Obituaries for the week of 1/24/17

Faye Dunham

On Jan. 6, 2017 Faye went home to be with the Lord. She fought a long and courageous battle of lung cancer. Her four daughters and hospice coordinator Andrew Kipers were at her bedside in her last hours.

Faye came to California in her teens from Tolbert, Texas, where she was born in 1923. She met and married her husband in the Bakersfield, California area, where they settled and raised six children. After losing her husband, she moved to Susanville where most of her children were living.

Her home of the past 30 years was at Lassen Manor, where she had many loving and caring friends. She participated in annual bake sales, bingo, bunko, potlucks and holiday gatherings, spending time with family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Grady Dunham; and oldest son, Wayne Dunham; and two grandsons, Steven Nye and Kennith Bauer.

She is survived by four daughters and one son, Sherri Barton, of Heyburn, Indiana, Darlene Bauer, of Roseville, California, and Carol Thompson and Deloris Dunham, of Susanville, California; her son, Dale Dunham, of Savannah, Texas; 17 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; and 33 great, great grandchildren; 92 descendants in all.

Walton’s Colonial Mortuary participated in her arrangements and cremation in Reno. A spring graveside service will take place at Diamond Crest Cemetery.

Cora Roylene Elder

Cora Roylene Elder, 54, a resident of Dallas, Oregon, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 in the Salem Hospital. She was born on April 13, 1962 in McCloud, California, the daughter of Clyde F. and Myrtle Wion Thomas. She was raised in Sacramento and graduated from the Lassen High School in Susanville, Class of 1980. Cora received an associate degree in nursing from Lassen Community College in 1982. She went on and earned a bachelor degree from the Humboldt State University in nursing in 1988.

She is survived by her husband, Dale, of Dallas, Oregon; daughter, Shasta Hodge, of Independence, Oregon; mother, Myrtle Thomas, of Janeville, California; and brother, Darrell Thomas, of Janeville, California.

At Cora’s request, there will be no services. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice. The Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center is caring for the family. You may leave a message or memory for the family at dallastribute.com.

Larry Haskill

Larry William Haskill passed away on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by loved ones when he passed.

Larry was born on May 24, 1951 in Oakland, California. As a child, Larry traveled the world with his father, who served in the United States Navy, living in Guam, Trinidad, and numerous states in the United States.

Larry graduated from Vacaville High School in 1970 and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1971 where he attained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. During his time in the Navy, he was assigned to the USS Higbee, and served off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge in 1975, he moved back to California where he worked for Caltrans for several years.

In 1979, his job with Caltrans took him to Susanville where he met his wife Connie. Larry and Connie relocated to Enid, Oklahoma and were married on July 19, 1982 in Carson City, Nevada. While living in Oklahoma, they would welcome their first son, Travis. During his time in Oklahoma, Larry worked in the oil fields, and also worked as a truck driver driving gas trucks for AmeriGas. Larry and his family moved back to California settling in Westwood, and Larry took a job at the Collins Pine Company sawmill in Chester where he drove water trucks and also worked in the planning mill.

In 1985, Larry and Connie welcomed their second son, Jason. After working at Collins Pine for five years, Larry took a job as a Correctional Officer at the California Correctional Center. In 1988, Larry and his family moved to Susanville. Larry worked as a Correctional Officer for 20 years until his retirement in 2007. Larry was a loving husband, father and papa, and a wonderful friend to many. He was an excellent welder, woodworker, and gardener and loved working around his home and in his vegetable garden. He also loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and deer hunter. Above all else, Larry loved his family and would do anything for them.

Larry is survived by his wife, Connie, of Susanville; son Travis, daughter-in-law Laura and grandsons, Landen and Luke, of Chico; son, Jason; and granddaughter, Alexia, of Susanville; daughter, Jamie Haskill-Steele, of Ozark, Missouri; and numerous aunts and uncles, in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Joel; his sister, Susan; his father‐in‐law, Carl Wallace; and his nephew, Michael Wallace. Per Larry’s request, no funeral services will be held.

Douglas Willmes

It is with deep and heavy sadness that we announce the death of Douglas “Doug” Mervin Willmes, 58, of Susanville, California, who passed away Thursday, Jan. 12 at his home due to heart complications.

A celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Honey Lake Assembly of God, 464-905 Standish Buntingville Rd., Janesville, CA 96114.

Doug was born in the summer of 1958 in San Jose, California, to Harold and Barbara (Murray) Willmes. In 2001 he moved to Susanville where he met and married his wife, Connie (Lackey) Willmes.

Doug was employed as a High Rise Union Iron worker, a job that he took much pride in. He enjoyed fishing more than ever in his retirement and always had great stories to tell. He recently started to search for precious gems and stones as his newest hobby, which he found joy sharing with others.

Doug always had a smile on his face and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. His guidance and advice will be greatly missed.

Doug is survived by his wife, Connie Willmes; son, Douglas D. Willmes; his mother, Barbara Willmes; step-son, James Swensen; sisters, Sharold Willmes-Souza and Barbara Pasillo; and brother, Rick Willmes.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Willmes; and sister, Shalbie Silva.