Thursday, 27 March 2025

Obits

Kristin Snyder. Courtesy photo.

Kristin Marie Snyder
June 30, 1947 – March 16, 2025

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Kristin Marie Snyder, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2025.

Born on June 30, 1947, in Redwood City, California, Kristin lived a life full of love, dedication and adventure.

Kristin graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1969 with a degree in nursing. Shortly after, she moved to Oahu, Hawaii, where she met the love of her life, Leslie Merton Snyder. They were married on May 7, 1972, and shared 49 wonderful years until Leslie's passing.

Kristin is survived by her son, Martin Leslie Snyder and his wife, Jaqueline, and their daughter, Kerrington; and her daughter, Aubrey Kathleen Snyder and her wife, Erica Brents, and their sons, Maxwell and Henry.

Kristin's family was her pride and joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them.

A dedicated nurse for over 40 years, Kristin made a significant impact in the lives of countless patients, particularly in the intensive care and labor and delivery units. Her compassion and expertise were evident in her work, and she was deeply respected by her colleagues.

Kristin had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. She was always crafting, traveling and reading a wide variety of books. Her love for learning was matched by her love for community. She had a diverse group of friends, from her fellow cloggers at the Clear Lake Clickers to her book club members. Kristin's smile and kindness touched many lives, and she was well-loved by all who knew her.

Kristin's legacy of love, learning and service will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be deeply missed.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Rudy Lopez. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Rodolfo "Rudy" Lopez, 62, passed away on March 13, 2025, in Lakeport.

Born on Dec. 6, 1962, in El Salvador, Rudy brought warmth and laughter to those around him throughout his life.

Rudy is survived by his daughters, Xenya and Ruby; his beloved granddaughter, Gianna; his mother, Maria Julia; and three sisters, Marjorie, Lilly, and Blanca Rosa.

He also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and many more family and friends who cherished him deeply.

Most remember him as a true rock and roll guy with his signature long curly hair, and a passion for motorcycles. Whether riding through town or spending time with friends and family, he found joy in the simple pleasures of life.

Known for his humor and easygoing nature, Rudy got along with everyone he met. He was a friend to the community — someone who could always bring a smile to those around him. His presence was larger than life, and his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Thursday, March 20, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Graveside funeral service will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery on Friday, March 21, at 1 p.m.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Robert Patton
Dec. 27, 1942 to Nov. 25, 2024

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Robert died suddenly, leaving many parts of the Lucerne community.

He was a wonderful example of how a retired person can care for a community.

He created the Lucerne Community Garden, with the help of FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water), building long high garden boxes, hauling dirt and chicken manure, pumping water from the lake into the holding tank, so that gardeners could water their flowers and vegetables.

Robert loved nature and took beautiful enlarged photos of Lake County's wild birds. In partnership with the Audubon Society, to prevent injury to birds and fishes, he created tubes for collecting used fishing line and hung them at boat launches around the lake, emptied them regularly and sent them to be recycled.

At the monthly Fiddler's Jam at the Ely Stage Stop, Robert would dress up in overalls and a straw hat to drive the hay ride for the kids.

For several years, Rob pumped water from the lake and hauled it to the Lucerne Senior Center to water the memorial rose garden. Always one to offer help, he picked up food in Lucerne and delivered it to several needy people. He finished a neighbor's poorly-constructed ramp and added non-skid strips.

Robert was also a musician with a beautiful singing voice. He played guitars with friends every week for years.

He was a very special person and has left large holes in many hearts and lives. His beloved dog Teva is now living with his good friends Willie dog and Karen.

Robert flew free. He left behind his daughters Cheryl Closser and Kathy Patton-Black; grandchildren Kristina Closser, Adam Black, Zachery Closser, Ian Closser; and great-granddaughter Clementine Quincy Closser.

He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Evelyn Patton and his granddaughter Bethany Closser.

All are welcome to attend a celebration of his life on Saturday, March 29, at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive at noon. There will be food, and people may bring a dish to share.

Danielle Jackson. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Danielle Victoria Jackson, with a heart full of love and a spirit as fierce as the winds, closed her eyes here on earth and opened them in Heaven on March 14, 2025.

She passed peacefully at the home she shared with her beloved son and brother-in-law on the Upper Lake Rancheria, where she spent the majority of her beautiful and well-lived life.

Danielle leaves behind a legacy of love in her cherished children, Brittany Dennison (Austin Ables) and Anthony Dennison; her treasured granddaughters, Serenity and Melody Ables; her devoted sisters, Amber Jackson, Aimee Jackson-Penn, Anna Jackson (Ben Crone) and Rebecca Jackson (Jason Compton); and her caring brothers, Joseph Rahmer, James Penn and Kyle Williams. Her family extended far and wide, with cherished nieces and nephews too numerous to name, a loving father-in-law Brian Dennison Sr., and a second mother in Ronda Beckett. She is also deeply missed by her adoring cousins, and her Auntie Jessica "Lori" Jackson.

She reunites in Heaven with her loving parents, Anthony and Connie Jackson; her precious daughter, Clorissa Dennison; her sister, Melissa Rahmer; and her baby niece, Aubree Solorio.

Danielle embodied strength, independence and love throughout her life. She was a warrior, fiercely loyal and unwavering in her care for family and friends. To be loved by her was to be truly blessed.

Known as “Auntie Dabby” to her many nieces and nephews, she brought joy and laughter wherever she went. Danielle found happiness in family gatherings, barbeques and the special moments spent with her granddaughters. She shared her adventurous spirit through hobbies like axe and knife throwing and shooting, often alongside her beloved cousins, Ezra and Squeeks. Above all, she was a devoted mother, sister, auntie and friend, whose love will continue to shine in the hearts of all she touched.

Though her sudden passing leaves us heartbroken, we find comfort in knowing that Danielle is now free from pain, healed by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is reunited with those who went before her, bringing peace to her soul and joy to their reunion.

A graveside service to honor Danielle will be held on Monday, March 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Upper Lake Tribal Cemetery.

Following the service, all are invited to join her loved ones at the Habematolel Community Building for a meal in her memory. Together, we will share stories, celebrate her life, and honor her beautiful spirit.

Ohana, our sweet sister Danny-Doo, we love you deeply and hold you close in our hearts. Until we see you and Missy again, our sister hearts will not be whole.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Jacqueline Estelle Bonson. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Jacquie was born Aug. 22, 1957, in Martinez, California.

She was the daughter of Cleburne Onnie Smith of Kingston, Arkansas and Nancy Packwood Smith of Nichols, California.

She was blessed with a childhood filled with adventure, living in multiple states including California, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama and Virginia, which instilled in her a passion for life that inspired those around her.

She graduated in 1975 from Marysville High School and married Gary Bonson in Marysville, California.

In 1984, they moved to Lake County, where she thrived in her 25-year career at UPS in Lakeport.

In 2012, she embarked on a new venture, co-founding a family-owned propane business, which became a testament to her determination.

Though Jacquie's life was unexpectedly cut short by a heart attack on Feb. 15, 2025, her legacy lives on.

She is predeceased by her parents, Cleburne and Nancy Smith, and her grandson, Ethan Bonson (survived by Renee).

Her memory will continue to inspire her husband of 50 years, Gary Bonson; sister, Deborah Smith (Gene Glick); brother, James Smith; children, Travis (Ayano), Casey, Lani (Justin); grandchildren, Jayto (Sage), Angelia, Brooke and Donnie; great-granddaughter, Charlee Jean; and countless friends and family members that cherished her.

Jacquie was laid to rest on Feb. 28 at the Hillside Cemetery in Bieber, California, to be near her parents and many other relatives buried there.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-995-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Vicente Zeta Colacion. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Vicente Zeta Colacion of Lakeport, California, passed away on Jan. 31, 2025. He was 32.

He is the beloved son of Daphne and Lawrence Colacion, loving brother of Paloma and Maya Colacion, adored uncle of Myla Colacion, doting partner to Jenny Hole and her daughter Stella, and devoted co-owner of his trusted feline-companion Jody Foster. He also leaves his grandmother, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.

Vicente led the life of a true artist. Funny, fun-loving and silly at times, he understood the complexities of life and took both the highs and lows in stride. A true friend to all, Vicente was an equal-opportunity lover, eschewing societal norms to befriend, listen to, and love those who are often overlooked.

Affectionately referred to as a stray cat, he managed to find and create family wherever his travels took him.

Vicente Zeta Colacion. Courtesy photo.

Vicente was an extremely principled person with a strong sense of justice, and throughout his life his family was often approached by many expressing their admiration for the exceptional caring and generous human being he was.

Born June 12, 1992 in San Francisco, California, Vicente spent the first years of his life attending San Francisco State University’s Early Childhood Program where his parents attended college.

At 2 years old, he was reading (memorizing) his favorite books in the student union to the amazement of other students. He continued his love for reading throughout his life, constantly collecting and sharing his books with friends.

He lived in Long Beach, California, in his early years, the Santa Cruz Mountains where he welcomed his sisters Paloma (in 1997) and Maya (in 2001), and Antioch during elementary school.

In 2005, he and his family moved to Cobb Mountain, California, where he often played with his little sisters in the pine and manzanita surrounding his family’s property, loved taking the family dogs for hikes in Boggs Forest, spent many a morning turned afternoon chatting with friends and neighbors at the local coffee shop, and built community at the Middletown Arts Center while taking writing workshops and performing at their open mics.

During his younger years he participated in swim team, indoor and outdoor soccer teams, hockey, baseball, basketball, track, cross country, chess clubs, and played the violin. He was a prolific creator with a vivid imagination and often enjoyed setting up elaborate Star Wars scenes with the death star ship and figurines and building intricate legos structures in his youth.

Vicente Zeta Colacion. Courtesy photo.

He attended Middletown Middle School, Sonoma Academy and graduated from Pathways Charter School with a high school diploma in 2010. In 2006, he volunteered in the clean up efforts for Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans with a team of students from Sonoma Academy.

After high school, he attended Mendocino College for creative writing and studied journalism at Humboldt State University. He participated in the university’s radio station, published articles in the school’s bilingual newspaper El Lenador, and tutored countless students in English and writing.

In 2022, he lived in Austin, Texas where he made a home with a large circle of friends, enjoyed the music scene, and was awe-struck by the barbecue and the Texas-sized portions. He enjoyed traveling, cooking and feeding others, slam dancing at punk shows, writing poetry and short stories, and sharing his writings during open mics. He began writing poetry at around 12 years old, participated in poetry slams and open mics in countless venues, had his poetry published and was a member of the Lake County Poet Laureate.

In 2024, he moved back to Lake County to reunite with the love of his life and rejoin the community that he spent many years building. He was a top salesman at US Cellular in Lakeport, where he treated his customers as he did all his friends — like family.

Vicente was an expert at creating and maintaining relationships, and never let distance or time get in the way of checking up on family, friends, and even acquaintances. At times childlike himself, he was beloved by children and loved his godchildren, niece, and partner’s child, Stella, as his own. He will be deeply missed by many.

A celebration of Vicente’s life will be held at the Middletown Art Center on Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. Activities will include live music, a DJ, arts and crafts projects, and a reading of his work by the Lake County Poet Laureates. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Vicente Zeta Colacion. Courtesy photo.
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