09-13-02obituaries

James A. Brannan, 74, of Exeter, Calif., died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002, in a Visalia hospital. He was born Dec. 3, 1927, in Crete, Neb., to Mel and Gladys Brannan.
He graduated from Doane College in Crete, and then served in the Army occupational forces in Japan. In 1950, he married Lois Pohl in Nebraska.
Mr. Brannan attended California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, and worked as a funeral director for 25 years, having operated the Ojai Valley Mortuary for several years and the Brannan-Wise Funeral Service in Exeter until 1973.
He moved back to Ojai, became a teacher and taught in Santa Paula from 1973 until 1992. In 2000, he returned to Exeter to be with his family.
Mr. Brannan was a golfer and member of the Ojai Lions Club, Exeter Lions Club, Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Masonic Lodge, Exeter Chamber of Commerce and the Soule Park Men's Golf Club in Ojai.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Brannan, of Exeter; daughters and sons-in-law Barbara and Larry Johnson, and Cheryl and Ron Turner, all of Exeter; brother Tom Brannan of Bakersfield; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Michael and Steven, in 1973.
Services were held Saturday, Sept. 7, at Smith Family Chapel, with private burial in the Exeter Cemetery. Remembrances may be sent to Sequoia Senior Services, Alzheimer Resource Center, P.O. Box 1861, Visalia, CA 93278.

Eileen G. Byers

Eileen G. Byers, 90, of Ojai, died Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 at Acacias Care Center of natural causes. She was born Jan. 15, 1912 in Los Angeles, Calif., and lived in Ojai for 72 years, coming from Fillmore, Calif.
Mrs. Byers was an accountant for Sunkist Citrus Processing for 25 years.
She is survived by her son, Grant Byers, of Ventura, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyndon F. Byers, and her brother, Willard Getchell.
Inurnment will be at Ivy Lawn Cemetery. At her request no formal services were held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Catarino C. Visencio

Catarino C. Visencio, 95, of Ojai died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002 in Ojai. He was born May 7, 1907 in Mexico, and had lived in Ojai since 1926.
Mr. Viscencio worked as a gardener for 45 years, and many people admired his work. He served in the Army infantry during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Trinidad "Trine" Visencio; and son Louis Henry Visencio of Camarillo.
Visitation was held from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Clausen Funeral Home. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial is being held today at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Ojai, with Father Michael McFadden, O.S.A., officiating. Interment will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Mary Clemente Costa

Mary Clemente Costa, 88, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, following a long illness. She was born Jan. 19, 1914 in Azores, Portugal, and lived in Ojai for 15 years, coming from the Bay Area.
Mrs. Costa was a homemaker and child care giver for many years and a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai.
She is survived by her daughter, Roberta Davis, and three granddaughters and their families: Lori Wyatt and Bill Monnot, Lauren Wyatt, Garrett Wyatt, Megan Monnot; Lynn Jones and Chris Gardner, Dylan Jones, Alex Jones, Leslie Davis, and Kenley Neufeld and Jasper Neufeld.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Costa, in 1992. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with Father Patrick Keane, O.S.A., officiating. Interment followed at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Help of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

William W. 'Fitz' Fitzgerald

William W. "Fitz" Fitzgerald, 65, of Ojai, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002 at his home after a fight with cancer. He was born Feb. 26, 1937 in Green Bay, Wisc.
He graduated from Santa Clara High School in Oxnard in 1955, where he was an accomplished athlete. He attended the University of Santa Clara and graduated from the University of Arizona.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a Marine pilot and after his service career he was a painting contractor.
He is survived by his ex-wife and good friend, Gloria, of Ojai; daughters Maureen Fitzgerald of Tucson, Ariz., and Carleen Vinum of Vacaville, Calif.; grandson Cameron; and sister Merle Nieuwlandt of Placentia, Calif.
At his request, no services are planned.
The family wishes to thank Hospice and Livingston Nurses, particularly Carol McCormick, and Dr. Carl Gross for their kindness and care.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

Robert Carl Gehrke

Robert Carl Gehrke, 74, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, after a brief illness. He was born July 5, 1928 in Santa Barbara, Calif., to George and Judith Gehrke.
He served in the 82nd Airborne in the Korean War, and his interests included fishing and the ocean. He was employed by Kevin Shields Plastering Company.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Helen Gehrke, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Jan and Steve Wilson of Ojai; stepdaughters Debby Ferguson of Ojai, and Pam Howard of Ridgecrest; stepsons Larry Ferguson of Grover Beach, Dennis Ferguson of Las Vegas, and Joe Ferguson of Santa Paula; sisters Georgette Donahue of Sacramento, Kathy Cravedi of Las Vegas, and Claudette Hall of Santa Barbara; brother George Gehrke of Atascadero; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Mr. Gehrke was preceded in death by his son, Michael, and his second wife, Ila Faye.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai, with Father Gary Sanders officiating. Private inurnment will be at Santa Barbara Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to Coronary Care Unit, Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St., Ventura, CA 93003, or to the Bereavement Committee of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of Payton Mortuary, Oxnard.