Billie "Bill" Owens

Josephine Lorraine Valadez

Billie "Bill" Owens

Susanville, Calif. resident Billie "Bill" Owens peacefully passed from this life with his longtime dear companion, Bonnie Turner, at his side Wednesday evening, Dec. 12, 2012 at Lassen Banner Medical Center located in Susanville at the age of 87.

Born Sept. 26, 1925 in Union City, Tenn. to the late Tennessee natives Ellis and Norma (Hawkins) Owens. He was raised and educated in Tennessee where he graduated from high school. Shortly following graduation he joined the military and served honorably as a member of the U.S. Navy.

Upon his return home he married his late wife, Mae, and to this union four children were born.

Bill moved west where he attended culinary school following a career as an auto salesman. He worked for restaurants in the Long Beach area before moving to the Northeastern California community of Westwood where he owned and operated the Green Hut Café before retiring. He gained quite the following for his excellent chicken pot pies. Bill also found great pleasure in working in the garden as well as a homemade vintner.

Bill is survived by his children, Neil Owens, of Yreka, Calif., Patricia Campbell, of Corona, Calif., Rebecca Owens, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif. and Suzette Owens, of San Francisco, Calif.; his loving companion and dear care giver for the past 20 years, Bonnie Turner, of Susanville, Calif.; along with his three grandchildren.

At Bill's request no services will take place following cremation Fehrman Crematory. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.

Josephine Lorraine Valadez

With her husband, Albert E. Valadez, Sr., and her children and grandchildren by her side, our beloved mother, Josephine (Josie) Lorraine Valadez, passed away peacefully from this life Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012 at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nev.

She was born Sept. 16, 1924 in Susanville, Calif. and was preceded in death by her mother, Grace Mike Joaquin Guitierez; father, George Mahi, of Honolulu, Hawaii; stepfather, Felix Guitierez, Sr.; brothers, Clyde Northup, Felix (Budge) Guitierez, Jr. and Robert (Bob) Guitierez.

She is survived by brother, Emilio (Leo) Guitierez, of Litchfield, Calif. and sister, Ramona Evans, of Susanville. She is also survived by her husband of 60 years, Albert E. Valadez, Sr.; children, Nicolas (Patsy) Padilla, of Susanville, Gracie (Gabe) Murillo, of Roseville, Calif., Chris Cobian, of Susanville, Albert Valadez, Jr., of Susanville, and Robert (Tori) Valadez, of Oroville, Calif.; grandchildren, Tiffany Padilla, Benjamin Padilla, Niki Murillo, Dawn Murillo (Jared) Johnson, Chris Cobian, Jr., Tonya (Steven) Costello, Shense Cobian, Lorraine Valadez, Jamie (Frank) Edeyaoch, Kristin Valadez, Steven (Talaya) Valadez and Lukas Valadez; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Josie was raised on the Susanville Indian Rancheria, attended local schools and later attended high school at Sherman Indian School in Riverside, Calif. After high school she served her country working for the Solar Aircraft Company in San Diego, Calif. She was a welder who worked on small parts for airplanes that flew in WWII.

She came home before the war ended and went to work at Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, Calif. The Depot was one of the largest ammunition depots in the U.S. and her job was dipping wooden boxes in oil that they used to pack bombs in to be used in WWII. She worked there for two years until the war ended, then she started working at Lassen Box Factory in Susanville. Her children always came first, so for several years she was a stay-at-home mom. When her youngest child started school she began working again at the Pioneer Elementary School Cafeteria in Quincy, Calif. After moving back to Susanville, she went to work at The Susanville Convalescent taking care of the elderly. She was a member of The Susanville Indian Rancheria, worked for the Tribe and was elected to the position of Tribal Secretary to serve on the Tribal Council numerous times.

Josie and her husband, Albert, enjoyed bowling at Sierra Lanes and on league tournaments. They had many friends and were a lot of fun to be around, and enjoyed the good times.

The family has honored Josephine’s wishes for no service or funeral. Josephine was cremated at Simple Cremations in Reno. She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends.