LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ed Dutcher, a man who loved life, passed away early the morning of April 6, 2015.

He was always an early riser. He loved logging, hunting, fishing and playing cards, but most of all he loved his family.

Born November 27, 1927, to Oscar and Clara Dutcher, he spent his early years in the Lakeport area and then moved to Upper Lake when he was in the fourth grade.

He graduated from Upper Lake High School just in time to be drafted into the Army and sent to occupied Japan at the end of World War II. While in the Army he trained to be a paratrooper.

After the service he went to college at Oregon State to study forestry. When he decided that wasn’t for him he began logging, which he loved, and there he met Shirley Cole, who was to become his wife and with whom he spent the next 65 years. Then it was back to Lake County where he logged until he was 72.

Ed was known for his honesty, hard work and care of the land. He was known to say, “Don’t run over those young trees, I might want to come back and log here again sometime.”

The California Forestry Department named him Northern California’s second best logger because of that. He was always the first guy on the job site in the morning, and the last to leave at night.

Spare time was spent hunting, fishing and playing cards. In his later years fishing became his main hobby. He joined the Derby Hat Club in 1993, and some of his favorite adventures were spent in a small boat on Howards Prairie in Oregon with some of his closest friends.

His health finally kept him from making the trips, but he never stopped considering himself one of the Derby Hat family.

Ed is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; two sons, Bobby (Nanette) and Dave; and five grandchildren, Briana, Lindsey, Michael, Steven and Samantha.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Friday, April 10, from noon until 2 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 High St. in Lakeport, with burial to follow at Upper Lake Cemetery, 780 Clover Valley Road.

If you would like to do something in Ed’s memory, take a kid fishing, you’ll never regret it.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .  

Michael Evan Magbie
Jan. 17, 1947 – Feb. 9, 2015

Michael was born and raised in Cambridge, Mass.

His parents, Hugh and Anne Magbie, were pioneers in the Boston area. Although Boston was very far north, an ugly segregation permeated the area. We called it “de facto segregation” and it was real.

Cambridge schools were integrated, but the Boston schools were not. It was always understood that white kids would go to prep school then to college and black kids would go to technical school and then get a job.

Michael's parents fought against this segregation. After their children were done with grade school, they decided to send them – first Hugh and then Michael – to The Meeting School, a four-year coeducational Quaker prep school in Rindge, New Hampshire.

Michael thrived in that environment, as there were no racial barriers, and Mike was free to be himself. Though it was a small school of only 40 students, Michael created dozens of close relationships that lasted throughout his life.

After graduating from The Meeting School, Michael did a short stint at Parsons College in Iowa. He returned to Cambridge for a while and then set off to “go West” with his dear friend from childhood, Paul Hughes. They ended up in Berkeley, Calif., of all places.

Soon, Michael met Anne Johnstone from Memphis and they were married and had two beloved children, Miles and Kimberly. Michael was close and proud of his children and their children.

Michael was successful in the software industry. Many of the companies he worked for flourished in the new, emerging marketplace. During this time Michael later married Barbara Dunfield and lived in Marin County, Calif.

After Mike retired, he moved to Indio, Calif., to be with his partner, Suzanne Berg. They loved the desert and spent much of their time exploring the Salton Sea and Joshua Tree National Monument.

Together they adopted a dog named Benji, who had been abandoned in the desert. Mike was devoted to Suzanne. After her untimely death, Benji continued to be Mike's constant companion and gave him much joy throughout the remainder of his life.

After Suzanne's passing, Michael moved back to Nice, Calif., and lived close to Clear Lake with its beautiful views. He loved the beauty of the lake; whether it was stormy or clear, the water and mountains beyond gave him great serenity.

Michael had many passions. He was a fantastic soccer player and fervent soccer fan. He practiced with the Cal soccer team, and was so talented that he was accepted by the U.S. Olympic Soccer team.

Mike also loved to play tennis, often waking early in the day to play tennis with friends. Michael appreciated beautiful cars and owned a number of them over the years, whether it was a BMW, Mercedes, Porsche or Jaguar.

Unknown to many, Michael was a musician. He played drums, and later played African thumb keyboard, but mostly played harmonica. He would often sit in with visiting bands who were performing around the lake at clubs. His favorite joint was the Blue Wing, where every year Mike would attend and sometimes perform at the Blue Wing Blues Festival.

Michael was skilled in communicating with folks. His laugh, his smile and his sense of humor, which was over the rooftop, put everyone around him at ease. Michael questioned the status quo and often challenged us with his deep questions. He stood for justice, peace and dignity for all.

Near the end of Michael's life, because of all the medical issues surrounding him, he would often say that he was “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” He passed away peacefully in his sleep with his dog Benji by his side.

Mike is survived by his son, Miles Magbie, and daughter-in-law, Samia; his daughter, Kimberly; his grandchildren, Malia, Makena, Malik and Jalen; his great-granddaughter, Gabriella; his brother, Hugh, and sister-in-law, Mary, and their children. Mike also leaves behind many close and dear lifelong friends.

Michael may have left us in body, but, never, never will his gracious and bountiful spirit depart.

At noon on Saturday, April 11, there will be a gathering at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Park in Marin County. They will begin the celebration around 1 p.m. when all have gathered. Please bring refreshments, blankets, chairs, etc. If anyone has a portable CD player please bring it so they can play some Little Walter and other blues musician that Mag loved.

Meet at Limantour at the North (main), walk to beach turn right and walk north about 50 yards.

If you're coming from the south on Highway 101 take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Olema, turn right on Highway 1, in about 100 yards turn left on Bear Valley Road and follow it to Limantour Road.

From the north on Highway 101 take Washington Street exit in Petaluma west to Petaluma Boulevard. Turn left and go approx half a mile to D Street. Turn right on D Street. and it will take you to Point Reyes Station.

Pass through the town and after you cross a bridge turn right on Sir Frances Drake Boulevard. In approximately half a mile at the three-way intersection turn left at Bear Valley Road. Proceed half a mile and turn right on Limantour Road. It's a nice ride to the beach on this road.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Gerald (Jerry) LeRoy Stuart of Kelseyville passed away at the age of 75 on March 31, 2015.
 
He was a respected business owner of Stuart Engineering, a lifelong member of Operating Engineers and a Shriner.

Jerry was most proud of his legacy within his children, grandkids and great grandkids. They will miss him immensely and treasure all the wonderful memories made with him. 

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Cindy Stockman, Edie Parks with her husband Kevin Parks, and Lesa Dowdy with her husband Tex Dowdy; and son, Jerry Channell; along with eight grandkids; and six great-grandkids.

Services will be held Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at Jones Mortuary, 115 S. Main St., Lakeport, followed by graveside services at noon at Kelseyville Cemetery, 3375 Bell Hill Road.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Irma Joyce Forsyth, who had been a noted and well known and loved real estate appraiser in Lake County, of the firm Forsyth & Forsyth, passed away quietly and peacefully in her beautiful lakefront home after a gradual decline from Alzheimer’s on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, at the age of 84.

Irma made many friends in the community through her business and was well respected for the work that she did with integrity and honesty.

In 1979 Irma was awarded the R.M. designation by the Governing Council of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. Along with her husband Earl, she was an M.A.I. member of this Institute.

Irma is survived by a sister, Marilyn Biggs; her second son, Randall Forsyth; a daughter, Pamela Forsyth; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Her first and only husband, Earl Forsyth, passed away in 2007 and her eldest son Glenn Forsyth in 2012.

Irma is one of three daughters of a German immigrant, William Bauman, who entered Ellis Island during the depression in the 1930s.

William hopped a freight train out West to meet with other family members and begin his new life in Seattle, Wash.

Irma met her only husband Earl who worked for New York Life Insurance Co. there. They married in 1950 and began a family in Seattle where they had their first child, Glenn.

Earl’s profession demanded many relocations and he soon was transferred to the office in Atlanta, Georgia, where their second son Randall was born. He returned to the home office in New York where their third child Pamela was born. Earl transferred to San Francisco in 1962 after being promoted to vice president of New York Life.

In 1971 the family moved to Palos Verdes in Southern California. Earl retired in 1975 and moved to Lake County to establish a real estate appraising business with Irma.

After assisting her in setting up the business, he once again retired and Irma took the reins to build it into a successful appraising business which she ran for 30 years before retiring herself.

Up until the end, Irma maintained her wonderful captivating wit and charm. Even in her last week she had her son and caretakers and friends laughing hysterically, as her condition could not contain her charm and humor.

It was difficult for her to smile and laugh but laugh and joke she did and always brought joy to those around her. She was always graceful, entertaining, refined and generous without condition to whoever crossed her path.

Her favorite thing in life was family and she organized many family reunions and get-togethers over her active years, with family ranging from California to Washington to Colorado and even extended herself to family that had been freed from behind the iron curtain in Germany, who she both visited in Germany and invited to visit here.

Irma spoke often of her love for the Lord Jesus Christ and not only spoke of her faith but lived it as she counseled those in grief or pain. She was an example and inspiration to so many.

In her declining years Irma reverted many times to her childhood with the mother who saved her from polio with her love and therapy, and to her father Willy with whom she spent time in her home on Bainbridge Island in Washington during the years of the Great Depression.

She spoke of the times that she would wait for her father to come home from work on the ferry that serviced the island and often reverted to this time that was so close to her heart.

Irma now goes to join her family in heaven, those who went before her, all of whom loved the Lord Jesus Christ and have gone to be with Him eternally.

We love you Irma! Fly free as the butterfly that you always wanted to be. You have been a blessing and joy to all those who surrounded you. Thank you for the opportunity to care for you and be close to your loving heart, a gift beyond measure.

A private memorial service was held in her home for those who remained faithful and loyal to her until the end.

Donations may be made in honor of this fine lady to Hospice Services of Lake County, http://www.lakecountyhospice.org/donate/ , a wonderful organization of caring people who were instrumental in this transition, providing comfort education and care both to her and to those who cared for her and loved her, or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Floye “Flo” Clark passed away peacefully in her home in Kelseyville on Friday, April 3, 2015.

She is survived by her husband, Kyle Clark; siblings, Gary Poling and Julia Paulsen; children, Steve (Kathy) Reese, Debbie (Howard) Strickler, Becky (Ken) Ornellas, Tim Rodgers and and Tony Rodgers; stepchildren, Debbie (Tom) Perry and Dwight Clark; as well as numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great grandchildren.

Flo was born on Sept. 12, 1930, in Spokane, Wash., to Gary and Roana Poling.

She was an usherette for the Oakland Oaks before graduating from Castlemont High School in Oakland.

She became a bus driver for Key System bus lines in Oakland before moving to Lake County in 1959. Flo then became a bus driver for Kelseyville Unified School District, where she worked for 21 years until her retirement.

Flo was a very caring person who for 21 years safely carried children back and forth to school and various school functions.

After retirement, she continued her lifelong passion of traveling, spending summers along the Oregon coast and winters in the Arizona desert.

A celebration of Flo’s life will be held at noon on Wednesday, April 8, at the Lake County Fairgrounds Junior Building, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be sent to the Kelseyville Fire Protection District, P.O. Box 306, Kelseyville, CA 95451, or Hospice Services of Lake County, http://www.lakecountyhospice.org/donate/ , for their compassionate assistance during this difficult time.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lawrence Owen Deti passed away in Clearlake on Monday, March 16, 2015, at the age of 80.

He was born in Laramie, Wyoming, to Barney and Hazel Deti on Sept. 16, 1934.

He graduated from University of Wyoming in 1956. Later he served his country in the US Army and was honorably discharged.

After his service in the US Army, he went back to the University of Wyoming and graduated with a masters in business education.

Lawrence and Donna moved to Southern California where he taught business at Torrance High School then decided to go into business for himself.

He opened a young men’s clothing store in Palos Verdes with his brother Glenn, which soon grew to 10 stores in all major malls.

After selling the stores, Larry went to tax school and earned an “Enrolled Agent” degree from the IRS. He then bought Associated Tax & Bookkeepers business in Clearlake.

Larry and his wife, Donna, moved here in 1991 and he was very involved with the Rotary Club, which was a very important part of his life.

Larry is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna Deti; son, David L. Deti, and wife Jennifer and their daughter Lilly; daughter, Cynthia Molloch and her husband Bob, and their sons Joe and Vince; and brother, Glenn Deti and his family in Seattle, Wash.

Friends and family are invited to honor Larry’s life by attending a memorial service at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel. Please share your loving memories of Larry by signing his online guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .