Pleze Leo Magers – retired Sunsweet Dryers foreman

Pleze Leo Magers was born on August 25, 1925 in South River,
Missouri, and passed away on November 29, 2002 at the age of 77
years old. He came to California in 1941, lived in Oakdale where he
met his beloved wife of 58 years, Evelyn E. Magers, by whom he is
survived, and moved to Humboldt County, before coming to Healdsburg
in 1954. He lived most of those years in Alexander Valley. He was
truly an honest man and a loving father to his daughters, Ginger
and her husband Dave Wilson of Silver Springs, Nevada, Gail and her
husband John Daniels of Farmersville, Kathy Adams of Bandon,
Oregon, Peggy and her husband Brigido Aleman, and Laura Hagins of
Windsor. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and their spouses
and 19 great grandchildren, by sisters Evelyn and her husband
Lowell Pruit, Karen and her husband Jerry Woolsey, brothers Vic
Magers and Leroy and his wife Carol Magers from Oklahoma,
sister-in-law Joan Magers of Healdsburg, and numerous nephews and
nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother Bessie
Magers-Siedler, his father Earl Magers, four younger brothers, Earl
Jr., Leo, Eddie, and Harvey and two young nephews and one niece.
When he came to California at 16 years old he lost his right hand
in a farm accident. This never kept him from being a hard working
man. People would think that he was not capable and believe that he
was disabled, but he would always prove them wrong. He was a
stubborn man and would not allow having the loss of a hand get in
the way of providing for his family. He worked for Sunsweet Dryers
in Healdsburg since 1963 and retired in 1987, working as their
mechanic and foreman. Before working at Sunsweet, he worked on
several ranches and farms. When he was young, he rode horses and
learned to swim when he fell into the Mississippi River. He also
enjoyed dancing. He loved working on cars and had a shop at his
home where he spent a lot of his free time. Even with his one hand
gone, people were amazed that he could pull an engine from a car,
rebuild it, and put it back by himself. He was a member to the
Fraternal Order of Eagles #1673 in Healdsburg. A Memorial Service
was held on December 8 at the Alexander Valley Christian
Fellowship, with Pastor Ken Marshall officiating. Donations may be
made to one of the following places: The Diabetes Society of Sonoma
County, 2777 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403, the Sonoma County
Kidney Crisis Foundation, P.O. Box 9002, Santa Rosa, 95405 or to
the charity of your choice.