Obituaries
William Howie
William K. “Bill” Howie passed away on Feb. 28, at the age of 97. He was born on Dec. 28, 1926, to Florence Spears and William Howie, Sr., in San Francisco, Calif. Moving to Bakersfield at the age of seven, he started his young career at Brock’s Department Store at 15 and at 16 he caddied for Pro Am golfer […]
Jann Baker
Jann Ilene Baker was born on Nov. 4, 1950, in Redwood City, Calif. She was 73 years young when she went to join Jesus as He called her home on the early morning of Feb. 22, 2024. When she was 16, she met Allen Baker for the first time in front of The Ranch Room Pizza Parlor. She knew that […]
Donald Rhoan
Donald Edward Rhoan was born on Aug. 6, 960, in French Camp, Calif., and passed away on Feb. 26, 2024, in Merced, Calif. at the age of 63. Don was the son of Elgin Rhoan, Sr. and Elaine Bolton. He was a native Miwuk and Chukchansi. He lived his whole life in Merced, living close to his mom. He attended […]
Nicole Kunz
Nicole Kunz, born Nov. 28, 1984, in Phoenix, Ariz., to Jesusita Suzie Rojas and Loran Twayne Kunz. She was the beloved sister to Nastassia Kunz-Brawerman (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Andrew Rayn Rojas and Sebastian Mace Rojas, and stepdaughter to Andrew Mark Rojas (all of Visalia, Calif.) Nicole was called to heaven on Feb. 15, 2024. Her life was filled with love and […]
David Serrano
On the evening of Sunday, February 25, 2024, David Serrano passed away due to complications from stomach cancer at his home in Le Grand with his four children by his side. The son of the late Florencio and Anita Serrano, Dave was 82 years young. He was born on Aug. 13, 1941 in Coalinga, Calif., with his twin brother, Daniel, […]
Tracy Pieper
Tracy Jean Pieper entered into the rest that Jesus prepared for her on Dec.17, 2023. She fought an incredible fight. She is undoubtedly in the presence of her Savior and loved ones who made it there before her. Her father, James Holmes, her papa Dan Souza, and her sister, Tiffany Holmes, surely welcomed her into the pearly gates. She was […]
Mary and Kenneth Williams
Mary Ellen Wass Williams passed away on Feb. 10, 2024, in Merced, Calif. Mary was born Dec. 1, 1939, in Merced; the 17th child of Richard “Dick” and Florence Wass, longtime residents of Mariposa. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth “Kenny” Williams, who passed on June 29, 2023. Kenny was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Madera to […]
Rosemary Gregory
Rosemary Gregory, 92, passed away on Feb. 14, 2024, in Madera. She was born in Wheeler, Texas, to Mary Lee (Sandifer) and Horace Earl Wicker on April 11, 1931. The Dust Bowl motivated the Wicker family to move to California, settling in the Live Oak area in the 1930s. While working at the Libby cannery in Gridley, she met Wallace […]
Ed McConnaughey
Ed McConnaughey, a.k.a. Eddie, Engine Ed and A–hole, passed away Saturday night from the effects of a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. He passed on February 17, 2024, the night of the ECV Sweetheart Ball — no doubt waiting to take an astral swing by the ball for the last dance on the way to his eternal home. Eddie was […]