Donald Louis Anderson

Wayne Henry O’Rear

Frances Irene Ray

Ellen Warren Mathews Wachhorst

Donald Louis Anderson

Donald Louis Anderson, 37, born Dec. 18, 1974, sadly and unexpectedly passed away on March 15, 2012, in Susanville, Calif.

He left behind his loving wife of 9 years, Rachel, and four children, Donnie, Deven, Dustin and Dino.

Don is survived by his parents, Dela and Rodney Anderson; sister, Scarlett Anderson; brother, DJ (Jessica) Anderson; niece, Jaden; maternal grandmother, Marianne Accornero; and uncle, Dino Accornero.

Don is also survived by in-laws: mother, Pamela (Anthony) Kern; father, Jasbir (Shirley) Brar; sisters, Becky (Matt) Doupe, and Sarah Brar; brother, Steven Brar; and nieces, Nicole and Emma Doupe.

Don was raised in Placerville, Calif. and moved his family to Susanville four years ago when he started working for California Department of Corrections. A few of Don’s passions in life were bull fighting, fishing and wrestling with his boys.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 30 at Green Valley Community Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. A second service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Susanville Assembly of God Church, 473-465 Richmond Road North, Susanville.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the family. Contact 4andersonboys@gmail.com for more information on donations.

Wayne Henry O’Rear, 74, passed away quietly in his sleep on March 14, 2012 in Susanville, Calif. Wayne was born in Waldo, Ariz., to Maston and Robbie O’Rear and grew up in Arkansas until he was nine and the family moved to El Cerrito, Calif. Wayne had a ten-year-old brother, Travis, who passed away in 1999.

Wayne married the love of his life, Johanna (who has survived him), Oct. 25, 1964. They have one daughter, Annie Jacobs Corbett, her husband, John Jacobs Corbett and one granddaughter, Kate Nicole Jacobs Corbett. Wayne was a 12-year veteran of the Air Force Reserve, and worked for five years for the Campbell Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer. Most of his life he was self-employed, in the custom drapery industry, and after his retirement in 2001, found immense joy by working part-time at Walmart in the sporting goods department selling bait, tackle, and various hunting/fishing licenses. Wayne loved hunting, fishing and all of the simplest things in life. Everyone around him loved his stories and his wonderful sense of humor. He was a wonderful and amazing husband, father, grandfather and man whose presence will be forever missed.

Wayne will be cremated and there will not be any services.

Westwood resident, Frances Irene Ray passed from this life peacefully at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, Calif. Tuesday morning, March 20, 2012 following a long and valiant battle with kidney failure. She was 89 years old.

Born in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico on Sept. 16, 1922 to the late Mexico natives Costello and Ruth (Rosalies) Flores, she immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of two, moving first to El Paso, Texas, and shortly thereafter settling in the Northeastern California Lumber community of Westwood.

Frances was raised and educated in Westwood, graduating from Westwood High School as a member of the “Class of 1940.” Following her graduation she went to work in the Venetian Blind factory, of Fruit Growers Lumber Company before eventually transferring to their box factory. It is here she met a handsome young World War II veteran William Ray. Six months later the couple was united in matrimony in Reno, Nev. on Oct. 26, 1946. To this blessed union one son and three daughters were born.

With rumors of the mill closing, the young family moved to Happy Valley, Calif. in 1949 before returning to Westwood in 1951. Frances then began a longtime career working in the Westwood Variety Store later to become Morrison’s Warehouse and then Westwood Thrift Store. Ill health recently required her to retire.

A devout Christian, Frances was a stalwart in the Westwood Assembly of God congregation where she served as a board member, treasurer and taught Sunday school amongst many other positions she has held over the years. Frances lived her faith and shared her love of God to all those she came in contact with.

A talented seamstress, she enjoyed crocheting and embroidery while also enjoying all types of crafts.

Through all of this though Frances’s number one passion in life was that of her family, she found great solace in spending time with her family, especially her grand and great grandchildren.

In passing Frances leaves her daughters, Linda Sawyer and her husband Ken, Shirley Barber and her husband Jeff, and Alvera Young and her husband Mike, all of Westwood; a son, Stephen Ray and his wife Kathy, of Folsom, Calif.; brother, Tony Flores, of Oregon; sister, Lila Phillips, of Corning, Calif.; and the joys of her later life, her grandchildren, Shawn, Kimberly, Tammy, Molly, Jake, Tara, Becca, Mike, Jr. and Neil; along with her eight great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Frances’s life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012 at her beloved Westwood Assembly of God Church. Interment will follow in the Westwood Cemetery alongside her late husband. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.

The family suggests any remembrances in her memory be made to the Building Fund of the Westwood Assembly of God Church, c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 803, Greenville, CA 95947.

Ellen Wachhorst died peacefully in her sleep on March 13 at the Vi retirement residence in Palo Alto. Born June 28, 1918 in Susanville, Calif., Ellen graduated from the University of Oregon a member of Alpha Chi Omega, became a WAVE during World War II, and later worked for McCann-Erickson Advertising in San Francisco before marrying Dr. Newton Wachhorst in 1956. Residing in Atherton for 35 years, she raised twins, was a Pink Lady volunteer at Stanford Hospital, and a long-time member of the Peninsula Volunteers and the Menlo Circus Club.

Forever lovely and fashionable, Ellen (“Ellie” to her brother) always appeared much younger than her years. She loved late nights, good novels, and romantic films (“An Affair to Remember,” her favorite). Warm-hearted, and unassuming, she was great company, relating easily to all ages. She loved to laugh, to listen, to have a good talk, tell a good story, and share the good times with family and friends. Truly sweet and naturally funny without really trying, Ellen was feminine in every way — compassionate, understanding, and interested in the details of everyday life. It was her way to let things go without a fuss, without opinion, advice, or a critical word. In her expressions — of sympathy, of gratitude, of genuine interest in others — there was an open honesty, a perennial good nature that was ever in balance: unassertive while knowing her own mind, deeply connected while self-contained, impeccable about her appearance yet reacting to compliments with tickled surprise. With Newt, her late husband of 34 years, she loved to dance (their song was “Fascination”) and enjoyed days in the sun, Circus Club parties, and dental-group trips. Family and friends will miss Ellen and her many priceless stories. Their world will always seem a bit brighter for having been touched by the warmth of this exceptional woman.

Ellen was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Newton Wachhorst, her sister, Marcella Searles, and parents, Arthur and Lena Mathews.

She is survived by her brother, Arthur Mathews, of San Carlos; her son, Jeffrey; daughter, Wendy Hurley; and granddaughter Gina Ramirez, all of Palo Alto.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association orthe Peninsula Volunteers.