear Lake. We found it fitting and are extremely grateful that his last days were there where he and our family were treated with the utmost care and support from the entire staff.

Don is survived by his wife, Pat Ellis; son, Steve Ellis (Carol), Lower Lake; daughter, Donna Lutz (Chet), Victor, MT; grandchildren, Kevin Ellis (April), Kelseyville, Kristi Witt (Justin), Healdsburg, Amy Lutz-Wilson, Elk Grove, Chad Lutz (Maricel), and Steve Lutz (Atria), San Diego; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Kalee and “baby on the way” Ellis, Sophia Witt, Austin Lutz, Seth Lutz, Briella Lutz; sisters, Shirley Woodward, Lower Lake and Burdette Pontier, San Jose.

He was preceded in death by brothers Phil Ellis Jr. and Keith Ellis; many extended family members; loving caregiver Tammy Eeds, Clearlake; best friend, Bud Boyce, Lower Lake; and man’s best friend, Lucca.

A memorial service will be held for Don Ellis at 11 a.m. Friday, March 14, at Jones and Lewis Mortuary, Lower Lake, followed by a reception at the Brick Hall in Lower Lake.

Don has been a longtime member of his church in Lower Lake. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to his church: Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 516, Lower Lake, CA 95457.

Please sign Don’s guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com .