All Obituaries

The loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind. Kenneth Winston Hurst-Smith (Kenny) touched an overwhelming number of lives, and at only 25 years old, passed away on Nov. 1, 2019 in Mariposa, Calif. Kenny was born in Hayward, Calif. on Sept. 20, 1994, to his parents, Mike Hurst and Sabrina Gouveia Smith. He grew up in Mariposa and had an extremely infectious smile. He was passionate about his spiritual life, his native culture, teaching people to love themselves, and was an...

Robert M. “Bob” Baker died of natural causes on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Mariposa. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday. Bob was born on Oct. 17, 1929, and raised in Southern California. He moved to Mariposa with his wife, Sally, over three decades ago. Sally passed away in 1999 and Bob has resided in Mariposa ever since. Bob designed and built his home in Lushmeadows. He felt lucky to live in Mariposa. He was an avid goldpanner and world traveler. Prior to moving to...

Sally Abbott Uribe died Sept. 20 in her beloved Mariposa. Her death was sudden, and unexpected, but peaceful. Her children George, Michael and Amalia invite the community and family to attend her service to be held Oct. 12 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mariposa at 10.30 a.m. Sally was a fan of bright colors, and loved the 4th of July; feel free to wear patriotic and/or bright colors to her life celebration. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to the...

Thomas McGarry, a resident of Mariposa, passed away on Sept. 9, 2019 of a heart attack. He was born in Merced on May 31, 1944. Tom graduated from Our Lady of Mercy High School in Merced, Modesto Community College and Stanislaus State University. When he graduated from college, he worked at the Stanislaus County School District for three years, in speech. He then worked as a speech and hearing specialist for over 30 years with the Mariposa County School District. He also had a California...

Harold Wayne Casto, born May 16, 1937 in Arkansas, laid down to rest on Aug. 7, 2019. Harold leaves behind his beloved wife Kris Casto of 45 years; children Leland, Christine, Lindsey and his wife Michelle; as well as his grandchildren, Jason, Ashley, Christopher, Garrett, Kasey, Taylor and Madison. As a young boy, Harold moved with his family to Northern California where he spent the rest of his life. Harold met his bride-to-be through his love of aviation while flying his Cessna. In...

Marlys Martin went home to be with the Lord on Aug. 7, 2019. She passed away peacefully at home. She was 88 years old and had lived in the Don Pedro area since 1973. Marlys was born in Dodgeville, Wis. on Oct. 23, 1930 to Ben and Anna Julson. She lived on her father’s dairy farm with her family which included three brothers. She graduated from high school in 1948. When she was 21, Marlys married Robert Gailenfeldt and had a daughter, Jacalyn. Marlys became a widow on May 20,1953,...

James Lee Fife passed away peacefully at his residence on Aug. 22, 2019 after a long illness. James loved being with his family and enjoyed many hobbies; he loved building and racing hydroplanes and cars and loved flying his remote control airplanes. He also loved his motorcycle and taking care of his Bonsai trees in Mariposa, a place he loved so much. He is survived by his wife Lezley Fife; son, James Fife; daughter, Rhonda Wright; and sisters Patti Tucker and Vickie Bratcher. He was...

Fred Rathbun passed away suddenly in his home on July 14, 2019, at the age of 72. He was born in Cooperstown, N.Y. in March of 1947, where he was raised on a dairy farm. At the age of 8, he moved to Southern California with his mother, where he resided until moving to Mariposa in 1990 with his wife and two children. He’s quoted as saying that what drew him to this area is that he was smitten with gold mining in Mariposa. In Southern California, he was an executive for St. Louis...

Leota L. Tucker was born in Atchison, Kan. on July 23, 1923 to George William Neville and Lydia Louise Neville. She was preceded in death by her husband and father of her three children, Frank Albert Edward Ledgard, in 1958; her second husband, Leo Tucker, who passed many years later; two brothers: Eugene Neville, who was killed in World War II on the USS Saratoga, and John O. (Slim) Neville in April of 2014, who was a resident of Mariposa County. She is survived by her remaining brother,...

Ray G. Jeske, age 86, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on May 24, 2019 at his home in Mariposa, Calif. Ray was born in Chicago, Ill. His younger years were spent in Madison, Wis. where he began his lifetime love of automobiles, planes and trains. He learned to fly a plane and received his pilot’s license before his driver’s license. After high school he moved to Santa Monica where Ray earned his Bachelor’s of Science in aeronautical engineering from...