Death Notices

Philip Greer

Retired pastor Philip Greer died on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Survivors include his wife, Diana; two sons, Jonathan Greer of Riverside, California and Jeff Smith of Sparks, Nevada; one daughter, Julie Bassett of Sparks; and 10 grandchildren.  The memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m., at the Sparks United Methodist Church. The Revs. Thomas Butler and Karla Bowman will preside.    Philip Greer served the Valley Springs, LeGrand, Merced, Schurz,...

Alice Shaner

Alice Shaner, spouse of the Rev. Harry Shaner, died on Sunday, March 25, 2012. In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Brian Shaner, and one grandchild. The memorial service will take place on Tuesday, April 3 at 2 p.m., at the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California. The Rev. Ron Dunn will preside. Condolences to the family may be sent in care of the church, 902 Danville Blvd. Alamo, CA 94507.   Harry and Alice Shaner served the Richmond: First,...

Yoshiko Nelson

Yoshiko Nelson, surviving spouse of the Rev. Donald Nelson, died on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Survivors include her son, Anthony Busano of Galt, and daughter, Kiyoko Cuellar of Turlock.  A memorial service was conducted on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Modesto. The Rev. Robert Collins presided.    Memorial gifts may be sent to Community Hospice of Modesto, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356....

Cecilia Cluff

Cecilia Cluff, surviving spouse of the Rev. Laurence Cluff, died on Monday, March 12, 2012. Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Cluff of Shafter and Lori Hatch of Reno, and four grandchildren.  A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, March 18 at 12 noon, at the Wasco United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ray Letana will preside.   Memorial gifts may be sent to the Kern County Library. Go to kerncountylibrary.org and click on "Support the Library" for more...

Hresoola (Sue) Backman

Hresoola (Sue) Backman, surviving spouse of the Rev. Lee Backman, died on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Survivors include two sons, Ronald Backman of Ridgecrest, California and Dr. Stephen Backman of Le Grand; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.   A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 10 at the Dixon United Methodist Church. The Rev. Catharine Morris presided.   Memorial gifts may be sent in Sue's name to the Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 North Jefferson,...

Rev. Marilyn Ray

The Rev. Marilyn Ray died on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Survivors include her husband, Ronald Ray; two children, Joy Ray of Hawaii and Erin Ray of Albany, California; and two grandchildren.   A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 31 at 11 a.m., at the Campbell United Methodist Church. The Revs. James Mishler and Donna Fado Ivery will preside.   Marilyn served the Los Molinos, Point Arena: St. Paul's, Galt, and Milpitas: Sunnyhills churches before retiring in...

Rev. Stanley Read

Retired pastor the Rev. Stanley Read died on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Read; six children: Bill Read of Auburn, California, Stanley Read of Northern California, John Read of Lake Bay, Washington, Don Cragshead and Tera Hill, both of Salinas, California, and Linda Menesez of Santa Barbara; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A memorial service was held on February 24, 2012 at First United Methodist Church, Paradise, California. The Rev. Robert...

Heidi Birdsey

Heidi Birdsey, wife of the Rev. William Birdsey, died on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Survivors include her husband, of Camp Verde, Arizona; one son, William L. Birdsey of San Lorenzo, California; two daughters, Laurie Whipps of Phoenix, Arizona and Lee Hamby of Henderson, Nevada; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 18 at 1 p.m., at Mountain View United Methodist Church, 901 S. 12th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. The Rev. Laura...

Joan Haver

Joan Haver, surviving spouse of the Rev. Lynn Haver, died on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Survivors include her daughter, Marianne Haver Hill, of Altadena; one grandson; and one granddaughter. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 3 at 11 a.m., at Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The Rev. Dave Koser will preside.   Lynn and Joan Haver served the Cone, Oakland: Lake Park, Fresno: St. Luke's, Atwater, Sacramento: Hope, and Antioch churches before...

John Resch

Retired Endowment Board executive John Resch died on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Survivors include his wife, Vicki Resch; two children, Paul Resch of Galt and Courtney Pulley of Scotts Valley, California; and by three grandchildren. A funeral service was held in Arizona on February 18, 2012.   John Resch took over as the Executive Secretary of the Conference Claimants' Endowment Board in January 1993 and continued in that position until his retirement in January 2006.    ...

Lillian Colyer

Lillian Colyer, surviving spouse of the Rev. Clifford Colyer, died on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Survivors include two daughters, Ann Veenstra and Colleen Ashley, both of Silver City, New Mexico; and two grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, Silver City, NM.    Clifford and Lillian Colyer served the Lovelock, Firebaugh, and Ceres churches before retiring in 1976.     Memorial gifts may be sent...

Bonnie Whitmore

Bonnie Whitmore, surviving spouse of the Rev. Richard W. Whitmore, died on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.   Survivors include four children: the Rev. Faith Whitmore of Carmichael (formerly pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento and now executive director of Francis House), Rick Whitmore of Salinas, Wendell Whitmore of Paradise, and Kathy Whitmore of Linwood, New Jersey; and five grandchildren.   A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 2 p.m....

Bonnie Churchill

Bonnie Churchill, surviving spouse of the Rev. Virl Churchill, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Survivors include her son, Marlowe Churchill of Riverside; daughter, Kathy Hammond of Granite Bay; and four grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 3 at 2 p.m., at First United Methodist Church in Sacramento. The Revs. Larry George and Don Lee will preside.   Virl and Bonnie Churchill served the Orosi, Lemoore, Oakland: Montclair, Sacramento: St. Andrew's, and...

Rev. David MacMurdo

Retired pastor the Rev. David MacMurdo died on Thursday, January 5, 2012. Survivors include two children, David MacMurdo, Jr. of Suisun City, California and Deann Henry, who lives in Viet Nam; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Dorothy, and son Douglas. The memorial service is planned for Sunday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m., at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 2391 St. Mark's Way, Sacramento, CA 95864. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. and the Rev. Alan Jones...

Anne Chin

Anne Chin, lay member of Central United Methodist Church in Stockton, California, died on January 5, 2012. Survivors include her husband, James Chin, of Stockton; daughter, Elise, and son-in-law, Lyndon, of Stockton; son Curtis, of Berkeley; son Bennett and daughter-in-law, Denise, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and four grandchildren.   A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 at 3 p.m., at Central UMC, 3700 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204. The Rev. David Bennett will...

Julie Auer

Julie Auer, spouse of the Rev. John Auer, died on Sunday, January 1, 2012. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children, John Auer of Reno, Nevada; Helena Auer of Fresno, California; and Jacob Auer of Sacramento, California; and by three grandchildren.  A memorial service is planned for Friday, January 6, at the Metropolitan Community Church in Naples, Florida.    Julie and John Auer served the Fresno: Sierra Vista, San Rafael: First, and Reno: First churches...

Mildred Carden

Mildred Carden, surviving spouse of the Rev. Noel Carden, died on Sunday, December 25, 2011. Survivors include her son, Robert Carden, of Granite Falls, Washington, and daughter, Carol Bolton, of Exeter, California. Condolences to the family may be sent to 21805 54th Place NE, Granite Falls, WA 98252.  A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at the Exeter United Methodist Church. The Rev. Les Lungren presided.   Noel and Mildred Carden served the Escalon, Corning, San...

Vicki Sweet

Vicki Sweet, spouse of the Rev. Paul Sweet, died on Friday, December 9, 2011. Besides her husband, Paul, survivors include two stepchildren, Kristen Sweet of Brennan, Washington, and Jason Sweet of San Barbara. The memorial service is planned for Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m., at Community United Methodist Church in Aptos. The Rev. Pam Fine will preside.    You may send condolences to the family in care of Community UMC, 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.   Memorial...

Rev. John Chow

Retired pastor the Rev. John Chow died on Friday, November 18, 2011. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Joseph Chow of Fremont and Jonathan Chow of Honolulu; and three grandchildren.  The family will gather for a private memorial service on November 25, 2011.   John Chow served the Oakland Chinese, Chinese Community, and Rockridge churches before retiring in 1994.   Memorial gifts may be sent to your local church....

Alice Morley

Alice Morley, wife of the Rev. Laurence Morley, died on Monday, November 7, 2011. She is survived by her husband, who resides at 2408 E. Emilie Avenue, Fresno, CA 93730; by two children, Martin Laurence Morley and Scott Howard Morley; and by two grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for later this month at Wesley United Methodist Church in Fresno. The date and time for the service are currently not available, so please contact the church for details.    Larry and...