Franklin Andrew Dill

Deanna Jo Davis Hicks

William Arthur (Bill) Logan

Arli Jolene Lowry

Toy Earl McCracken

Franklin Andrew Dill
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Franklin Andrew Dill on Nov. 1, 2010, a true son of California. He was a man of great honesty and integrity. He was born on a cattle ranch in Lassen County and worked there while he attended school and during the summers after he left for Berkeley.

He had wonderful parents who instilled in him the “work, study, save and be on time ethic.” He spoke often about the outstanding one room elementary school, Soldier Bridge School, he attended. He graduated as Valedictorian from Lassen Union High School in 1932 and from Lassen Junior College in 1934. He always said how indebted he was to the teachers from all three schools who provided him with such an excellent academic background for life. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and received his bachelor’s degree in 1936. He spent the next three years at Boalt Hall, the University of California School of Law and received his LLB (later a JD) in 1939.

He was admitted to the California Bar on Dec. 21, 1939 and practiced law for 65 years. He began in San Jose in private practice for two years. Thereafter, he was an Assistant District Attorney for Yolo County at Woodland, Calif. From 1943 to November 1954 he was a special attorney in the Lands Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and for a short time an Assistant United States Attorney at San Francisco, Calif. In November 1954 he returned to the full time private practice of law in San Francisco. He became an expert in the field of real property and eminent domain law and represented, landowners as well as irrigation and other public water districts.

He had Superior Court cases in 30 California counties as well as appearing in all four U.S. District Courts in California. His representation in a 1970’s El Dorado County case led to significant changes within the United States Forest Service. However, his most gratifying legal work occurred in 1944-1946 when he obtained the successful discharge of the general obligation bonds of the Tule and Baxter Creek Irrigation districts which saved the ranch owners in the Honey Lake Valley from losing their ranches.

Franklin Andrew Dill was a great traveler. Whenever he could take time from his law practice he was traveling all over the world. As he was a Civil War buff he drove more than 9,000 miles visiting the battlefields. He visited China, India, Europe, Africa, North and South America. But his real favorites were the Secret Valley, Horse Lake, the Dill Butte and the Dill Slough in the Tules.

He was a wonderful and loyal husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was married for 67 years to Lola Mary Dill who passed away in 2006. He is survived by his children Marilyn Dill Carmichael, Franklin Andrew Dill Jr., Marjorie Dill Hennessy and Carol Dill Ward; his grandchildren Trent Andrew Carmichael, Colleen Carmichael Backstrand, Franklin Charles Dill, Laura Ann Dill, Daniel David Hennessy, Peter Allen Hennessy, Peter Patrick Emory and Andrew William Emory; his great-grandchildren Avery Jane Carmichael, Haley Anne Carmichael, Ryan Trent Carmichael, Whitney Susan Carmichael, Alden Grace Backstrand, William Emory Backstrand, Thomas William Hennessy, Petra Natasha Hennessy, Samantha Hope Emory and Wyatt Peter Emory. His family misses him greatly.

The family is having a Memorial Service in his honor at the Susanville Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2011. Memorial donations may be made to the Lassen Union High School District, 55 South Weatherlow St., Susanville, CA 96130 for the benefit of Lassen Union High.

Deanna Jo Davis Hicks
Deanna (Dede) Jo Davis Hicks passed away on June 1, 2011 at Banner Lassen Medical Center with a room full of her beloved family wishing her peace. As her daughter-in-law Rebecca so perfectly reflected, she “was a beautiful soul with a heart of gold. Her contribution to the study on Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma will be a living legacy to all of those who will fight a longer fight because of the knowledge gained from her 10-year battle.”

Born in Susanville on Aug. 15, 1938, she was the eldest child of Bob and Blanche Davis. She was a popular and accomplished student who took her first job at Doyle Motors, while attending Lassen High. She always credited Clemmy Doyle for teaching her the “skills” expected in the work place.

It was then that she and Bobby Hicks began dating, during summer gatherings at the Dr. Davis and Bob Davis family cabins at Lake Almanor. In 1954, Bobby carved “DD+BH ‘54” on her parent’s log cabin wall, where it remains today. The couple always put family first and could be seen “cruising” with their youngest siblings in the back seat.

After high school they went their separate ways, first Bob to College of the Pacific and later, Dede to Stanford. Many years and separate marriages later, they reunited in the early 70s. A Reno wedding followed and they became the epitome of a blended family, moving to Susanville with Dede’s three and Bobby’s four children. Their lives became one of kids’ activities and sports. Summers were filled with fun at Eagle Lake and Lake Almanor.

Dede, who had proven herself as a successful realtor in Reno, continued her career in Susanville, working for Stevens Realty and Century 21. Active in the Board of Realtors and recipient of many awards, she was respected by colleagues and trusted by clients, many of whom still reflect on her honesty and professionalism.

After retiring, she could hardly wait to have the trailer packed and head for “The River” near Needles. Each February they would join longtime friends for two months of campfires and fish fries. Even though some of those trips were cut short, it never discouraged her from going again.

Dede will always be remembered for how proud she was of all of her family. She is survived by her husband, best friend and loving caretaker, Bob Hicks, of Susanville. Children and stepchildren include: Wendy Roth, of Reno; Dr. Brett Roth (Rebecca), of Flower Mound, Texas; Patrick Roth (Barbara), of Elk Grove, Calif.; Rorie Hicks Chittock (Chip), of Susanville; Noel Hicks, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Cole Hicks (Cheri), of Hailey, Idaho; and Troy Hicks (Tara), of Swan Valley, Idaho. She also leaves 18 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her brother, Mark Davis (Donna), of Ukiah, and sister, Jenni Cesarin (Rick), of Lake Almanor.

At Dede’s request there will be no service but a small gathering at the family cabin on the East Shore of Lake Almanor, “on a warm sunny day.”

Following her diagnosis, Dede became an avid advocate for cancer research. Watching her determination two years ago, as she completed a “Relay for Life” lap, hand in hand with Bobby, was an inspiration to many.

Contributions may be made to Regents UC, c/o UCD Cancer Center, in Memory of Deanna Hicks for Lymphoma Research under the direction of Dr. Robert O’Donnell, 4501 X St., Sacramento, CA 95817 of The American Cancer Society.

William Arthur (Bill) Logan
Bill Logan of Susanville, Calif. died May 24, 2011 at the age of 91. He was born in Los Molinos, Calif. on Feb. 23, 1920. He moved to Susanville in 1936 where he remained until his death. He was employed by Fruit Growers Supply Company, later Sierra Pacific, in Susanville for many years until his retirement. He was a mechanic and could repair almost anything.

Bill served in the United States navy during World War II. He loved the outdoors and did a lot of fishing in the summer and snow-mobiling in the winter. In his younger days, he owned a small airplane and enjoyed taking trips to visit friends in the surrounding areas or to scope out fishing sites. He was a kind and gentle man who will be missed by all who knew him, especially his sisters and other family members.

Bill is survived by sister Margaret Cary, of Corvallis, Ore., sister Betty White and her husband Richard White, of Pensacola, Fla. and brother-in-law Burton Crouse, of Susanville. He also had many nieces and nephews including Tina Kennemore, of Susanville.
Bill was predeceased by his mother Florence Wilson and stepfather William Wilson, of Susanville; father Ollie Logan, of Los Molinos; brother Kent Logan, of Los Molinos; and sister Wilda Crouse, of Susanville.

Walton’s Colonial Mortuary in Susanville was in charge of arrangements. Lassen County Veterans conducted a memorial service at the Diamond Crest Cemetery in Johnstonville with full military honors on Saturday, June 11, 2011.

Arli Jolene Lowry
Arli Jolene Lowry was born in Hoopa, Calif. on Dec. 1, 1974, to parents, Carolyn Ames and Allen Lowry. She passed away on June 6, 2011 in Susanville, Calif.

During her life, Arli resided on the Hoopa Reservation and the Susanville Indian Rancheria. Arli was a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and is a descendent of the Yurok, Maidu, Pit River and Washoe peoples.

Arli attended Lassen High School and graduated from Hoopa Valley High School, Class of 1992, and attended Lassen Community College and College of the Redwoods.

Arli loved being a mother to her son Robert Allen David Boulby. Robert was everything to her. Arli was an avid reader and talented writer with a gift for words and wrote several stories and numerous poems. She was a talented artist and enjoyed playing her guitar. Arli had an infectious personality that affected everyone around her and had a smile that could light up the sky, and warmed many hearts.

Arli leaves behind her parents, Carolyn Ames and Allen Lowry, both of Susanville, Calif.; a cherished son Robert Boulby, of Crescent City; brothers Jess Lowry, Chet Lowry and Wyat Lowry, all of Susanville, and Evan Lowry, of Sacramento, Calif. Arli also leaves behind her soul mate Radley Shipes, of Susanville. She leaves numerous aunts, uncles and cousins from Susanville, Hoopa and Eureka, Calif.

A Traditional Wake was held at the home of Allen Lowry on Friday, June 10, 2011, with Funeral Services following on June 11, 2011 at the Susanville Indian Rancheria Church. Arli will be forever missed.

Toy Earl McCracken
A long time Susanville resident, Toy Earl McCracken passed away June 3, 2011 at the age of 90. He was born on Nov. 7 1920 in Cane Hill, Ark., to Elbert and Annie McCracken.

He married Fayenila Spencer in October of 1941. They shared 58 years together, before her passing in March of 1999. In 1942 he joined the Army where he fought in several campaigns, (Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe). He received three Bronze Stars, one Good Conduct Medal, with an Honorable Discharge in 1946. Toy and Faye moved to Susanville, Calif. to raise their family, and he joined the National Guard. He went to work in the logging industry doing every aspect of logging, from timber falling to truck driving. For a few years he was part owner in Flintstone Logging Co. until he acquired his own logging company. In his early days he owned a dump truck and loader, and eventually purchased a logging truck. Later Toy and his wife moved to Arkansas where he managed a landfill in Crawford County. Then they moved to Vaughn, N.M., where he worked in a rock pit for the railroad for a few years. Later on, they moved to Van Buren, Ark., where he opened his own small tire shop “Mack’s Tires” next to I-40, where he loved it. After the passing of their oldest son Richard, they moved back to Susanville to be with their immediate family. Toy had a love for tinkering with cars, tractors and growing gardens.

He left behind a son Terry and wife Linda; two grandchildren, Larry McCracken and Leann Warren; three great-grandchildren, Kadence McCracken, Madison McCracken and Micheal Warren; three sisters, Hazel Biggs, Roxie Huffaker and Audrey Stone.
He was preceded in death by his wife Fayenila; son Richard McCracken; sisters Jewell Grant, Ruby Rigsbee and Ola Winship; and brother Howard (Dude) McCracken.

Toy was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and brother to the family. He will be greatly missed. Please join the family for Military Honors that will take place at the graveside in Diamond Crest Cemetery at 10 a.m. on June 18.