Obituaries 10-8-15

Nick Esposti
Nick Esposti, age 80, died at his home in Windsor on Oct. 2, surrounded by his family. He was born in Fulton in 1935 to Nazzareno and Gacunda Esposti. Nick served for 10 years in the California National Guard and owned/operated Empire Poultry in Santa Rosa for 17 years. Nick was elected Sonoma County Supervisor of the Fourth District in 1978 and served for 16 years. As Fourth District Supervisor, he was instrumental in helping to establish the Town of Windsor and the construction of the Warm Springs Dam. Nick felt particularly proud and honored to be the first honorary citizen of the Town of Windsor and to have Esposti Park dedicated in his name. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; five children; Nick, Janice Brandt, Julie (David) Opperman, John (Debra) and Alfred “Fred” (Dana) Esposti; 14 grandchildren; Nick (Amanda) Esposti, Marie (Daniel) Winter, Tony (Sonja), Carley and Bailey Esposti, Rachel and Justin Brandt, David Opperman, Ashley (Martin) Lorenzo, John D. (Lauren), Thomas, Samantha, Amanda and Madison Esposti; eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Marie DeBonis and Pamela Alberigi. He was preceded in death by two brothers; Alfred and John, and two sisters, Margaruite “Maggie” DeBonis and Virginia Gondola. Nick would say his greatest accomplishment was his family and he loved spending time with them at the lake house. He loved his businesses, traveling, golfing and serving his community. The family would like to thank Kaiser Permanente, Memorial Hospice and Fox and Associates for all of their excellent care and kind support. Donations may be made to a favorite charity. A visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at St. Rose Catholic Church, 398 10th St., Santa Rosa. A private burial will take place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.
William A. (Bill) McCutchan, Jr.
Longtime Alexander Valley farmer William A. (“Bill”) McCutchan, Jr. died on Sept. 28, 2015 at the age of 91, surrounded by loved ones. Bill was born at his family home in Alexander Valley as the eldest of three sons of William A. (“Alfred”) and Emily (Segesman) McCutchan. During his childhood, Bill enjoyed riding his horse through the hills of Alexander Valley, trips to visit family friends at Dillon Beach and other areas of the coast, learning to surf fish and to catch abalone. Bill’s parents regarded music and education highly, values that Bill passed on to his own children. Bill began piano lessons in third grade, practicing an hour daily, adding cornet and marching band in junior high and high school. After graduating from Healdsburg High School, Bill headed off to U.C. Berkeley to study electrical engineering. His studies were interrupted by World War II and serving in the U.S. Navy, before returning to finish up at Cal. He met the love of his life, Dorothy Ann Neely, a nursing student at U.C. San Francisco, at a party one weekend and the couple married on Nov. 1, 1947 of Bill’s senior year. After graduation, Bill and his new bride moved to Alexander Valley to join his dad in operating the family’s prune and pear orchards and vineyards. Bill and Dorothy’s wish for a large family started with Ann’s birth in 1949, followed by Linda, Chuck, Barbara, Kathy and Emily. Education, playing a musical instrument, hard work (including picking prunes) and being physically active were core family values instilled by Bill and Dorothy; above all, they stressed the love of family. Following his father’s footsteps, Bill served on local and county school boards for 20 years. Both Bill and Dorothy strongly supported excelling in academics and the importance of a college degree, as witnessed by the numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees of children and grandchildren. Bill also insisted that all his six children study piano prior to each taking up wind instruments. Bill’s belief in service to the community led to involvement with many groups in addition to school boards: for example, the California Prune Advisory Council, American Field Service, Alexander Valley Farm Bureau supporting the prune blossom tour luncheons and crab feeds and the Vineyard Club. Many family vacations included yearly trips to see Dorothy’s mother and to fish in Idaho, excursions to “the City” and to U.C. Berkeley for fraternity reunions and trips to the ocean and national parks. They enjoyed traveling domestically while learning new sports: cross country skiing in Tahoe and in Idaho, snorkeling in tropical waters, windsurfing off the coast of Charleston and bicycling wine country roads. In later years, Bill and Dorothy also enjoyed international travel to destinations such as Bora Bora and Switzerland. Bill was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Dorothy, daughter Linda Hill and granddaughter Sara Sandven, as well as his parents and brothers Ben and Tom. He is survived by his remaining five children, including Ann (Lars) Sandven of Boise, Idaho; son-in-law John Hill of Santa Rosa; Chuck (Kerri) McCutchan of Irvine; Barbara (Ronnie) Hise of Covington, Virginia; Kathy (Jimmy) Murphy of Healdsburg and Emily McCutchan of Windsor. Bill was the grandfather of Jan Sandven (Ann-Mari Volden), Oslo, Norway; Tor (Leah) Sandven, Walla Walla, Washington; Kristi (Michael) Koolen, Oslo, Norway; Emma Hill, Santa Rosa; Amanda (Justin) Lankila, McKinleyville; Justin Kolbeck, New York, New York; Sara McCutchan, Del Mar; David McCutchan, San Diego; Rachel Hise, Arlington, Virginia; Adam Hise, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Casey Murphy (John Beck), Seattle, Washington; Morgan Murphy, West Hartfort, Connecticut; Julia Murphy, Portland, Oregon and Michael Murphy, Berkeley. Bill’s six great-grandchildren loved visiting “Grandpa” and included Sara and Alfred Sandven-Volden, Oslo, Norway; Lars, Aravis and Rowan Sandven, Walla Walla, Washington and Michael Beck, Seattle, Washington. Bill’s family said he was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. “Everyone loved coming to visit Bill on the ranch or seeing him in the community, whether at Tuesdays in the Plaza concerts, the FFA Fair or the Vineyard Club in Geyserville. His ready smile, laughter and interest in the minutia of his large family’s lives were true joys. We were blessed to have him in our lives for so many years and his death leaves a huge hole that memories and photos can never fill,” the family stated. Services will be held at the Healdsburg Community Church, 1110 University St., Healdsburg, on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 1:30 p.m., followed by interment at the family plot in Shiloh District Cemetery, Windsor. Because of Bill’s strong support for education, the family suggests any donations be made to the Healdsburg Education Foundation, PO Box 1668, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Lavada “Faye” Johnson
Lavada “Faye” Johnson died in her sleep in Ada, Oklahoma. on Sept. 30 2015 at the age of 78. She lived many years in Cloverdale raising her three children, before having to be moved due to needing care for her Alzheimer’s and dementia. Faye will be greatly missed by her three children, Debbie (Jim), Janet (Larry), Kevin (Lisa), nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Faye was predeceased by her loving husband of 44 years, Lester “Lucky” Johnson. A viewing will be held on Monday October 12 at 10 a.m. at Fred Young in Cloverdale with graveside services to be at 11:30 a.m. at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg.
Ruth Marie Hill
Marie was born Nov. 1, 1924 at Dr. Shipley’s “hospital” in Cloverdale. She lived all her life in Cloverdale and surrounding area. She passed away Oct. 1, 2015. Marie graduated from Cloverdale High School in 1942, attended Santa Rosa J.C. for one semester and then worked as a secretary in San Francisco for three years during World War II. She returned to live in Cloverdale in 1946 and worked for Arthur Foster and Farmers Insurance Co. until she married Harold (Butch) Hill in February, 1947. Butch and Marie moved to a sheep ranch near Yorkville in 1948, and Marie lived there for the rest of her life. She started working for Miller Insurance Agency in Cloverdale in 1954. She achieved her broker’s license and worked there for 38 years through four changes of ownership. She retired from the insurance office in 1992 and then worked part time as a relief postmaster for the Yorkville Post Office for 10 years. Marie was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary in 1946 and served as its first president for two years. She was a 58-year member and was very active until her later years. She was an active member of the Cloverdale 4-H Club when she was a school girl and was the Sonoma County All Star in 1938. The Cloverdale 4-H Club was disbanded during World War II, so when Marie’s children were of an age to benefit from this type of activity, Marie was instrumental in reactivating the charter for the Cloverdale 4-H Club and served as its Community Leader for three years. In 1976 the Cloverdale City Council appointed Marie chairman of the Cloverdale Bicentennial Committee. As one of the Bicentennial weekend activities, on July 4, 1976 she arranged for the first fireworks display at the high school football field. It has been an annual event enjoyed by the community every since. Marie was also a member of the Senior Center and the Cloverdale and Anderson Valley Historical Societies and the board of directors of the Cloverdale Ram Sale. She wrote many stories about growing up in Cloverdale and published a book of these stories, “Cloverdale Memories,” which the historical society sold. Marie loved her ranch, hunting and fishing, playing bridge and pinochle, reading and gambling. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and Fred Vadon, brother, Jim Vadon, daughter, Kathy Hill, and husband, Harold Hill. She is survived by her son, James Hill, grandchildren, Penny (Ramon) Avila and Jacob Minton, great grandchildren, Kayla and Holden Avila, nephews Tom, Tim and Ted Vadon and families, and Dan and Helen Hill and families. If desired, donations may be made in her memory to the Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 337, Cloverdale, CA 95425, or to Healdsburg Hospital, c/o Susan Spoelma, 1375 University Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448, for their comfort care program that took excellent care of Marie and her family during her final days. A viewing will be held Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fred Young Funeral Home, 428 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, CA 95425. Marie will be laid to rest at the new Ingram Cemetery. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 11 a.m.
Katie (Goldie) Ann Johnson
Katie Ann (Goldie) Johnson was born June 17, 1920 and died Sept. 10, 2015. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, sister, aunt and good friend to many, home to heaven after 95 years. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 45 years, Elmer Johnson, her first born son Ted Johnson and his son David Johnson. She is survived by her daughter Dianne (Stephen) Oliver, son Tom (Winnie) Johnson, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, six great great grandchildren, her only sister, Ann Faria age 99, and nephews Jim and Barry Phillips. Goldie’s maiden name was Baronich and both of her parents came from Yugoslavia. She was born in Keewaten, Minn. and married, Elmer in Hibbing, Minn., where they lived, worked and had their first two children. They moved to Richmond, Calif. to work in the shipyards when the war started and they moved back to Minnesota when Elmer was drafted into the U.S. Army. A few years after the war ended they moved to Sunnyvale, where Tom was born, and where they lived until moving to Forrest Hill to be near son Ted. In 1982 they moved to Cloverdale to be near Dianne. Elmer died in 1984 and Goldie stayed in Cloverdale where she made many good friends. Goldie spent her later years helping out at St. Peters Church, Cloverdale Healthcare Center and running her own dog, cat and house sitting business. She loved to bowl at the old Cloverdale Bowling Alley and she had fun playing bingo with her friends and going to the casinos. She spent the last four years living at the Villas Assisted Living Home in Cloverdale where she loved to be where she was taken care of with so much love. The family’s thanks and love go to Kristi and her wonderful staff. Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass Tuesday Oct. 13, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Peters Church, Cloverdale. Interment will be at Oakmound Cemetery, Healdsburg.