Bob Jones

Robert “Bob” Jones — Class of 1956

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Bob was born in 1938 in Oklahoma. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Trona. The 1940 census lists his father’s occupation as a switchman for AP&CC. In the 1950 census his occupation is listed as a switch engine operator. At some point Bob’s father, Cliff became the manager of the Searles Valley Credit Union and then everyone who saved or borrowed money knew the Cliff Jones family. In high school Bob was known as Bobby, which made it confusing when in 1959 he married Bobbie (Halstead) Jones  from the class of 1961. He passed away June 30, 2024.

Bob was on the varsity basketball team in high school but from what I’ve heard he spent a lot of time at the Trona Golf Club.

1966 11th hole at old trona golf course.

 

I wish I could tell you more about Bob but I really never new him. I do know he had children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren that loved him.

Barbara (Bolding) Malcolm — Class of 1968

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Barbara Malcom Obituary
Barbara’s obituary was published on Legacy.com by Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Home on Apr. 1, 2024:

Funeral service will be 11 AM Tuesday for Barbara Bolding Malcom, 73 of Southside, at Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Chapel with Rev. Joey Jones officiating. Burial will follow in William-Southside Cemetery. There will be no public visitation.
Barbara gained her wings March 29, 2024 at home surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents: Billie Bolding, Marvin Bolding; step-mom: Doris Bolding; and brother: Jerry Bolding.
Left to cherish the memory of Barbara are her daughter: Kim Malcom (Jimbo) Bearden, son: Johnny (Amy) Malcom; daughter: Callie Bellew (Josh Storey); daughter: JoAnn (Lee) Jones; grandchildren: Daniel (Diamond) Lawson, Nikki Clark, Bailey Rogers, Minda (Tommy) Winn; Courtney Malcom, Shane (Katie) Bellew, JB Bellew (Brittany), Destiny Stargel, Trevor Jones, Hannah Jones, Hallee Jones, Tricia Cannon, Jason Garrett and Jolie Storey; Several great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Joyce Hood, Jim (Emily) Bolding, Jay (Lladi) McDonald, and Kim (Frank) Brunner; host of nieces and nephews; best friend and loving companion: Rufus.
Barbara worked 25 years at Southside City Hall as a dispatcher and like a mother to a host of Jr. firemen and police officers. She is a loving mom. Sister, great-Mawmaw.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Lawson, Bailey Rogers, JB Bellew, Jason Garrett, Shane Bellew, and Shane Stanford.
Honorary Pallbearer is Johnny Malcom and Jay McDonald.
Special thanks to the family of Gentiva Hospice.
Online condolences may be left to the family at:
www.ghbfuneralhome.com.

Marilyn (White) Shermeon

Marilyn (White) Shermeon — Class of 1961

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Marilyn Ann (White) Shermoen of Ridgecrest, CA, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2024, at the age of 81. Born on June 15, 1943, Marilyn grew up in Trona, and lived a life dedicated to her family and close friends, leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories.

Marilyn is survived by her loving daughter, Cheryl Shermoen, (Thomas Storm). She was a devoted grandmother to Tiffany Elliot (Shane) and great granddaughters Annie, Jessie, Christina, Elizabeth and Catherine. Marilyn also leaves behind her sisters, Carolyn Bertrand and Roberta Jackson, numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored and cherished deeply.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Ona White, and her brothers-in-law, George Bertrand and Louie Jackson.

Marilyn worked on the base for a number of years, where she was known for her dedication and hard work. Despite her commitment to her job, her true focus was always on her family. She enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, particularly her daily morning coffee at Beansters with her
sisters and friends, a ritual that brought joy and camaraderie into her days. Marilyn will be remembered for her quiet strength, her unwavering love for her family, and her warm presence. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Graveside services will be August 3, 2024 at 9am at the Desert Memorial Park, 801 San Bernardino Blvd., Ridgecrest, Ca.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/marilyn-white-shermoen?fh_id=10738

Patricia (Finnelly) Kummings — Class of 1954

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Patricia passed away unexpectedly after a fall sometime before her 88th birthday which would have been May16.  Patricia was born in Saint Louis County, MN in 1936. Her parents moved to California in 1940. After graduating Patricia moved back to the Midwest and lived most of her life in Wisconsin where she raised four children.

 

 

James Hunter 1938-2024

James “Jim’ Hunter — Class of 1956

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Jim Hunter’s Graveside service is Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10 am at the Searles Valley Cemetery. Following the service is a potluck at Trona Elks. Family and friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation at T2T.org or a organization of your choice.

Jim’s family moved from Oklahoma to Trona in 1952. Jim married Ellinor Crossley from the class of 1958.  In 1998 Jim marred Sharon Sessions from the class of 1959. She passed away in 2019.

https://www.hollandlyons.com/obituary/james-hunter

Holly Ann (Hurlocker) Farrah Elliott — Class of 1951

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Holly Ann Hurlocker Farrah Elliott, passed away on June 1, 2024. Class of 1951. She was living in Edmond Oklahoma. Holly was born in Bemidji Minnesota, to Harold and Isabel Hurlocker.  The family moved to Trona when Holly was in the 4th grade.

She had 3 brothers, Harold, Patrick and Paul, and 4 sisters, Mary, Kathy, Sally and Alecia. All but the oldest brother ,Hal, graduated from Trona High. Holly married Bob Farrah in Trona 1954. They had 2 sons Rob and Bret, 5 grandchildren and 4 great grand children.  Bob passed away in 1991, and she married Frank Elliott in Sherwood OR in 2009.  She is survived by her husband Frank and sister Alecia, sons Rob and Bret and their families.  She was such a fun happy person, and we miss her greatly.

Barbara-May

Sister Mary St. Pius — Class of 1950

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Sister Mary St. Pius was born in the state of Washington she christened Barbara May and she came to Trona when she was very young. Her father, Frank May was employed as an engineer for AP&CC. He was involved with borax refining and was also a photographer.

She became a nun after graduation from college around 1955 and went to the Monastery of the Angels in Hollywood, CA.  She spent over 65 years of her life there and served as their archivist  As the number of there nuns dwindled  down to four or five the Church relocated the few remaining nuns and closed the monastery in January 2024.

When she was 5 she started kindergarten in the old Trona Elementary School that was turned into a department store. Of the twenty-five students she graduated with there were six of them that had started kindergarten with her.

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Alice-Quezada-Korba-Criger.

Alice (Quezada) Korba Criger — Class of 1949

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Julie Korba let us know that her mother Alice (Quezada) Korba Criger passed away on May 31, 2024 at 5:30. Her Facebook account is under Alice Criger.  She was 93 and Trona’s biggest Cheerleader!

The 1949 yearbook lists Alice’s achievements as  G. A. A. President, Girls League, Telescope Staff and Cheerleader ’47, ’48 and ’49, .

Alice had eight brothers; Edwardo (1913-2009), Edmundo (1916-2001) , Jesus (1919-2006), Migel (1922-2010), Fernando, Raul, Estaban (1915-2002), Art (1944-1968) and and three sisters; Evangenia (1924-2019), Estila (1926-2023) and Hortencia (1929-2007).

Lillian Anna (Fair) Todd — Class of 1948

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Lillian Anna (Fair) Todd was born on August 12, 1930, in Bloomington, CA: the 4th of six children of James Clarence and Verdie Mae (Osborne) Fair. Lillian grew up in the orange grove where her father was caretaker. The family moved to Trona, CA in 1947 and she graduated from Trona High School in 1948. Lillian then earned an AA in Business at San Bernardino Valley College. She was an excellent typist – 100 WPM!

Lillian met Robert Madison Todd (“Todd”), the love of her life, in Trona where he was her high school sweetheart. Todd joined the US Marine Corps in 1950 to serve during the Korean War. They married in 1951. Their son, Jeffrey Madison Todd, was born in 1953. Both Todd and Jeff passed away prior to Lillian.

After the Korean War, the Todd family settled in Riverside. They enjoyed an active social life along with sports including swimming and skiing. Jeff was born with diabetes, and Lillian was a pioneer in finding ways to provide a “normal” life for him (diabetes care was more challenging then). She did a great job! Todd worked for Bourns Electronics in Riverside and later in their Hong Kong office. Todd and Lillian traveled extensively in Asia and elsewhere. Jeff pursued his love of skiing and music, and after college became a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain. In 1986, Jeff’s diabetes had caused his kidney function to decline to a point where he needed a transplant. Lillian flew back from Hong Kong and donated a life-saving kidney to him: an action that was credited with extending Jeff’s life by more than a decade.

After Todd’s retirement, he and Lillian lived in Paradise, near Bishop, then relocated back to Riverside in 2014, where Todd passed. Lillian moved to San Diego in 2024 and passed away peacefully on May 3.

Lillian is remembered as a vibrant, social, caring, witty and very fun woman. She loved animals and the outdoors. She was a great hostess and the life of the party. She loved her “titty pink” Porsche and always had Andre Extra Dry Brut for any occasion. Above all else, Lillian was a devoted wife and mother, and a great friend. CHEERS to Lillian for a life well lived!

Lillian will be interred at Riverside National Cemetery to join her husband. Donations in her memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

 

https://www.legacy.com/

Layman Gattis — Class of 1962

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Layman Pierce Gattis of Poteau, Oklahoma, died Monday, February 26, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was born on January 9, 1944, in Lavaca, Arkansas, to the late Guy Gattis and Velma (Benham) Gattis. He was 80 years old.

Layman was a retired instrumentation electrician for AES Panama and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed quail hunting and riding dirt bikes. He loved his family very much and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 2nd at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston, with the Rev. Rockey Boggs officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Charleston, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

He is survived by his wife Sharon (Sisco) Gattis; three daughters, Lisa Gattis of Fort Smith, Loria Davis and husband Rob of Lake Havasu, Arizona; and Jenny Dixon of Poteau; three sons, David Gattis of Booneville, Christopher Smith and wife Melodie of Coalinga, California, and Michael Smith and wife Talia, of Henderson, Nevada; two brothers, Jim Gattis and wife Jenny Lou of Charleston and Phillip Gattis of Inyokem, California; (14) grandchildren; (7) great-grandchildren; and one nephew, Curtis Boutte and wife Brandy of Ridgecrest, California.

Pallbearers are James Gattis, Chris Smith, Michael Smith, Harley Gattis, Christopher Smith, Cody Smith, Ryan Smith, and Curtis Boutte. Honorary Pallbearers are David Gattis, Jim Gattis, Phillip Gattis and Mike Burnette.

The family will visit with friends from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.