All Obituaries

   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...

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...