Donna Mae Foley

Douglas John Phillipps II

Fred Ratcliffe

Monica Carlene Walker

Donna Mae Foley

Donna Mae Foley came into this world Aug. 16, 1933 in Winfield, Kansas. Her parents were Frank and Thelma Simpson. Following her birth the family lived in Arkansas City, Kansas until they moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1941, where Donna attended school and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School. In October of 1951, she enrolled in the Spokane Telegraph School, graduating March of 1952, at which time she was offered a job with the Northern Pacific Railroad in Butte, Mont., as a telegrapher clerk.

This is where she met and later married her husband, Timothy Foley, in 1954. They had four boys and Donna continued to work for the railroad until the family moved to Susanville, Calif. in 1960. In 1961 Donna returned to work and worked at a number of businesses as either a clerk, stock clerk or accounts clerk until the early 1980s. Some of the businesses included Sierra Army Depot, Richins Propane, Amerigas (formally Richins), Lassen Plumas Gas and the River Inn Restaurant. From 1978 through 1990 she was a volunteer at McKinley School, helping with the Kindergarten Round Up and tutoring in various classes, first through fourth.

Donna’s world evolved around family and friends. She was very supportive of her children and grandchildren when it came to academics and sports. She also loved to play cards and work on jigsaw puzzles. Later in life she could be found playing Bunco with friends (over 30 years) and having lunch and playing Bingo at the Diamond Mountain Casino on senior days.

Graveside services will be held at Diamond Crest Cemetery at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Following the services there will be a celebration of life for Donna to be held at the Senior Citizens Center, located next to Riverside Park, at 1700 Sunkist Drive.

Douglas John Phillipps II

Douglas John Phillipps II, 54, died Jan. 24, 2013 at his residence in Houma, La. He was born Aug. 16, 1958 in Los Angeles, Calif.

He is survived by sons, Andrew Phillipps and Douglas Phillipps, III; daughter, Cheri Phillipps, of Houma; sisters, Linda Phillipps and Lesa and Christopher Sanders, both of Janesville; brother, David Phillipps, of Reno, Nev.; mother, Joy Cadenhead, of Tucson, Ariz.; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be arranged at a later date.

He is preceded by his father, Douglas Phillipps I; wife, Sandra Phillipps; and niece, Chivon Nelson.

In lieu of flowers send donations to the Lassen County Animal Shelter, Susanville, for the animals.

Fred Ratcliffe

Fredrick Dean Ratcliffe, age 60, died Jan. 29, 2013 in Reno, Nev. after a long illness. Fred was born Sept. 28, 1952 in Providence, R.I. to Herbert and Marion Ratcliffe.

He served in the United States Air Force Security Police in the 1970s.  Fred worked as a locksmith in Sacramento after leaving the Air Force. He worked for, and then retired from, the United States Postal Service as a mail handler. He was also a Union Shop Steward at the Post Office in West Sacramento.

In 2004, Fred and his wife, Gail, moved to Janesville, Calif. to enjoy retirement in the country. Fred loved the country life.

He is survived by his mother, Marion Ratcliffe, of Sacramento, Calif.; Gail, his beloved wife of 26 years; and his stepson, Christopher Taylor, of San Diego. Fred is also survived by his brother, Herbert Ratcliffe, of Sacramento; sister, Nancy Sheldon, of Carmichael; and twisted sister, Karen Sanders, of Fair Oaks. In addition, Fred is survived by many other family members and friends. Fred was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Ratcliffe.

A graveside service will be held in Fair Oaks, Calif. at the Mount Vernon Memorial Park on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.  

Monica Carlene Walker

Monica Walker was born Monica Carlene Barnick on March 21, 1957 and was taken home by her Heavenly Father on Jan. 20, 2013 at age 55 after a long battle with many illnesses.

She was born in Santa Monica Calif. She grew up in Glendora, Calif. where she sang in her high school choir and was sent to Hawaii to sing in competition. She met and married her husband, Jeffery William Walker, in 1983 and in 1984 they welcomed their only child, Amanda Marie Walker-Shirley, into the world. Following her divorce she put herself through nursing school while being a single mother and graduated at the top of her class with honors. She received an associates degree and became a licensed vocational nurse in 1990. Nursing was her passion and she worked in the field until she began to have health problems.

In 1997 she accepted Christ into her life and was baptized in the Susan River. She also became a member of the Church of the Nazarene.

In 2000 she developed pulmonary hypertension, which led to many other illnesses. For the next 12 years she battled her health with many hospital visits and care flights. She had two beautiful reasons for fighting so hard, her grandchildren, Michaelyn and Owen. They were her reason for living. She had a very special bond with them that always seemed to keep her going. She has touched the hearts of many people and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her father, Phillip Barnick and her sister, Marie (Cheyenne) Ingersoll.

She is survived by her mother, Billie Barnick; daughter, Amanda Shirley and husband, Matthew Shirley; brother, Keith Barnick; grandchildren, Michaelyn and Owen Shirley; niece, Britney Barnick; nephew, Keith Taylor Barnick; her soul sister, Gayle Salsman; Kimmy Chapman and Amy Jarrod, her beautiful girls she cherished to be her children, too.

The family requests in lieu of flowers any donations be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association in her name. A celebration of life was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at the Church of the Nazarene on Spring Ridge Drive in Susanville.