Debra Lynn (Weeks) Johnson

Russell G. Thompson 

Virginia Travis

Doris S. Hitchings Wolder

Elaine “Mickey” Cravy

Luise M. Shipman

Norma Claire Stampfli

Debra Lynn (Weeks) Johnson   

Debra (Debbie) Lynn Johnson lost her very courageous battle with cancer on May 15, 2010 at the age of 59. Debbie was born in Susanville, Calif. on Feb. 6, 1951 to Richard and Norma Weeks.   

Debbie attended local Susanville schools and graduated from Lassen High School in 1969. She married Roger Johnson and through their union they produced three beautiful children Jesse, Chase and Erika.   

Debbie worked for years at Citizens Utilities in Susanville until her relocation to Auburn, Calif., where she was an employee of Auburn Faith Community Hospital and Roseville Telephone Company, Surewest.  

Debbie leaves behind her dear friend and companion Byron Brooks of Applegate, Calif.; her children, Jesse, Chase and Erika Johnson of Auburn. In addition she will always be watchful over her only grandchild, Chase whom she cherished dearly.   

Debbie is also survived by her mother Norma Weeks; brothers Tom and sister-in-law Donna Weeks, Richard and sister-in-law Carolyn Weeks; sister Gail and brother-in-law Dave Pritchard, and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.   

Debbie became known by family and friends as "the tough old bird" during her bitter and harsh battle against cancer.   

Debbie will be greatly missed by those she graced with her sunny disposition, positive attitude and love and appreciation of life.   

We will always remember Debbie as a caring daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.  

As a new chapter in our lives evolves; our Debbie is flying with the angels!  

A memorial in honor and celebration of Debbie will occur at a later date. For specific information please contact her daughter, Erika Johnson at (916) 412-8681.

Russell G. Thompson   

Russell G. Thompson, age 48, passed away on April 23, 2010, due to an intracranial bleed, at Enloe Medical Center, in Chico, Calif.   

Russell was born on April 18, 1962 in Herlong, Calif. He graduated from Herlong High School in 1981 and was a resident of Lassen County his whole life.    

He was employed at Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, as a cook at the dining facility (mess-hall), for many years, serving the active military stationed there; later as a custodian and groundskeeper for SIAD.    

Russell enjoyed spending time with family and friends, making people laugh with his witty sense of humor. He was a hard worker and talented artist; he liked to paint, make Indian leather bracelets and he loved to dance! Russell was very proud of his Cherokee heritage. Even through his diabetic medical condition, he remained very active doing weight-lifting and gardening.    

Russell is preceded in death by his mother and father, Emma (Susie) Thompson, who passed away July 18, 2008, Stanly Hall Thompson, who passed away Feb. 14, 2009, both of Doyle, Calif. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Ray Flowers, of Herlong; his niece and nephew, Desere and Preston Flowers; a special young man, of whom he thought of as his son, Brandon Butzirus, of Richland, Mich.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.   

A "Celebration of Life" will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at the Chapel Facility & Fort Sage Resource Center, located at 170 DS Hall St., in Herlong, 96113. A pot-luck reception will follow the service, bring a dish if you wish.

Virginia Travis   

Graveside services were held for former Susanville resident Virginia Travis, 85, on April 30, 2010 at Riverside National Cemetery.  

She passed away peacefully from complications of old age in Redlands, Calif., on March 21, 2010.    

She is survived by daughter Gayle Davis, of Redlands; stepdaughters Linda Daulby, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Sandra Alexander, of Redding, Calif.; stepson Gary Avise, of Indio, Calif.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.   

Virginia was born Oct. 5, 1924, in Fort Bragg, Calif., the only child of Robert and Agnes Mead. She grew up in Chico where she graduated from high school in 1942. She attended Biola University and later graduated from CSU Chico, where she earned her teaching credential. She taught elementary school in Susanville for 21 years, retiring in 1980. She lived in Red Bluff, Calif., from 1988 to 2006, when she relocated to Redlands. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Avise in 1963 and her husband Phil Travis in 2007.   

Virginia was a fine teacher, a gracious hostess and a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, PEO and Community Baptist Church in Red Bluff.    

Memorials may be made to the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation for the Hospice Program, 350 Terracina Bldv., Redlands, CA. 92373.    

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of his saints.” Psalms 116:15.

Doris S. Hitchings Wolder   

Doris S. Hitchings Wolder was born May 24, 1923 and passed from this life on May 21, 2010.   

Doris was born in 1923 in St. Paul Minn., where she grew up and attended school. While on summer vacation with her family to California, Doris fell in love with the mountains and the area. After graduating from Minnesota State University with her teaching credential in general education and home economics, she took a job teaching at Watsonville High School in Watsonville, Calif.    

She met Harold Hitchings after he returned from the Phillipines where he served during WWII. Harold had grown u in the ranching area of Salinas, Calif. Harold and Doris were wed and then bought a small ranch out of Aromas, Calif. Doris taught school and Harold worked for Pacific Bell Telephone. They had three children: Jack, Jerry and Marian Hitchings. Harold attended Lassen Junior College and his dream was to own a ranch in Lassen County. In 1960, they bought a ranch in Adin, Calif., and moved to Lassen County where Doris went to work for the Big Valley School District teaching sixth grade. After Harold’s passing in 1964 Doris continued to teach at Big Valley until she took a job at Twain Harte Elementary School in Twain Harte, Calif., in 1970.   

Doris remarried in 1974 and continued to teach until the end of that school year when she retired and moved to Kent, Wash. with her husband, Tom Wolder. Tom worked for Boeing Aircraft as an illustrator. After Tom retired, they moved back to Twain Harte where they lived until they moved to her son’s ranch in Susanville, Calif., in 1995. After Tom’s passing, Doris stayed busy doing volunteer work at the local hospital and was very involved with the Methodist Church in Susanville.   

Doris is survived by her son Jack and daughter-in-law Christy Hitchings; son Jerry Hitchings; her daughter Marian Hitchings; three stepdaughters Barbara, Bonnie and Carol; one stepson Tom Wolder, Jr.; two granddaughters Kati Hitchings and Nicole Pitts; and one great-grandson Austin Wiseman.   

In lieu of flowers, make donations to any cancer research.

 Elaine “Mickey” Cravy   

Elaine “Mickey” Cravey, 71, of Susanville, Calif., died on May 15, 2010 at Renown Regional Medical Center, in Reno, Nev., of natural causes.   

She was born Aug. 8, 1938 in Iowa.   

She is survived by her husband Larry Cravy, of Susanville, Calif.; son Forrest Cravy, of Susanville; daughter Teresa, of Lookout, Calif.; three sisters; and six grandchildren.

Jon Gary Gullion   

Jon Gary Gullion, 68, of Janesville, Calif., died of natural causes on May 15, 2010. He was born on May 4, 1942 in Henderson, Ky.   

He is survived by wife Juanita Gullion, of Janesville, Calif.; sons Kenny Gullion, of Janesville, Calif., Jon Gullion, of Germany; daughters Janice Gullion, of Suisun, Calif., Tricia Ladouceur, of Sonoma, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.

Edna May Hart   

Edna May Hart, 97, of Susanville, Calif., died of natural causes at Countryvilla Riverview. She was born on Sept. 25, 1912 in Arkansas and will be missed by all family members.

Luise M. Shipman   

Luise M. Shipman, 82, of Janesville, Calif., died on April 21, 2010 after a lost battle with COPD and diabetes. She was born in Weiden-Oberpfalz, Germany.   

Luise is survived by her husband of 52 years, Frank G. Shipman Jr.; sons Hans D. Shipman, of Trenton N.J. and Frank J. Shipman, of Suisun City, Calif., Michael R. Shipman, of Lake Elsinor, Calif.; daughter Gwen Marcus, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; younger sister Ingrid (Fischer) Sittle, of Weiden Oberpfalz; and numerous grandchildren.

Norma Claire Stampfli   

Norma Claire Stampfli, 78, of Janesville, Calif., died on May 16, 2010 of natural causes. She was born on Nov. 25 in Susanville, Calif.   

Norma is survived by husband Donald Stampfli, of Janesville, Calif.; son Michael Stampfli, of North Hills, Calif.; daughters Karen Peterson, of Redding, Calif., Sue Ann Moore, of Honolulu, Hawaii, Deanna Ross, of Janesville, Calif.; brother Douglas Millar, of Susanville, Calif.; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Cynthia Kay Stampfli in 1960.   

Memorial services will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Susanville at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5.   

Donations are asked to be made to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at parkinson.org, American Cancer Society or a favorite charity of choice.