All Obituaries

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Nelson, our loving father, grandfather and great grandfather who passed away on Saturday May 7th at the age of 89. Bob was born December 20, 1932 to loving parents Bert and Hattie Nelson in Beatrice Nebraska. When he was three years old his family moved to St. Helens, Oregon.  In 1951 he moved to San Jose, California with his Mother and Stepfather where he enlisted in the Army and a few years later met and married...

Betty Jean Collins grew up in the small town of Mattawa, Canada, came West to California in the 1950s with three other nurses seeking jobs and adventure, and stayed to raise a family and serve her community. She died on December 20 in her apartment at The Windham senior living complex in Fresno, three weeks short of her 91st birthday.  Betty was a longtime resident of Ponderosa Basin and parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mariposa. After graduating from the University...

   I’m Free             Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free   I’m following the path God has chosen for me.     I took His Hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day,  To laugh, to love, to work or play.    Tasks left undone must stay that way,  I’ve now found peace at the end of day. If my...

Betty Lou Knight Wilson - December 9, 1937 - September 12, 2020 Age, 82, a native of Natchez, Mississippi, and a longtime resident of Mariposa, CA, passed away, Saturday, September 12, 2020, at a Merced hospital. Betty was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where she met and married her late husband Stanley Leroy Wilson. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Stanley and her youngest daughter RoxAnn Shaddix. Betty is survived by her daughter Angela Larson (RN) of Rantoul Illinois, and her...

Richard Mathew Gibson was born in Merced in 1974 and passed away in Mariposa on March 26, 2020 at age 45. Richard went to preschool and kindergarten through 3rd grade at Little Church in the Hills. He then transferred to Mariposa schools, graduating 12th grade in 1992. He worked part time at Miners Inn Restaurant and Charles Street Dinner House during his high school days. Richard was preceded in death by his father, Leo Gibson; his Gibson grandparents and his beloved Penner...

It is with sad hearts that the Seymour family announces the passing of Carmen Leiva. Born Feb. 10, 1920, in San Francisco, she passed away on March 4, 2020, at her home in Mariposa. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, known to all of her family as “Gramdmama.” Carmen Leiva leaves behind two daughters, Gerry and Elaine, and their spouses, Fred Van Guilder and Tom Seymour. Also, many other closely connected family members, including 32 grandchildren,...

On Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, Walt Bonner passed away after a long battle surviving a vehicular accident in 2010 with an 18-wheeler truck which left him a paraplegic. Born on July 16, 1957 in Santa Clara, Calif., Walt enjoyed years of surfing the coastlines, camping and fishing. He went on to become a professional motocross racer for team Honda for several years. Working in the Bay Area as a union carpenter for nearly 25 years, Walt also earned a general contractors license and a degree in...

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...

Dale Edward Basham passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 6, 2019. Dale was born on Nov. 15, 1952 to Milton Thomas Basham and Erma Florence (Deeter) Basham at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester, Ind. Dale moved to Mariposa in 1965, attended Mariposa County schools through high school. Dale was involved in sports and was captain of the football team. Dale served in the Marine Corps after high school. He worked at Yosemite National Park from 1982 until he retired in 2018. Dale was preceded in death by...

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...