Clara M. Haynie BeckClara M. Beck died January 15, 2007 at Santa Paula Hospital, due to an aneurism of the aorta.Clara was born August 16, 1910 in Frederick, Oklahoma to Adam Walter Haynie and Laura Ada Adeline Kelly Haynie. She and her twin brother, Claude, were the third and fourth children born into the Haynie family, which included Faye, Mable, Lloyd ("Bill"), Edith, Clarence ("Tom"), Carl ("Cecil"), Hugh, Fred, and Max.In 1927, Clara married the love of her life, Willis J. Beck.Mrs. Beck's greatest joy was her family and her many friends. She was an avid reader and read all the time. She was a member of the Santa Paula First Baptist Church.Mrs. Beck was preceded in death by her husband, Willis in 1984, and one son, Wayne Beck in 1997.Mrs. Beck is survived by her children: Wanda (husband Robert) Hester of Claremore, Oklahoma, Barbara (daughter-in-law) of Santa Paula, Wesley (wife Martha) Beck of Ventura, and Lee (wife Georgia) Beck of Ozark, Missouri; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great grandchildren.Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Skillin-Carroll Chapel, 738 E. Santa Paula Street. Graveside services will be held on Friday, January 19 at 2 p.m. at Bardsdale Cemetery, Fillmore.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, 525-3391.Archie Lee MitchellLongtime Santa Paula resident Archie Lee Mitchell passed away at his home in Oklahoma from complications of cancer on January 12, 2007. He was a Santa Paula business owner and mechanic for many years prior to his retirement.Archie was born to Ralph and Bernice Mitchell in Oklahoma on January 4, 1940. Much of his youth was spent helping his grandfather with farming and his father at his sawmill equipment.He loved automobiles; his first one was 1954 Ford pickup truck. He started building his own hotrods as a teenager after moving to California in 1957 with his family. He was a typical 1950's street racer; he loved racing his cars. Eventually he moved from street racing to racing at Irwindale.Besides automobiles, Archie enjoyed fishing, camping, golfing, the Dodgers baseball, and Lakers basketball. He was affiliated with the following organizations over the years: 20-30 Club, Kiwanis, Automobile Dealers Association, Southern California Golf Association, Ventura County Bowlers Association, and Ventura County Bass Masters.Archie is survived by his wife Pat, son Mike of Kiowa, Oklahoma; grandson Michael of Santa Paula; sisters, Oleta Allen (husband Alfred) of Oklahoma, Clara Wheeler of Oklahoma, Betty Cochran of Oxnard, Ruedean Grieve (husband Tom) of Ventura, Marie Lynch (husband Harry) of Piru, Kay Cotton (husband Dewey) of Tehachapi, Martha Craig (husband James) of Santa Paula, and Mary Meierhoff of Piru; brothers, James Mitchell (wife Francis) of Oklahoma and Doyle Mitchell (wife Irene) of Oklahoma; and numerous family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all.Archie was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Mitchell in 1975, and mother, Bernice Mitchell in 1999, both of Santa Paula; nephew Chip Cotton; and brothers-in-law Scott Meierhoff, Archie Cochran of Ventura County, and Warren Wheeler of Oklahoma.Archie was laid to rest on January 16, 2007 in Kiowa, Oklahoma.Jerry L. GaitherJerry L. Gaither, "Lee", passed away at home on Sunday, January 14, 2007.Lee loved people and animals, especially birds, and plants. He completely enjoyed his 13 years of retirement, exploring many philosophies and hobbies including Tai Chi, Buddhism and Theosophy. He was a Master Gardener, and tended five plots at the Cornucopia Community Gardens in Ventura. He served as a docent at Ventura County Museum, and enjoyed the Santa Paula Garden Club. He was twice Past Master of the Fillmore-Santa Paula Masonic Lodge No. 291, and had been active in the Eastern Star, Shrine and Scottish Rite.Lee started each day with a sunrise walk at the beach, then visited his garden. He enjoyed Tai Chi several times each week. He truly lived his life in the moment, and enjoyed each day to the fullest.He is survived by his soul mate of 40 years, Diane Salerno.A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 20 at the Santa Paula Masonic Temple, 102 N. 7th Street.
Obituaries
January 19, 2007
Obituaries
Maria Betsy Urias Aviles
Maria Betsy Urias Aviles was born on January 30, 1944, and passed away peacefully on December 26, 2006 at her home in Fresno with her loving husband, Tomas Aviles, by her side.Betsy, as she was known in Santa Paula, was born in Santa Paula and attended elementary and high schools in Santa Paula. She graduated from Fresno State University, and was awarded her degree in Liberal Arts and received a bilingual multiple subject teaching credential.Betsy taught the children at Fresno Unified School District for over 20 years. She especially loved working with her kindergarten children, teaching them folklorico dancing and their Latino culture.Betsy was one of nine children who always knew when she was around, due to her joy of life and her never-ending laughter.Betsy is survived by her husband, Tomas Aviles, her daughter, Candace Mesa Wynne, and her son, James Molina. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren; her brothers, Alfonso Urias and Frank Urias; and sisters, Eleanor Ramirez, Ofelia De La Torre, Ramona Chavez, Rita Mendoza and Candelaria Pardo. Betsy will be missed by her many nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.Waiting for her in heaven are her father, Donaciano Urias; her mother, Anita Urias; her sister, Celia Jimenez; and her infant son, John Mesa, Jr.Memorial services were held in Fresno on Friday, January 5, 2007.The Power of PrayerThe day was long, the burden I had borneSeemed heavier than I could longer bear,And then it lifted - but I did not knowSomeone had knelt in prayer;Had taken me to God that very hour,And asked the easing of the load, and He,In infinite compassion, had stooped downAnd taken it from me.Jean KirchenbauerJean Kirchenbauer, of Santa Paula, passed away on January 14, 2007 at Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura following a stroke she suffered a few days earlier.Jean was born on June 26, 1929 to May (Teeter) and Bert Hedstrom. She grew up in the northern Black Hills and attended Deadwood High School, graduating with the class of 1947. Continuing her education, she attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BS degree in Education.Following graduation, she taught at Norfolk, Nebraska, Newcastle, Wyoming and later in San Manuel, Arizona. She and Dale Kirchenbauer were married on June 3, 1953. They both were educators, and came to Santa Paula to teach in 1959.Jean was a very active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Santa Paula. She was director of the Jr. Altar Guild, and she and her husband ran the Jr. High youth group for several years. She was also the chairman of the Centennial Celebration of the church, and Women's Altar Guild director.Jean was also involved in Masonic organizations. She was a Past Honored Queen of Bethel No. 4 in Deadwood, South Dakota. In Santa Paula, she served as Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 22 for several years, as well as other council positions. She was also Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star.Having been an active member of Girl Scouts as a youth, she assisted the Girl Scouts in activities in Santa Paula as a leader and a member of the Tres Condados Girl Scout Council. Jean was also active in other philanthropic organizations, including National Charity League, Delta Gamma Fraternity Alumni, Children's Home Society, where she served as president, and P.E.O. she was named Citizen of the Year in Santa Paula in 1981.Jean is survived by her husband Dale; her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Kevin Fitzgerald of Tustin, California; and her grandson and granddaughter, Ryan and Kate Fitzgerald. She is also survived by several nephews and nieces.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Santa Paula. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean's name to the Ventura County Humane Society.
