Lois O. Powers

Lois O. Powers, 85, of Ojai, died Dec. 28, 2002 at home with her family by her side following a long illness. She was born Aug. 29, 1917 in Gilmer County, Ga. She attended and graduated from Berry Schools (now Berry College), Mount Berry, Ga. She moved with her family to California in the fall of 1946 and settled in the Ojai Valley.
Mrs. Powers owned and operated Valley View Realty in Ojai. Her real estate career began in Meiners Oaks with Effie Skelton, Meiners Oaks Realty, and continued with Lynn Rains, Rains Realty, Ojai, until she opened her own business in the late '50s. She was a founding member of the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors, served as a past president of the board and represented the board as a state director for the California Association of Realtors. She was instrumental in establishing continuing education and promoting professionalism within the real estate profession.
She contributed to civic activities in the Ojai Valley. She was a member of the Altrusa Club of Ojai and served as the community service chairperson. Under her guidance, the club raised money for and acquired the Carillon Chimes in the Ojai post office tower, which were dedicated to the people of Ojai Valley on March 9, 1968, and are still enjoyed today. She organized fund-raising events, while a member of the Altrusa Club, to help launch the formation of Ojai's Little House, which today provides assistance to the senior citizens of Ojai Valley. She was also a founding member of the Ojai Valley Museum.
Mrs. Powers was listed as an "Honored Professional" of the National Directory of Who's Who in Executive and Professionals, 1996-1997 Edition.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Billie M. Powers, of Ojai; daughters and sons-in-law Lois Caroline and Richard Daybell of Fullerton, Calif., Villa Marjorie and Berkeley Simonds of Cupertino, Calif., and Billie Jo and Frank Barker of Seattle, Wash.; three granddaughters; eight great-grandchildren; and her niece, Runell Matthews, of Stockbridge, Ga.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Fletcher Cochran and Sarah Annie Davis Cochran, of Ellijay, Ga; her infant son, Billie Robert Powers; nine brothers and sisters; and grandson Berkeley "Little Berk" Brandt Simonds Jr.
Visitation is being held today from 2 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home with the Rev. Frank Barker of Maple Valley Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Wash., officiating. Private interment will be at Santa Barbara Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association (Hospice) and Ojai's Little House.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Margaret DeBrower

Margaret DeBrower, 85, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 in Ojai from complications following a stroke. She was born June 1, 1917 in Illinois. She grew up in Streator Ill., during the Depression and endured both polio and scoliosis as a child.
She then ventured to Chicago to attend beauty school. She owned her own salon when she met Fred DeBrower and married him in 1940. Although she was told not to aggravate her back condition by having children, she had four daughters.
Mrs. DeBrower gave up her beauty salon business when they relocated to the New York City suburb of Hartsdale in 1961. She turned to civic activities and was president of several clubs and organizations and was socially active. When the library in Hartsdale was rebuilt, she was given the honor of cutting the ribbon at the dedication. Her interests included bridge, reading, political discussions, animals, playing the piano, singing and flower arranging.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Fred DeBrower of Santa Paula; and daughters Carolyn DeBrower of Ojai, Louise DeBrower of Chicago, Ill., Jean Fantelli of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Louise DeBrower of Groton, Mass.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula. Burial will be held in Harvard, Ill. The family requests no flowers or donations of any kind.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.

Maxine O. Boone

Maxine O. Boone, 86, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, following a long illness. She was born Dec. 31, 1916 in Detroit, Mich., and lived in Ojai for 18 years, coming from Van Nuys, Calif.
Her interests included walking with her dog, traveling and spending time at the ocean.
She is survived by her husband of 30 years, William Boone, of Ojai; and her daughter and son-in-law, Carol A. and Virgil Beasley, of Healdsburg, Calif.
Services are being held today at 3 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Private interment will be at Forest Lawn, Glendale, Calif.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News