All Obituaries

On Saturday, February 2, 2019 Flora ‘Jean’ Werly passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Fresno.  This last November her family and many friends celebrated her 99th Birthday, and a life well lived.  Jean was a great communicator and storyteller.   At the age of 93 she realized her biggest personal accomplishment by completing her book A Tent by the Creek.  She had a deep love for the the Sierras, and felt most at home in nature,...

Born to Murrel and Hilma Haas of Oberlin Kansas, Rodney, and his older brother Larry spent their youth in Hollister, Ca. Rod graduated in 1953 from San Benito County High School where he excelled as an athlete. He briefly attended San Jose State University before enlisting in the Air Force in 1955. Rod married Verna Lee Winkle on January 1, 1956.   He was stationed at Tyndall AFB and served out his enlistment in Panama City Florida, where daughter Cheryl was born.  Rod was a...

 Carolyn Ann Lindquist of Mariposa passed away suddenly in Doctors Hospital, in Modesto Monday November 27th. Born September 13, 1933 to Myrtle and Ralph Biblehouse in Long Beach  CA.  Carolyn was the beloved Wife of Don Lindquist for more than 49 years before his passing in 2009.  Her family and friends will undoubtedly remember her for her quick wit, confidence and willingness to love and encourage others.  She taught everyone that life is full of energy of...

Melvin Ruiz, born  October 4, 1936 passed away peacefully on December 6, 2017 at home. He was born in Saugus, California to Henry and Juanita Ruiz.  The family moved from Saugus in 1955 to Mariposa.  A few years later they moved to the current homestead on Ben Hur Road  near Raymond.  Both Henry and Juanita lost  many of their immediate family members on March 12, 1928 when the St. Francis Dam located in San Francisquito Canyon near Los Angelses broke. After a...

David Eugene Burgess, 84, Mariposa, died on Thursday, Oct. 19 of natural causes. He was a resident of Mariposa since 1992. Dave was born in Baker, Oregon, and grew up in Sunnyvale, Calif. He graduated from Fremont High School where he played varsity football. Dave was active in Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts while growing up, and he always had a love for the great outdoors. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Korean Conflict aboard the aircraft carrier...

James R. Burdick, 76, of Mariposa, California, succumbed to cancer at his home surrounded by his family on October 3rd, 2017.   Jim is survived by his wife Jane and their three children.  His son, Donald and grandson Alex, a daughter, Christine and grandson Christopher, and son, Jason and granddaughter Sabrina, as well as a brother, John. Jim was a very loving father, husband, grandfather and friend to all.   Jim was a retired Air Force Veteran,...

James Knell Sr. passed away at the age of 90 on October 1, 2017.  Jim  was born January 3, 1927.  He was raised in Pennsylvania, moving to California in 1955.   Jim was employed as a crane operator for Southern Pipe and Casing in Irwindale, California. Before fully retiring, he was a local handyman and drove school bus.    He lived a long and fun filled life. The lure of gold in the Merced River brought him to Mariposa in early 1970's. He was a...

Oscar Urtiaga 82, formerly from Santa Maria, Calif., passed away peacefully at his home in Mariposa on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. Oscar was born on Dec. 28, 1934 in Kerrville, Texas. He moved to San Antonio, Texas where he then married Virginia Flores (Urtiaga). He then traveled to Santa Maria, Calif., in 1962 where he settled to raise his family. Oscar worked as a contractor/linoleum layer for 60 years. He was an avid member of the Santa Maria gun club. He was also a member of the...

Surrounded by family, The Patriarch of the Mueller Family began his eternal life in Heaven on March 20, 2017.  Herman Theodore Mueller was born on November 2, 1932 in Santa Maria, CA. After graduating from Santa Maria High School and attending the Seminary he enlisted in the Navy and was a specialist assigned to Guam.  Upon completion of duty, he returned to Santa Maria and attended Allan Hancock College where he earned his A.S. degree in drafting.  In 1957 he met and...

Gloria L. Colclazer, age 94 passed away Monday, February 6, 2017 in Mariposa. She was born on November 22, 1922 in Comanche, Oklahoma to Joseph Henry Wilson and Fannie Wheat Wilson. The first of 5 siblings. She was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Christian who passed away at the age of 15. She is survived by her son, John F. Colclazer Jr., a daughter, Gloria Sue Bond, granddaughters: Dawn Shiells and Shannon Bridges. She is further survived by 6 great...