web powered by 
Home 
News Obituaries Obituaries for Aug. 1, 2011
Obituaries for Aug. 1, 2011
|
James Orr Taaffe May 29, 1938 — July 25, 2011 Angels Camp resident James Orr Taaffe died July 25 at his home. He was 73. Born in Palo Alto to Martin and Elsie Orr Taaffe, he was the youngest of three children. He was a fourth- generation Californian and the great-great-grandson of Martin Murphy Jr., whose brothers, John and Daniel Murphy, founded the town of Murphys during the Gold Rush. He helped operate his family’s paving and grading business, the M.J. Taaffe Co., with his siblings. He worked in paving and grading for 45 years before retiring in 2000. He moved to Angels Camp in 2004. While living in Angels Camp, he and his wife helped make and hang holiday boughs in Angels Camp during the holidays, and he became a member of the Bret Harte Quarterback Club and the Murphys parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He served as the grand marshal of the Murphys Irish Days parade in 2006. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Mr. Taaffe is survived by his wife of 52 years, Deanna Taaffe, of Angels Camp; children and their spouses, Candy and Chris Blair, of Colorado, Natalie and Mark Feathers, of Los Altos, and Linda Taaffe and Kevin Legnon, of San Jose; grandchildren, Erika and Erin Blair, both of Colorado, and Tyler Fox, and Ryan and Devin Feathers, all of Los Altos; and sister, Arline Reed, of Auburn. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Vallecito Union Church, 3780 Church St., Vallecito. Donations can be made to Hospice of the Sierra, 20100 Cedar Road N., Sonora, CA 95370, or the CHISPA Parlor 139, Native Sons of the Golden West, P.O. Box 151, Murphys, CA 95247. Angels Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Jesus Lorance ‘Jess’ Encinias Aug. 15, 1958 — July 22, 2011 Tuolumne resident Jesus Lorance “Jess” Encinias died July 22 at his home. He was 52. Born in New Mexico to Beneranda Encinias, he worked as a telephone inspector for five years. He gave to several charities, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the VA and American Cancer Society. He enjoyed Oakland Raiders football, NASCAR, riding quads and racing remote control cars. Mr. Encinias is survived by his siblings and their spouses, Harold and Don and Donna Encinias, Berlinda and Edmundo Garcia and Lori and Troy Joaquin, all of Sonora; seven nieces; four nephews; and numerous great nieces and nephews. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mollie Crowson. A memorial service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at the Tuolumne Community Assembly of God Church in Tuolumne. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Ruth Grace Butler March 21, 1916 — July 26, 2011 Sonora resident Ruth Grace Butler died July 26 at Avalon Care Center in Sonora. She was 95. Born in Oakland, she graduated from the Samuel Merritt School of Nursing in 1938. She later went on to marry, have a family and work as a registered nurse at the Samuel Merritt Hospital. She and her husband, Glenn, moved to the home they built in Sierra Village in 1974 and later began traveling in their fifth wheeler and going fishing. She volunteered at Senior Peer Counseling and Tuolumne County Health Fairs. She received the Volunteer of the Year award in 1998. Mrs. Butler is survived by her children and their spouses, Chuck and Donna Butler, of Trigo, Mont., Nancy and Mike Thompson, of Garberville, and Patti and Richard Williamson, of Twain Harte; grandchildren and their spouses, Tracy and John Mitchell, of San Jose, Shannon Butler, of Darby, Mont., Kelley and Mike Wallace, of Bellingham, Wash., Chuck and Rachel Thompson, of Garberville, Clint Fiala and Rachel Beals, of Seattle, Wash., Bridget and Charlie Fisher, of Fullerton, Michal Butler, of Utah, and Jodi Davis, of Washington; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Glenn Butler. A celebration of life is scheduled for September. Donations in her name can be made to the Humane Society of Tuolumne County, 10040 Victoria Way, Jamestown, CA 95327. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Barbara Jean Beller Aug. 19, 1960 — July 24, 2011 Angels Camp resident Barbara Jean Beller died July 24 at her home. She was 50. Born in St. Paul, Minn., she lived in Angels Camp for 33 years and worked as a cashier at the San Andreas Mini Mart for six years. She is survived by her children, Darren Beller and Kristin Powers, both of Angels Camp; siblings, Darryl Powers, of Arizona, Andy Powers Jr., of Washington, and Sandra Cardoza, of Pine Grove; and four grandchildren. A private family service is scheduled for a later date. Angels Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Paul Strazi Aug. 5, 1924 — July 25, 2011 Twain Harte resident Paul Strazi died July 25 at Mountain Shadow Cemetery. He was 86. Born Greenville, Miss., he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked as a farmer in Crows Landing for many years before opening Paul’s Men’s Shop, a clothing store, in Gustine, which he ran for 18 years. He later sold the shop and became a real estate broker. After his retirement, he moved to Twain Harte where he lived for 34 years. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf. Mr. Strazi is survived by his wife of 63 years, Beverly Strazi, of Twain Harte; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Chuck Mitchell, of Roseville; grandchildren, Joel and Dane Pizzirulli, both of Oregon, and Savannah Cox, of Modesto; sibling and their spouses, Julio and Ramona Strazi, of Manteca, and Eva and Bill Garaffina and Josie Alberti, both of Lodi; two great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Craig Strazi. No service is scheduled. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Notices NOLAN — Thomas Eugene Nolan, 79, of Mountain Ranch, died July 24 at his home. A graveside service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Altaville Protestant Cemetery in Angels Camp to be followed by a potluck remembrance from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Mountain Ranch Community Park. San Andreas Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. |
Tuolumne front page
Get home delivery of the Union Democrat for only $7.00 a month. After filling out one simple and secure online form you could be on your way to learning more about your city, state and world than you ever have before.
