Joseph Richard Dunlap, 95, devoted husband of the late Ann McLaughlin Dunlap and a resident of Seal Beach, died on Jan. 3, 2016, in Davis after a short illness. He was a retired manager of the Reinforcing Bar Fabrication and Placement Department for Bethlehem Steel in South San Francisco. A celebration of life is planned for this summer.

July 26, 1942 — Dec. 27, 2015

Jack Anderson passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 27, 2015, in his home in El Macero at age 73. 

He was born in Woodland to John “Bud” Anderson and V. Elvene Anderson and lived in Knights Landing during his youth. He attended Woodland High School and later graduated from UC Davis and was inducted into the UC Davis Cal Aggies Hall of Fame for his accomplishments from 1961 to 1964. He still holds the all-time UC Davis record for Four-Year Career Batting Average of .348, held for over 50 years.

 After graduating with a degree in economics specializing in agriculture, Jack began a career in farming starting out growing tomatoes in the Sacramento Valley on small acreage and experimenting with one of the first mechanical tomato harvesters. Jack was sentimental towards the wonderful people who helped him farm and unbeknown to them, spoke highly of them and regarded them as family.

 Farming was not enough for this young entrepreneur so Jack diversified with real estate holdings, ranching, mining and casinos. For leisure, Jack enjoyed philanthropy, following baseball and basketball, pursuing duck and deer hunting and reading every day.

 He is survived by his family; wife Edie; daughters Linda Stewart, Lauralee Boyle, (Keith), Lisa Johnston, (Mark), Lana Maeder (Herb); son John Anderson (Lisa); and grandchildren Zack, Zea, Riley, Marcus, Jack, Miles and Taylor.

 To honor his memory please watch a ball game while drinking a Coke (glass bottle only because it tastes better), buy books from the SPCA book store, feed homeless cats, adopt a stray dog and definitely drive your truck until it can go no more.

 At Jack’s request private services for immediate family only. Donations may be sent to the UC Davis Baseball Program or the Yolo County SPCA.

March 22, 1937 — Jan. 8, 2016

Gerald Robert Schimke died Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, in Davis.

Born March 22, 1937, in Biloxi, Miss., to Harold B. and Martha M. Schimke, he was the oldest of four siblings. Jerry spent his early childhood in Yakima, Wash., where gasoline rationing and blackouts at night were part of regular life during the World War II years. 

In 1946, at age nine, Jerry’s family moved to Forest Grove, Ore., where he spent his formative years. While later attending Pacific University and earning a bachelor’s degree in physics, he pledged Gamma Sigma, where he met some of his lifelong friends. For graduate school, he moved to Seattle to study physical oceanography at the University of Washington. 

He later served as a commissioned officer in the US Coast and Geodetic Survey, sailing across the Equator, International Date Line, Indian Ocean and helping to establish the ARLIS-1 Ice Station in the Arctic Ocean. It was through his work at the US Coast and Geodetic Survey that he met his wife, Kay. 

Married in 1964, Jerry spent the next 51 years sharing his adventures with Kay, his partner, friend and the most important woman in his life.

Jerry spend his middle years in Concord, Mass., raising his family, co-leading the Trinitarian Congregational Church Youth Group, and working for Arthur D. Little Inc., a large, multi-disciplinary consulting firm in Cambridge, Mass. 

In 1981, he moved his family west, where they settled in Davis. For 17 years, he worked as a civil servant in the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento, building and managing the Hazardous Material Division. In the wake of the Bophal India chemical disaster, he helped develop hazardous materials regulations and the State/Federal Hazardous Material Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Program in California. He was instrumental in managing and initiating mitigation programs for the 1993 Southern California Fires, the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, and the Northridge and Loma Prieta Earthquakes. Lessons he learned while working through each of those disasters helped establish protocol for dealing with future hazardous materials disasters, creating the California Hazardous Material Incident Reporting System and the Hazardous Materials training curriculum at the Californian Specialize Training Institute. 

When he retired in 1997, he was determined not to have a boring life. He decided he was responsible for his own happiness and there could never be enough time to do everything he wanted to do. One of his favorite quotes was: 

“There are those who make things happen,

There are those who watch things happen,

There are those who wonder what’s happening,

There are those who are unaware that anything is happening.”

Jerry was one of those who made things happen and participated in life to the fullest. He led a busy and stimulating retirement filled with paragliding, windsurfing, kayaking, skiing, biking, hiking, studying Japanese and German, taking guitar lessons, starting a photography business, traveling the world, singing in the Davis Chorale and UC Davis Chorus, working on several books, participating in Toastmasters, studying Tai Chi Chuan, working for Project Vote Smart, sailing with the Lake Washington Yacht Club and enjoying his friends and family.

He was a man who tempted fate many times and beat it most of those times. With that in mind, we say goodbye to a man who liked to push the envelope and thoroughly enjoyed the life he lived.

Jerry is survived by his wife Kay; daughter Margaret and her husband Rick; son Karl and his wife Katrin; grandchildren Maja, Olivia, Cece and William; sisters Anita, Myra and Dorothy, and their spouses and partners; nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. 

Jerry, your presence will be missed greatly, but your spirit lives on in those who knew and loved you. 

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at  the Davis Arts Center, at 1919 F St. We welcome the sharing of treasured memories during the celebration.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to Project Vote Smart or to CaringBridge.org.

Dr. James A. Kennedy, a longtime resident of Davis who spent 40 years of dedicated service as a family physician, died peacefully at his home in Davis on the morning of Jan. 17, 2016. Born Oct. 10, 1920, he was 95 years old.

A man who was known for his calm and peaceful caregiving, he was the fifth doctor in Davis in 1956 when he started his practice. He was one of the last “country doctors” in Yolo County, continuing to provide house calls until his retirement in 1996.

He earned a degree in animal husbandry in 1942 from Penn State University, then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Following the war, he earned his medical degree from Temple University in 1952 and later settled in Davis.

A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St., and will be followed by a reception at the church Memorial Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Yolo Food Bank.

Oct. 23, 1932 — Jan. 16, 2016

Mary Glasson died the early morning of Jan. 16, 2016, in Davis. She was born in India to Harry and Stella Hurst on Oct. 23, 1932, during the period of the British Raj. Mary attended Lawrence College in the foothills of the Himalayas with her brother Brian and sister Elizabeth. After graduation she moved to London to work as a secretary.

Her love of art began at that time, as she would take her daily lunch break to wander around the British Museum and other nearby galleries. Mary began teaching herself drawing and painting. She returned to India in the early 1950s and met her first husband, Rudolph Richards, who worked for Pan American Airways; they then traveled extensively throughout the world. After living in Munich for a short period, they moved to New York City then Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Air Transport Association of America.

Mary then relocated to San Francisco in the early 1970s, where she met her second husband, Ralph, an executive at United Airlines. She studied at the Academy of Art during this time. They moved to Half Moon Bay and lived there from 1978 to 1988. Mary became a prolific painter, and her work was shown at the San Mateo Arts Festival, SOMA Gallery in San Francisco, Gallery House in Palo Alto, Nunes Gallery in Washington, D.C., and several others on the West Coast. For a short period, she had her own gallery at the Tin Palace in Half Moon Bay. After Ralph died in 1988, she moved to Davis.

In 1993 she met and married Richard Strohman, a professor of molecular biology at UC Berkeley, and they lived in the Berkeley hills for the next few years. During this period, she was very productive and had exhibits at the Center for Psychological Studies in Berkeley and the Avalon Gallery in Yountville, and she won first prize at the Sonoma Arts Festival and the following year at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival. She was one of the founding artists of the Berkeley Art Gym cooperative on Fourth Street.

In 2007 they settled permanently in Davis, where she continued to paint. Her work was shown locally at Pence Gallery, Harts Gallery, ArtAbout and the Davis Art Studio Tour. Richard died in 2009, and Mary rarely painted thereafter due to worsening arthritis of her hands. Her last showings were at the Yolo County Courthouse, Davis Senior Center and finally at the state Capitol in Sacramento in 2013, which was covered by The Davis Enterprise: http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/artists-bring-lifetime-of-experience-to-capitol-exhibit.

Mary is survived by her son John and his wife Irina; grandson, Andrew; sister, Elizabeth and her husband Maurice; first husband Rudolph; and many other loving family and friends in the United States and overseas. She loved all animals, and her only request was to consider donating to your local SPCA on her behalf. A small private ceremony will be held at Olivet Memorial Park.

Francisco X. Alarcon died at his Davis home on Jan. 15, 2016. A Davis resident for more than 25 years, he was 61.

He was a lecturer in the UC Davis Spanish department and supervised the Native Spanish Speaker Program at the university, and was an internationally renowned poet and children’s author.

A service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Long Beach. Burial will follow at All Souls Cemetery, 4400 Cherry Ave. in Long Beach.

d. Dec. 28, 2015

After a long illness, Jim Beutel passed away on Dec. 28, 2015, at the age of 88.

A native of Orange, Calif., he attended UC Berkeley and UCLA (undergrad), University of Wisconsin (master’s degree) and pursued his Ph.D. at Rutgers University. He began his career with UC Extension in Riverside and Los Angeles. In 1963, he joined the UC Davis pomology department where he worked as lecturer and researcher until his retirement in the early 1990s.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

After retirement, he and his wife, Kalayada, pursued their passion for growing fruit and began K & J Orchards. Jim took pride in selling their fruit at farmers markets and to some of the finest restaurants around Northern California and Nevada.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Kalayada (nee Tapganjana); his sister, Ruth Beutel; daughters, Aomboon Deasy, Onanong Montoya, Cecilie Starin, Lissa Stephen and Ellen Beutel; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Jim will be greatly missed.

Nov. 23, 1918 — Nov. 24, 2015

Marietta Gilliam Leiser passed away Nov. 24, 2015, one day past her 97th birthday, at Carlton Plaza Senior Living in Davis.

She grew up on the family farm in Madison and was the daughter of John W. and Hulda (Blanton) Gilliam, a longtime Yolo County pioneer family.

She graduated from Esparto High School in 1936 and attended Chapman College and Chico State, leaving college in her junior year to marry the love of her life, Phil Leiser, a farmer in the Sutter Basin.

Cooking was her favorite hobby and she enjoyed entertaining her family and friends. She also designed and sewed her own clothes.

In 1969, the Yolo YMCA honored her as “Laywomen of the Year” for her many years of service and fundraising.

For a number of years she was the organist at Kraft Bros. Chapel and assistant organist at the Christian Church in Woodland.

During the 1960s she operated a business from her home, the Leisercraft Music Co., taping her organ music and chimes that were played in churches, funeral chapels and cemeteries as far away as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. She also had a weekly sacred music program on Sacramento FM radio station KHIQ. She made two record albums for RCA, “Favorite Hymns with Marietta Leiser at the Organ” and “Merry Christmas with Marietta at the Organ.”

She was a longtime member of PEO, Chapter IX of Woodland.

She is survived by her son Greg and daughter-in-law Mary of Knights Landing, her only grandchild Peter and his wife Janice of Brentwood, Tenn., and niece Clairelee Leiser Bulkley of Knights Landing. She was preceded in death by her husband Phil, son Fred and daughter Pamela Stockton.

The family would like to thank the staff at Carlton Plaza of Davis and Yolo Hospice for their love and wonderful care to Marietta these past few months.

Remembrances may be made to Yolo Hospice, 1909 Galileo Court, Davis CA 95618 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Oct. 10, 1920 — Jan. 17, 2016

Dr. James A. Kennedy, a longtime resident of Davis who spent 40 years of dedicated service as a family physician, passed away peacefully at his home in Davis on the morning of Jan. 17, 2016. A man who was known for his calm and peaceful caregiving, he was the fifth doctor in Davis in 1956 when he started his practice. He was one of the last “country doctors” in Yolo County, continuing to provide house calls until his retirement in 1996.

Dr. Kennedy was born Oct. 10, 1920, to James Leo Kennedy and Margaret Josephine Kennedy née Murrin in Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Dr. Kennedy’s early years were marked by tragedy and change. In March of 1928 he developed pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. His mother and father would visit every day until one day when only his father came. His mother had become sick as well and on March 27, 1928, his mother died from lobar pneumonia, for which there was no effective treatment at the time.

Following the passing of his mother when he was 8, it became obvious that his father could not care for the three children: Hugh, Jim, and Tom. To make ends meet, his dad continued to work at the Edgar Thompson Steel Mill in North Braddock and the boys were shipped to their mother’s childhood home in Murrinsville, Pa., 60 miles north. There, Dr. Kennedy was raised by his elderly great-aunts and uncles on the Murrin family farm.

Dr. Kennedy often told stories to his children of the times that he had in Murrinsville, from driving in 68-year-old Uncle Jim’s 1925 Dodge Roadster to playing altar boy with his brothers Hugh (who would later become a Jesuit priest) and Thomas (who would have a successful and rewarding career working for US Steel).

Dr. Kennedy was educated at Wood’s School, a one-room school in Murrinsville, and later was sent to boarding schools including Xavier Hall, a Catholic boarding school run by the Sisters of Mercy near Latrobe, Pa. After graduating from high school, Dr. Kennedy moved to State College, Pa., attending and graduating from Penn State in 1942 with a degree in animal husbandry. He was a member of the Alpha Zeta fraternity and remained lifelong friends with his fraternity brothers. He also remained a committed devotee of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team and traveled frequently when they made it to a bowl game.

Following graduation, Dr. Kennedy entered the Army Air Corps to serve the country. Although he had a desire to become a navigator on a bomber, he was instead trained as a fighter pilot and flew the P-51 Mustang (a direction he was later thankful for). He was assigned to the 308th fighter squadron and was stationed in the North African and Southern European theaters where he escorted bombers on missions into Eastern Europe. He rarely discussed his time in the service but he was extremely proud of his role in the war and continued his lifelong passion for flight, maintaining his pilot’s license into his seventies.

Following WWII, Dr. Kennedy returned to the family farm in Pennsylvania, intending to make a living as a farmer. After several years of crop failures, he realized he needed to find another, more stable profession. He traveled cross country on an Indian Chief motorcycle, predating the interstate highway system to look for guidance and visit his father who then lived in Douglas, Ariz. Career counseling directed him to medical school and he was admitted to Temple University, graduating in 1952 with his M.D.

Following a short stint as a medical practitioner in Grove City, Pa., Dr. Kennedy moved to California after accepting a position at the Los Angeles County General Hospital where he worked as a physician in the jail ward. It was while in “jail” that he met his future wife, Renie Castello. After a short courtship, they were married at Mission San Buenaventura on Jan. 6, 1956, and settled down in the small university town of Davis (then a population of 7,000!).

It was here that Dr. Kennedy would spend the next 40 years practicing medicine, initially at 216 F St. and then at 635 Anderson Road. From 1956 until his retirement at the age of 75 in 1996, Dr. Kennedy was a witness to the growth of this small town and took care of its citizens. One of the most enjoyable aspects of his medical career was delivering babies to witness one of the wonders of life. During his career it is thought that he delivered in excess of 1,000 babies.

After retiring, he was active in growing butternut squash for donation to the food pantry and helped with deliveries to the needy until he could no longer drive. He and Renie were able to travel overseas several times in retirement, but he enjoyed taking care of his land and vegetable garden.

Dr. Kennedy is survived by Renie, his wife of 60 years, and their seven children, including Cornelius and his wife Rosanna of Los Gatos, Ann Leigh of Chico, Patricia Brown of Davis, Kathleen Montgomery and her husband Mitch of Winters, James Jr. and his wife Beverly of Clovis, John and his wife Lisa of Santa Rosa and Margaret Josephine Borth and her husband Chris of Alameda.

Dr. Kennedy is also survived by 11 grandchildren (Arlene, Nola, Andre, Bradley, Megan, Colten, Kayla, Samuel, Isabelle, Kellen and Ian) and three great-grandchildren (Michelle, Eva and Ella). He was deeply loved by all of his family and will be missed.

Dr. Kennedy was deeply religious throughout his life and attended St. James Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, and will be followed by a reception at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St., Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Yolo Food Bank.

Dec. 16, 1947 — Jan. 17, 2016

Adriana Deniz, better known as Audrey, was born in Madera on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1947, to Alex and Ramona Cervantez. She passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, surrounded by her daughter, Tricia Crongeyer; son, Jonathan Diaz; husband, Johnny Deniz; granddaughter, Camden Grace Crongeyer; daughter-in-law, Kimberly; and sister-in-law, Gloria Deniz.

Audrey was the oldest of four girls raised in the close-knit Cervantez and Aguirre families among 21 aunts and uncles and many cousins to share family gatherings. She was an active member of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church and sang with passion in the Senior Choir. Music and singing were some of her enjoyable pastimes. She spent much of her free time visiting Tricia and three grandchildren and Jon in the many cities where they have lived. She also enjoyed visiting with her family and friends and going on adventures to Dillon Beach and as far away as Florida.

Audrey attended local schools and graduated from Madera Union High School with the Class of 1966. After marrying, she quickly became the devoted mother of two children and moved to Davis, where she was a member of the St James Catholic Church and put her children through school here. During this time, she earned her associate’s degree and had a career spanning more than 20 years at UC Davis, working as a counselor in the Student Health Center, as an early childhood education teacher and as a nanny for many families.

In 2004, she returned to her hometown of Madera to be close to her beloved extensive family. Once again active at St. Joachim’s Parish, Audrey sang in the Senior Choir and volunteered at the Holy Family Table and in the St. Morello Book Store. Following in the tradition of the ladies of the Cervantez family, she joined the Young Ladies Institute and enjoyed its numerous activities. She will be remembered for her vibrant and fun-loving personality and smile that lit up the room.

In 2012 Audrey married and shared three years of bliss with Johnny Deniz. Along with the gift of a loving husband she received the bonus gift of a loving stepdaughter, Angela “Deniz” Menashe. Audrey was preceded in death by her father, Alex Cervantez in 2003. She will be sadly missed by her loving family: husband, Johnny Deniz of Madera; mother, Ramona Cervantez of Madera; beloved children Tricia Diaz Crongeyer of Vancouver, Wash., and Jonathan Diaz and his wife Kimberly of Sacramento; and her stepdaughter, Angela Menashe and her husband Phil of Yakima, Wash.

Audrey was the cherished sister of Margie Marmolejo and Jim of Madera, Theresa Jones and Jerry of Houston, Mo., and Becky Waterman and Scott of Stevenson Ranch, Calif. She was the adored grandmother of Hayden, Mason and Camden Grace Crongeyer of Vancouver, Wash. Her Godchildren Michael Flores and Grace Waterman also held a special place in her heart.

Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Jay Chapel, followed by a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at St. Joachim Church, Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum followed by a celebration of her life at the San Joaquin Wine Company, all in Madera. Remembrances may be made to The Holy Family Table of St. Joachim’s Parish.

May 6, 1943 — Jan. 24, 2016

Leo Grant Sackett was born May 6, 1943. He grew up in midtown Sacramento and attended Oak Park Methodist Church where he caught the eye of the love of his life, Janet Lamb, on Aug. 2, 1964. Two months later, the couple married on Oct. 19, 1964.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Leo worked for the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department for three years in East Yolo, now known as West Sacramento. Leo joined the Davis Police Department in 1969 where he raised his family with his beloved wife. Leo had a distinguished career with the Davis PD, serving as range master, firearms instructor, SWAT team leader and commander, and eventually patrol and investigations commander.

After 30 years of dedicated service, Leo retired from the Davis Police Department in 1999 as a captain. Leo and Janet retired to Red Bluff that year, and lived in their country getaway for 13 years. During this time, Leo became a dedicated member of the Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff. Leo was a church elder and trustee, served on the Pastor and Personnel, and Buildings and Grounds Committees. Leo loved kids and kids loved Leo. For many years, Leo was in charge of games at Vacation Bible School and the fish pond at Camp Tehama.

An avid hunter and fisherman, he spent much of his free time outdoors. Leo died Jan. 24, 2016, in the presence of his family. Leo is survived by his wife of 51 years, Janet; daughters Sue Corry (Andy) and Cheryl Ritter (Randy); and four grandchildren. His service will be Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff, 838 Jefferson St. Cards may be sent to 1425 Robinson Drive, Red Bluff, CA 96080. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leo’s name to the general fund of the Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff.

Oct. 11, 1925 — Dec. 30, 2015

Edith Kanoff was born in Sea Cliff on Long Island, N.Y., where she lived for three years before coming to California in the late 1920s. She died peacefully at Carlton Plaza Senior Living in Davis on the morning of Dec. 30, 2015, surrounded by family, the
loving care of the Carlton caregivers and Yolo Hospice.

Edith was married to Roy Kanoff for 60 years until his death in 2008. Edith’s surviving family includes Wendy and Terry Silverthorn of Camino, Ralph and Patti Sparks of Davis; and four grandchildren, Lyle, Lisa, Robin and Dana and their families, which include four great-grandchildren. Edith is also survived by her sister Mary Bush of Chico and close extended family and friends too numerous to name.

A memorial service to celebrate Edith’s life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at Carlton Plaza Senior Living, 2726 Fifth St. in Davis.

After coming to California when she was 3 years old, Edith grew up in Berkeley and San Francisco. She went on to graduate from UC Berkeley in 1947 and married Roy Kanoff that same year.

In the 1960s, Edith was active on the Marin County School Board and was proud to have been instrumental in setting up one of the first special-needs programs
in Marin County schools. During that time she went back to school and received her teaching credential and taught elementary school for a few years.

In 1969, Roy and Edith made an important decision to move to Davis with their daughters where they spent 25 meaningful years as the owners of Carousel Stationery. Edith was active in the Davis community and served as president of Soroptimist International of Davis.

Edith was a passionate watercolor artist and, after retirement, traveled to workshops around the country where she enjoyed painting on location. She also enjoyed traveling for fun and traveled the world with her husband and family. Edith continued to enjoy vacations to her family cabin and to her beloved Kauai condo until she was 88.

We celebrate Edith’s death as we celebrated her life … a life filled with generosity, meaningful purpose, faith in God and a great love for family and friends. We love her and will miss her.

March 9, 1926 — Jan. 20, 2016

“He’s the strongest man I ever met,” was the recommendation for Bob Elliott made by his friend Scotty McLean when Scotty suggested that Bob and Katherine (Kathie) Harriman should meet.

The testimony was right on. Without ever lifting weights in a gym to practice, Bob had the strength to lift industrial batteries where he worked and load them on trucks for delivery elsewhere. But lifting weights was not a goal for Bob Elliott. Whatever job he had to do he did it with all his might including serving in the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. He and Kathie Harriman married in Bakersfield, six months after they met. They had four children — three girls and one boy. The family moved to Davis when the battery company moved its business to Woodland.

At 47, Bob became an ardent Christian and faithfully raised his children to have the values he himself had. He used his talents to produce innumerable tables, toys, and other items for friends and family as well as for his church. His kindness and gentle humor endeared him to people wherever he went.

He leaves behind four children, Lois Coady, Nancy Agee, Fred Elliott and Mary Nauer; eleven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many who feel like his children because he “adopted” them with his kindness and humor.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Jan. 29, 1 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of St. Martin, 640 Hawthorn Ln., Davis. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Samaritan’s Purse, Heifer.org – International and Operation Smile.

Neil Joseph O’Flaherty, 52, of Davis died Jan. 27, 2016. Born Feb. 13, 1963, to Joseph and Joan O’Flaherty, he was 52 years old. He had been an area resident for more than 40 years.

A viewing will take place from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, with a Rosary following at 7 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, 116 D St. in downtown Davis. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis.

Janice Marie Han Aboytes died peacefully in her sleep at her Woodland home on Jan. 25, 2016, following a yearlong battle with brain cancer. She was 68.

Retired from UC Davis after 39 years of service, she enjoyed traveling with friends and spending time with her grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Holy Rosary Church, 301 Walnut St. in Woodland, with burial immediately following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Hotel Woodland, 436 Main St.

Donations in her memory may be made to Holy Rosary School in Woodland, Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento or the charity of the donor’s choice.

May 8, 1932 — Jan. 17, 2016

Harold Eugene “Hal” Kannarr, 83, of Davis died at home in Davis on Jan. 17, 2016. The oldest child of Harold S. and G. Grace (Brown) Kannarr, he was born on May 8, 1932, in Topeka, Kan. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in technical journalism.

Hal served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. His career included tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam in the 1960s. Among other awards, Hal received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Joint Services Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Commendation Medal.

Hal is survived by Shirley, his wife of 43 years; four children — Galen (Beryl), Tina, Tracy, and Cheri (James Cubbage); his sister, Sheryl Hogue (Larry); and five grandchildren — Alisha and Travis Kannarr, and Fiona, Kieran and Gillian Cubbage. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ralph, and his sister Georgia Mae “Patty.” He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Hal’s remains will be laid to rest in the Davis Cemetery District at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association and the Kansas State University Foundation.

A full obituary can be found at www.smith-funerals.com.

Sept. 26, 1960 – Jan. 8, 2016

Kari Renee (Anderson) Watts (aka Bear), 55, from Belfair, Wash., peacefully passed away Jan. 8, 2016, at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Wash.

She was born on Sept. 26, 1960, in Frankfurt, Germany. She worked for Bremerton Housing Authority for nine years. Kari was a die-hard Seahawks fan since 1983 and she was a supportive “12” through thick and thin. Kari was a loving mother and wife with a gentle soul.

She is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 31 years, Randy; two sons, Cody (25) and Kyle (21); daughter-in-law, Kaley (25); two granddaughters, Emilee (3) and Makenna (1); brother Kevin; and her mother, Phyllis Potter.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring. For further details about the celebration of life, please contact Randy at imrandy41@hotmail.com.

March 24, 1940 — Jan. 24, 2016

Patricia F. Ernst passed away peacefully at her home in Davis, on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016. She was born in San Francisco to Madelyn and John Finn and attended a German Lutheran school for her early education.  

Following High school, she attended Mills College for two years. After her marriage to Daniel Navin, she moved to Davis with her two children John and Marian.  She quickly found employment at UC Davis as a secretary in the School of Veterinary Medicine.  She later worked in several campus departments retiring in November 1993.

In 1970, Pat married Mohamed Farid who was a graduate student in Animal Science at UC Davis.  They moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she gave birth to her third child, Sherief. Later she returned to Davis with her children John and Marian, leaving Sherief as required under Egyptian law.  On Pat’s 70th birthday, she was happily reunited with Sherief. Two years ago, Sherief relocated to San Jose.

Pat’s children and grandchildren visited, telephoned or emailed often to keep her up to date on all the “happenings” in their lives. She loved to hear about all their successes and challenges.

On Feb. 20, 1988, Pat married Ralph Ernst, who also was employed at UC Davis as a poultry specialist. Pat had known Ralph causally since she moved to Davis in 1970. Pat had many interests; she had always been interested in knitting, gardening, cooking and reading. She regularly read four newspapers and more than 40 magazines and newsletters. With Ralph, she added fishing and traveling to her interests. She and Ralph spent many days fishing at lakes in Northern California, traveled throughout North America and made two trips to England.  She enjoyed traveling and would attend Ralph’s business conferences and meetings with him.  They built their current residence together and designed it so they could grow old together.

Pat was a member of the UC Davis Arboretum as well as a founding member of the Yolo Knitting Guild, where she was active until she died. Pat was very curious and loved to learn and visit with people while giving their dogs treats.  Neighbors and their dogs would frequently stop by the house to visit or pick up a dog treat.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Madelyn and John Finn, her brother Douglas Finn, and her half-siblings John Finn, Mary Finn, Michael Finn and Timothy Finn. She is survived by her loving husband Ralph Ernst; son John Navin of Lake Stevens, Wash.; daughter Marian Boyle of Orangevale; son Sherief Farid of San Jose; stepdaughter Carol Ernst of Davis; niece Ferris Berry of Santa Rosa; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

An informal graveside memorial service to celebrate Pat’s life will begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Davis Cemetery, 820 Pole Line Road, Davis.  A casual open house will follow at the Ernst home, 601 Mockingbird Place in Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Empower Yolo, UCD Arboretum, or any charity serving pets.

March 10, 1954 — Jan. 1, 2016

Doreen Isabelle Meyer passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2016, surrounded by loving family and close friends, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Doreen was born on March 10, 1954, in Glendale. She spent most of her childhood in Southern California, graduating from West Covina High School and earning a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from UC San Diego prior to moving to Northern California for graduate school.  She completed a master’s degree in water science from UC Davis. After a year of research in Florida, she returned to Davis for the rest of her career working in the evolving world of remote sensing, computer programming, and computer system security. At work she enjoyed learning new skills and detailed problem solving. 

Into her retirement she continued to approach the world with the curiosity of a scientist dedicated to life long learning completing numerous Coursera courses, reading extensively, and sharing her enthusiasm and wisdom with friends and family.  As an environmental activist, she was attentive to maintaining a small footprint and was consciencious about her impact on the natural world – a desire which led to the design and intallation of a rainwater collection system to water her bountiful garden amongs many other projects. On the weekends and in retirement she would frequently plan adventures immersed in the great outdoors.

Doreen lived an active, nurturing, and mindful life during her 61 years. She bike-commuted for most of her years at UC Davis, and toured thousands of miles on the bike she built. She introduced countless friends to backpacking over the years, sharing the joys of granite mountains and alpine lakes as well as redwood forests and riverside trails with those who were lucky enough to be at her side.  Her passion for the ocean and its life led her to scuba dive up and down the California coast, as well as in several locations around the world. If there was a natural body of water near her, she would always jump in. She would gravitate to water in most any form, enjoying kayaking, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing over the years. 

Martial arts played an important role in her life. Her first introduction was through Kempo Karate in which she earned a black belt, which led her to lifelong study of bagua, emei qigong, and tai chi. Her studies locally and around the world were invaluable to her: a source of wisdom, challenge, and joy. 

A loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend, she cared deeply for those around her with unconditional love and unwavering support. She will be remembered as a compassionate woman with a quiet strength, piercing intelligence, playful curiosity, graceful wisdom, and loving kindness. 

Doreen is survived by her husband, Charlie Turner of Davis; daughter Allison Abresch-Meyer of Corvallis, Ore.; her father and stepmother, Carl R. and Joyce Meyer of Port Isabel, Texas; sister Laurey (Rick) Mouledous of Brownsville, Texas; and niece Paige Mouledous of Austin. She was preceded in death by her mother, Carol S. Stenback.

Her family is sincerely grateful to the community of friends who were present in love and support during Doreen’s illness. 

A memorial event for family and friends will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis. Memorial gifts can be directed to “Friends of the Eel River” or “Healing Journeys”.

Feb. 23, 1963 — Jan. 27, 2016

Neil Joseph O’Flaherty was born in Oakland on Feb. 23, 1963, and passed away in his sleep on Jan. 27, 2016. The second of six children, he moved to Davis with his family more than 40 years ago. He attended Davis schools, graduating from King High School. He also attended St. James School for many years and was an altar boy. Neil played Little League and was active in raising funds for the March of Dimes. On two occasions he was awarded the top prize for raising the most money for the March of Dimes in the greater Sacramento area.

Neil was victim of mental illness in his late teens and was memorable and remarkable for his courage, faith and humor.

He was an inspiration of courage and faith and will be missed by all who experienced his unlimited love and humor. Neil gave real meaning to his belief in “healing love.”

Neil will be greatly missed by all. “Those who live within our hearts will never die.”

Neil is survived by his parents, Joan and Joseph O’Flaherty; his sisters, Brieann and Bridget O’Flaherty; his brothers, Terence (Sharon) and niece Emily, Jody and nephew Benjamin, and Michael (Megan).

Viewing will be held Sunday, Jan. 31, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, 116 D St. in Davis. Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis.