Debra Gale (Harvey) Kleitman passed away at her home in Merced, California on November 30, 2023.
Debbie, was a Trona High School graduate in the Class of 1972. She was the daughter of Gale and Zelda Harvey and the sister of Larry and Bill Harvey.
Deb was the THS Drill Team Leader her senior year.
She will be buried in the Trona Cemetery on Monday, December 11th at 11:00 a.m. Classmates and friends are invited to attend.
I just learned about the passing of Sue Badders. I don’t have any details except that her family plans to scatter her ashes near the location of the old stables. I believe they mean the stables in Trona Road just south of Pioneer Point.
Sue had an older sister, Diane, who graduated in 1961. She passed away in 2017.
If I find an obituary or get any more information, I will share it.
Note: Due to an error in the 1961 Telescope a previous version of this post had a picture of the wrong person. Thank you, Andrea, for bringing that to our attention and for providing a picture of your friend, Sue.
Chuck had been living in New Harmony, Utah, but moved to Washington, Utah a few years ago due to failing health. Washington is a neighboring city to St George Utah. Chuck’s sister, Anne, passed away in April of 2022 and his brother, Don, passed away in 1998.
A viewing was held November 21, 2023 in Washington, Utah.
Marlene came to Trona during her senior year. She was living with her aunt and her cousins, Gary Casy (1936-2003), class of 1954 and Jon Casey (1941-1994), class of 1960.
Our condolences to her family.
Her Obituary Reads:
Marlene Morris, age 92, of Amarillo, entered the gates of heaven on August 5, 2023, in Amarillo.
Marlene was born July 29, 1931, in Dodge City, Kansas, to her parents, Albert Eugene and Dora Shirley Hurt Casey. She attended Amarillo High School before moving to California, where she graduated high school and attended college.
On August 21, 1953, Marlene married the love of her life, Gene “Smokey” Morris. The couple was blessed with four children Mike, Sam, Susan, and Abby. Marlene devoted her life to serving her family, the church, and the community. She was involved in the Republican Women’s Organization, the Red Hat Society, the Borger Belles and served in many capacities at her church.
Marlene had an extensive knowledge and appreciation of history. Being a child of the Great Depression and living through WWII, she took an interest in the times that shaped her life. She was an accomplished artist, blessing family and friends with her exquisite oil paintings.
She was preceded in death by a son, Richard Michael Morris, and her husband, Gene “Smokey” Morris.
Marlene is survived by her two daughters, Susan Denton and her husband David of Wimberley and Abby Johnston and her husband Cliff of Kyle; her son, Sam Morris of Amarillo; seven grandchildren, John Mark Davis and his wife Mallory, Michelle Myers and her husband Jason, Matthew Davis and his wife Madison, Michael Davis, Daniel Davis and his wife Anna, Lauren Hogan and Jacky Morris; and five great-grandchildren, Kamron Davis, Khloe Davis, Olivia Davis, Luna Davis, and Baby Myers, on the way.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/.
https://www.llanocemetery.org/obituaries/Constance-Marlene-Morris?obId=28646292
Ray’s son, Earl, posted the following on Facebook September 8, 2023:
Raymond Sorrells (Class of ’60, Trona High) passed tonight about 7 pm in Vegas. He is no longer in pain or struggling. I covet prayers for my mother and family. He was 81. I thank you all for the prayers. I lift up you all, as I know many who are going through similar situations with parents and family. God be with you all and keep you.
Ray’s daughter also contacted me by email.
Our condolences to his family.
We just received word from someone that John Marshall has passed away.
John’s father was an electrician @ Westend. His sister, Viola (1930-2018), class of 1948 married Edward Fair, son of Tiny Fair. John’s sister, Jeanne (Marshall) Olsen (1927-1996) was in the class of 1949, and his sister, Dorothy (Marshall) Park (1937-2007) was in the class of 1955.
John Webster Marshall passed away on September 2, 2023 with his beloved wife of 64 years, Beverly at his side, John was born on April 8, 1934 in Lone Pine, California to John Webster Marshall and Rosella Merrick Marshall. He and his three sisters were raised in Cartago, California. John had many fond memories of growing up in this desert area. He graduated from Trona High School in 1952.
John served in the United State Air force, after which he graduated from California State University, Fresno with an engineering degree. He met Beverly, the love of his life, at Fresno State and married in 1959. Their son, Scott, joined the family in 1970.
John was a gifted engineer and problem solver. He worked for the State of California and Owens Illinois Glass before joining The Dow Chemical Company. During his 30-year career, leading manufacturing operations with Dow, he worked at the Pittsburg, California and Plaquemine, Louisiana manufacturing plants. In addition, he led the design and construction of a plant in Bahia, Brazil in the mid 1970’s and served as manager of various departments at the Freeport, Texas site. John loved his work and was a respected colleague, an expert in his field, an admired leader and a valued friend. John is also remembered for mentoring young engineers and as a visionary in encouraging women to become engineers.
After retirement, John enjoyed spending time with Beverly and Scott, as well as other family members and friends. He and Beverly traveled extensively, including many river cruises in Europe. John also enjoyed motorcycle trips with friends and skiing with Beverly, and he enjoyed sailing as a captain of yachts in the Virgin Islands for many years. Additionally, after retirement from Dow, John used his expertise to consult for several large chemical manufacturing companies including corporations in Japan.
John was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Jeanne Olson, Viola Fair and Dorothy Park.
He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly of Lake Jackson, Texas; son, Scott of Rosharon, Texas; sister-in-law, Karen Smith (Rick); brother-in-law, Edward Fair; special friends, Charles Raynor and Perry Hallmark and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. He was a beloved and admired member of his family and will be missed greatly by family and friends.
Nicki’s daughter, Terisa Johnson Harju left the following message on Facebook:
It is with a heavy heart but also with many happy memories that we announce the passing of my mom Nicki. She passed on Saturday August 26th after having the rare opportunity to say goodbye to most of her friends and family. She asks that everyone “look for the glimmers” (reference on her fb page). She also asked in lieu of flowers, that donations be sent to the Ridgecrest Veterans Advisory Council via Carol Coy or the Ridgecrest Animal Shelter via Mary Sage.
There will be a celebration of her life in October, (most likely the 2nd or 3rd weekend). The place, date and time will be announced.
Rod Russell lost his battle with Lymphoma and passed away on May 7, 2023. There will be a Celebration of Life on Sept 30th at 4:00 @ the Trona Elks Lodge.
Rod was the son of Ira Russell, class of 1951 and Gwen (Knowles) Russell, class of 1953. Rod had one brother, Ira class of 1982, and two sisters, Theresa (Russell) Maloney, class of 1976 and Michelle (Russell) Ball, class of 1978.
The photo is from the 1968 yearbook.
Linda DeYoung Bishop Class of 1958 — passed away Friday, August 25th in McDonough, Georgia. Services are Wednesday, August 30.
Linda was an only child, but she did have five cousins that attended Trona High School: Dorothy DeYoung) Farrah (1932-1992), class of 1950; Carolyn (DeYoung) Morse (1940-2021) class of 1959; John Deyoung, class of 1962; Paula (DeYoung) Wong, class of 1964, and Roberta (DeYoung) Adams, class of 1967.
https://www.southerncremations.com/obituaries/Linda-Leigh-Bishop?obId=28833283
With the death of Margaret “Lit” Brush in Ridgecrest on July 9, 2023, the Northern Mojave Desert has lost a priceless asset to the history of the Searles Valley. In a lifelong whirlwind of activity, she found and preserved priceless remnants of that history for the enjoyment and education of residents and visitors alike.