Obituaries

Nov 5, 2017

Melissa Medrano-Ramirez passed away on November 5th at home in Aromas surrounded by her family. She was born on July 21, 1993 to her proud parents Blanca and Jose Luis Medrano. She was 24. Melissa was a vivacious spirit who embraced all aspects of life. She enjoyed reading and listening to music. She was very passionate about Art and...

Nov 3, 2017

Billy Joe Silapan passed away on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 in Watsonville. He was 65.

Mr. Silapan was born on Jan. 3, 1952 to Isabelo Silapan and Pauline Doris Silapan. He was a devoted family man who loved spending time with his kids. He enjoyed watching his son's high school football games. He had a passion for...

Oct 29, 2017

Miye Yamashita passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017. She was 99. She enjoyed crocheting blankets and giving them to family and friends. She also looked forward to going to the JACL Senior Center every Thursday to meet with her friends to chat and play bingo. She will always be remembered for her yasashii (kind, caring, and generous) demeanor...

Oct 9, 2017

John Rocha Jr. of Watsonville, CA passed away peacefully on October 9, 2017 at the age of 99.

John was born in Riverdale, CA on May 6, 1918. He grew up working hard with his family in the dairy business, with the help of his late wife, Violet Rocha. They created a successful cattle ranch business. He...

Oct 5, 2017

Crisoforo "Chris" Gallardo died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017 in Paso Robles. He was 92. Mr. Gallardo was a hardworking man. He enjoyed his family vacations to El Paso, Texas traveling by train. He was employed with Southern Pacific for 26 years. He also took part in building the tracks and...

Oct 2, 2017

Juan Antonio Godinez died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 2 2017 at home surrounded by his family. He was 57. He was born on June 14, 1960 in Leon Guanajuato Mexico to Cipriano Godinez and Juana Lopez. However, he was a resident of Watsonville for over 40 years. Mr. Godinez was a member of St. Patrick's Church as well as...

Sep 30, 2017

Petra Garcia passed away on September 30th 2017 in Watsonville. She was 86. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; however she lived in Watsonville for the last 40 years. She was a woman of many wonderful traits. She loved listening to music and spending time in her garden. She enjoyed watching Spanish gossip programs. She loved life and...

Sep 30, 2017

Linda Wong Yee died peacefully at home on September 30th with her sons at her side. She was 68. She was born in China on Dec. 16, 1949 to Sau Ngun Yu and Yun Wong. She was a longtime resident of Santa Cruz County. She was a fantastic culinary cook who loved to use fresh produce to create her...

Sep 29, 2017

Grace Margaret Chapin 3/27/1929 - 9/29/2017

Grace was born March 27, 1929 on Broadis Street to John & Dina Crosetti and was a lifelong resident of Watsonville, CA. In 1952 she met and married her husband Donald Chapin Sr.

Grace is survived by her Son & Daughter in law, Donald Chapin Jr. and Barbara, her...

Sep 26, 2017

Mary Helen Preston Carpenter Mary Helen Preston Carpenter died on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. She was 77. She was born on Aug. 24, 1940, and was a long-time resident of Watsonville. She attended Watsonville High School and California Polytechnic State University with her focus on Home Economics. She enjoyed gardening, baking and being with her family on holidays. She...

Sep 11, 2017

Jennie Gervasio passed away unexpectedly on September 11, 2017. She was 56. She was a longtime resident of Watsonville born on April 28, 1961 to Juan Gervasio and Esther Galvan. She enjoyed listening to oldies, singing, dancing, and had a characteristic sense of humor that would brighten anyone's day, along with a distinguished smile and a unforgettable signature laugh....

Sep 7, 2017

Robert Nelton Hanson, former Dean of the Business School at Northern Michigan University, passed away on September 7, 2017. Robert was born on October 30, 1930 in Tyro township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to Henry N. and Pearl (Davidson) Hanson. He was baptized and confirmed at Israel Lutheran Church. After attending country school at Yellow Medicine County District #29,...

Sep 5, 2017

Luis Ayala Jr. passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Sutter Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. He was 67 years old. He was born on August 31, 1950 to Luis Ayala and Irene Pena. Luis Ayala Jr. was a wonderful husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and a great man. He was born in Wisconsin, raised in Texas,...

Sep 4, 2017

Consuelo Higareda Renteria died on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017 in Watsonville, a day after celebrating her 90th birthday. She was born on Sept. 3, 1927 to Ricardo and Micaela R. de Higareda. Ms. Higareda Renteria is preceded in death by her siblings, Ascencion Higareda Vda. De Zamora, Cecilia Ramirez, Reyes Higareda, Manuel Higareda, Pedro Higareda and Maria de los...

Sep 3, 2017

Silvino Zafra Torralva died on Sunday, Sept. 3rd, 2017 in Prunedale, two days before his 52nd birthday. He was born in Oaxaca, Mexico on September 5th, 1965 to Arnulfo Zafra and Raquel Torralva de Zafra. Silvino had a passion for the outdoors specifically gardening. He enjoyed to cook, write poetry and spend time with his friends and family. He...

Aug 30, 2017

Toribio "Peewee" Uribe Sr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. He was 69. He was a kindhearted man that enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved his Dallas Cowboys and was a big auto enthusiast. He loved gardening, camping, gambling and spending time with his family. He enjoyed his Tejano Music greatly....

Aug 25, 2017

Victoria Felipe died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 surrounded by her family at Valley Convalescent Hospital in Watsonville. She was 95. She was born in the Philippines but was long-time resident of Watsonville. She worked in a local cannery for 20 years. She enjoyed time with her family and loved to shop. She also enjoyed crocheting while watching...

Aug 19, 2017

Richard Langan Walker passed away peacefully on August 19, 2017 surrounded by his family. Richard was born in Pasadena, California in 1918 and was the eldest of six children of Frank and Miriam Walker. Richard spent his youth in Southern California and attended the California Institute of Technology where he received a degree in mechanical engineering. Richard served in...

Aug 17, 2017

Lillian Valera Hungerford died suddenly on Thursday, August 17, 2017 in Union Gap, WA. Chili Lili, as she was known to her friends, was born Oct 19, 1974 in Ft. Worth Texas to Terry Lee Hungerford (Andellyn) and Judith McDonald and raised in Watsonville, CA. She is survived by her parents, her son Adrian Ramirez, Sisters Celeste Doyle (Patrick),...

Aug 12, 2017

Glen A. Witmer passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Saturday August 12th, 2017.

Glen was born on August 18, 1942 in Carmel, CA to his proud parents Fred and Virginia Witmer. He graduated from Watsonville High School in 1960, attended Cabrillo College, and served 6 years in the California National Guard as an...