Cynthia E. Gonzalez-Merlo

David Louis Preciado

Patrice Van Liew Williams

Genevieve “Jean” Vairetta

Cynthia E. Gonzalez-Merlo

Larry Nathan Roberts

Jan. 2, 1967 through Jan. 29, 2013

Loving and devoted wife of Carl Merlo of 27 years passed away into God’s loving arms Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 at the young age of 46.

Born in Woodland, Calif., Cynthia was the youngest of four daughters. She attended Holy Rosary School, graduated from Woodland High School and Heald Business College. Cynthia spent the last four years working as a friendly customer service representative at Bank of America, creating personal relationships with both coworkers and customers.

Shortly after graduation, Cynthia fell in love and married Carl, spending the majority of her life with him. They were blessed with daughter, Izabella, although she only graced the Earth for a short time; she became the flower of Cynthia’s life. She focused her love and adoration toward nieces and nephews and their two Chihuahuas, Mocha and Toy.

Loved ones will remember her beautiful smile, generous heart, spirit of giving, devotions to loyalty and tolerance, passion for life, respect for others and keen sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by daughter, Izabella; devoted mother, Stella; sister, Liz; and father-in-law, Carl, Sr. All to be reunited in Heaven’s eternal embrace.

Cynthia is survived by her father, Alfredo; sisters, Myriam, Heidi and Luicita; brother, Alfredo, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Arthur, Jorel and Mike; and her mother-in-law, Edith. She will be especially missed by loving nieces and nephews, Alisabeth, Edward, Joseph, Lola, Vanessa, Braxton and Bailey. Family and friends alike will miss her dearly and cherish the memory and legacies she left behind.

Memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 120 N. Union St., Susanville, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 for all who knew her to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes.

David Louis Preciado

David Louis Preciado passed away in Reno, Nev. on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. He was born in Susanville, Calif. on April 17, 1934 to Baudelia and Leopoldo Preciado.

After graduating from Lassen High School he enlisted in the military, Navy Branch, and served on the USS Ajax. Upon discharge, “Lou,” affectionately called by his family and friends, moved to Reno where he lived for the rest of his life. Lou was employed by Sargents Custom Cabinets for most of his career. He was a custom cabinet maker and also did fine woodworking.

After retiring, Lou spent many hours in his workshop enjoying his hobby of woodworking and woodcarving. He made many one-of-a-kind specialty items for family and friends. Bishop Sterling from the Reno Catholic diocese was the recipient of a handmade wooden staff, especially designed and made for him by Lou. Lou also made wooden carved crosses for St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral where he worshiped.

Lou’s other hobby was the great outdoors which he loved from early in his youth. He was an avid fisherman and archer and shared these talents with his nieces, nephews, family and friends. He also enjoyed roaming the outdoors with his companion “Ausie,” his dog. Another interest was volunteering his time to the Korean War Veterans Association. He built the trailer which is used in their annual Veteran’s Day Parade and participated in many of their events.

David Louis Preciado is preceded in death by his mother and father, Baudelia and Leopoldo Preciado, and two sisters, Laura Nordan and Theresa Mayer.

He leaves behind son, Gregory Thomas, of Reno; brother, Leo Preciado, of Reno; and sister, Anna Bennett, of Westwood, Calif.; 16 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial mass will be held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, 310 West 2nd St. in Reno at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15. Fellowship to follow.

Patrice Van Liew Williams

Patrice Van Liew Williams, of Overland Park, Kansas and Independence, Miss., passed away Jan. 27, 2013.

Patrice was born May 22, 1926, in Chicago, Ill., and was raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church. Patrice was salutatorian in high school and earned a bachelor of science degree in commerce and finance from the University of Iowa, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Patrice’s first job out of college was secretary to the president of Drake University in Des Moines. When the former dean of women came back from a year’s tour as a recreational director for the troops in Germany, Patrice applied for the same job and spent two years in search of adventure. In Germany she met her future husband, Edwin S. Williams (Lt. Col., USA, retired), who preceded her in death in 2007. She returned to Des Moines, where she worked at Better Homes and Gardens as secretary to the book editor and was later secretary to Tom Barber, of American Airlines. When Ed’s tour of duty ended in Germany, he followed her to Des Moines and always claimed his red convertible with white leather interior finally convinced her to marry him.

After her marriage in June 1954, Patrice and Edwin lived in several duty stations, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Ft. Bliss, Texas, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Ft. Bragg, N.C. and Springfield, Va. Patrice was the ultimate officer’s wife, hosting occasions that helped further Ed’s career. She was an active volunteer as a hospital “Grey Lady,” as well as many other volunteer activities through the years. She became involved in each community she joined, acting in plays, modeling and participating in the officers’ wives clubs at each post. During these years she, as she often repeated, “had four children in four years, one month, two weeks and 10 days.” Patrice was active and enjoyed playing golf and tennis, swimming and snow and water skiing.

She involved her whole family, including husband, Ed, and all four children, in a production of “The King and I” while in Ft. Leavenworth. She and her family finally settled in Overland Park when Ed retired from the Army in 1972, where she again joined a community theatre group, performing the lead in many plays for the Barn Players at Johnson County Community College. She earned her real estate license in 1970 and after years in the million dollar sales clubs at Hardin Stocktin, finally retired in 1997 from J.C. Nichols in Overland Park. She moved to Independence in 2007 where she resided at the Groves Retirement Community.

She is survived by four children, Kevin S. Williams and his wife, Ginny, of Independence, Eileen P. Abaian, and her husband, Jack, of Los Angeles, Deidre M. Brown, of Charleston, S.C. and Shayla J. Ashmore, of Susanville, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A visitation was held at Carson Speaks Funeral Home at 1501 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, on Thursday, Jan. 31. A Celebration of Life service was held Friday, Feb. 1, at The Groves in Independence.

Genevieve “Jean” Vairetta

Genevieve “Jean” Vairetta, 90, of Susanville, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 in Reno, Nev. She was born Dec. 5, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio.

She is survived by Thomas Vairetta, Stephen Vairetta, Sr., Fred Vairetta, Ronnie Tripp and Anthony Vairetta.

Viewing was held on Feb. 11, 2013 in Richmond, Calif. and the funeral was held Feb. 12, 2013 in San Pablo, Calif. Wilson and Kratzer Mortuary, of Richmond, handled the funeral arrangements.

Larry Nathan Roberts

Larry Nathan Roberts, 73, of Westwood, Calif., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in Redding, Calif.

He was born and raised in Westwood. He graduated from Westwood High School in 1958. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1965. Larry worked at Collins Pine Lumber Company in Chester, Calif. for 43 years and retired in 2002. He was an excellent bowler. He loved to camp, hunt, gamble and most of all fishing with his friends and grandchildren. He was a life- long San Francisco 49er and San Francisco Giants fan. He loved spending time with his wife and family. He was well known for his funny sense of humor.

He left behind his wife of 45 years, Sharon; their children, Larry J. Roberts, of Westwood, and Tina Campbell, of Oroville; five grandchildren, Jessica, Ashley, Stevie, Nathan and Brayden; sisters, Mary Skelton, of Red Bluff, and Shirley Belden, of Anderson; and his extended family and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Nathan Roberts, his brothers, Eugene and James Roberts and sister, Vera Jean.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Calvary Chapel, 315 Ash St. in Westwood. He will be laid to rest at the Westwood Cemetery, in the veteran’s lot.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Veteran’s Guest House in Reno, Nev. or any veteran organizations. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.