TehachapiNews.com

Catherine A. Gable, 1929-2013

Catherine A. Gable

1929-2013

Catherine A. Gable died April 24. She was born April 14, 1929 and was 84.  She was an outstanding wife and mother for 63 years. She will be missed by her family, friends and the people at the Nazarene Church.
 

David Heinchon, 1987-2013

David Heinchon

1987-2013

David went home to his Heavenly Father on March 22, 2013; he will be reunited with his Grandma Jean, who adored her grandson deeply.
He was born in Hanford on Dec. 10, 1987 to Elizabeth and Richard Heinchon. For them, David had answered all their prayers, and he would be their only child. He was born with a cherub smile and deep dimples; and regardless of his age both would become his trademark look as he greeted anyone that came into his life.

We do not know why David left us so soon, but we know while he was here with us he made a difference in our lives. He was compassionate, headstrong, funny, and smart. He was resilient, tenacious, reverent, and patriotic. You knew with David where you stood and he did not back down from what he believed and we all admired him for his strong convictions.

David was a true dreamer and adventurer; from his time in Scouts to his life at the beach, David looked for every opportunity to live on the edge and live life to its fullest!

David moved from Avenal when he was 7 months old to Tehachapi with his parents in 1988. David was a precocious young child, and quickly made many friends wherever he went. He was a member of Tehachapi Nazarene Church and active in AYSO and t-ball. He joined Cub Scout Pack 136 when he was 7 years-old. He crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 136 in 1999.

David, and four other Tehachapi scouts would attend the 2001 Boy Scout Jamboree in A.P. Hill, VA. Along with 32 other Southern Sierra Council scouts and leaders, David would travel down the eastern seaboard from New York to Virginia; he got to venture into the Amish communities, see the battlefields of Gettysburg, and the skyscrapers of New York in Times Square. David would also ride to the top of the Twin Towers in N.Y. just two short months before 9-11.

With scouts, David also went to Camp Kern in the High Sierras of California, Camp Geronimo in Pine, Ariz., Camp Josepho, in Pacific Palisades. And lastly, he would travel to Hawaii in 2004 and attend Camp Pupukea on the North Shore of Oahu. While at Camp Pupukea he watched as the Pacific Islanders lined up for dinner service and asked his Scoutmaster, “Are we the only Americans here?” They all laughed with David when he realized they were all Americans too! David would achieve the rank of Life Scout and Order of the Arrow before he left Tehachapi for his next great adventure.

For the past six years David has worked and played in the community of Grover Beach. He quickly became involved in the local youth culture and worked at A. J. Spurs at Grover Beach. Here he made new friends and quickly got into parachuting, scuba diving and snowboarding. But his favorite past time was racing his truck on the sand dunes. He recently gave his mother Liz a ride of her life on the dunes. Liz said she cried with fear and joy as he laughed in delight at her reaction! He most recently was employed as a cell tower repairman.

David never met a stranger, and befriended anyone young and old alike. He shared a love of cars with his friends and when he would visit those in Tehachapi he could be found under the hood or changing brakes alongside his friends.

He is survived by his parents Richard and Liz Heinchon of Tehachapi. Uncle Melvin Young and his wife Quinn of Ferndale, Wash. and Uncle Jaimie Heinchon of Vermont. Cousins Ann Young, Eliza Morris and her husband Chris of Bellingham, Wash., and Neil Young and his wife Ashley of Sacramento, and Great Aunt Anna and her husband Don Pense of Atascadero.

David is gone, but his spirit and joyous laughter will remain with the family and friends that will never forget him. We will all miss his stories that amused us, his smile that calmed us and his lust for life that made us all want to know him. Rest in peace David, you were loved.

A memorial of David will be held Saturday, May 4, at Tehachapi Nazarene Church at 10 a.m. Another memorial will be held June 1 at the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers please send to the following in Memory of David Heinchon: Tehachapi Nazarene Church, Youth Activities, 19016 Highline Rd., Tehachapi, CA., 93561, or, Boy Scout Troop 136, 511 Colinas Street, Tehachapi, CA., 93561.

Celebration of Life for Phyllis Coogle

Celebration of Life
For Phyllis Coogle

7/21/1930- 2/25/2013

An open house for remembrance and fellowship, with family and friends, will be held at Phyllis’ home, 454 Jonathan Place, Saturday, April 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. with Pastor Alsop officiating after 5 p.m.
For more information call Trudy at 823-0153.

Levi Bryant, Jr., 1980-2013

Levi Bryant, Jr.

1980-2013

Marlene M. Bryant, 1938-2013

Marlene M. Bryant

1938 - 2013

Marlene M. Bryant, a 33 year resident of Tehachapi, passed away on April 13. She was 74 years old.

Marlene was born in Bakersfield on September 18, 1938, to parents Elwood Ansel and Ethel Marie Ryan Bryan. She was one of six siblings. Marlene was employed for 32 years with the Tehachapi Unified School District as a Title One Reading Aide and worked at different elementary schools during her employment. She touched many lives and helped many children at those schools, as well as tutoring at home.

Marlene loved to cook and bake for her family and friends. They all enjoyed her recipes and treats for gatherings, weddings, and potlucks. She loved plants and flowers and could grow anything the Tehachapi climate would allow. She loved and doted on her many pets.

Marlene is survived by her husband of 56 years, Gerald D. Bryant, Sr.; and sons, Gerald D. Bryant, Jr. and his wife, Chona, and James R. Bryant and his wife, Kathy. She also had five grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Larissa, Matthew and his wife, Becka, Melissa, Skylar, and Shayla; six great-grandchildren, Joseph, Caleb, McKenna, Emma, Conner, and Jaxon; siblings, Stan and Joyce Bryan, Carol and Milton Morovich, Barbara and Bud Crew, III, Harold and Karen Bryan, and Donna Williams; sisters-in-law, Lora Maupin and Esther Bryant; along with several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

Her love for her family was evident, and she will be missed.
A visitation and funeral service were held on Saturday, April 20 at Greenlawn Funeral Home on River Boulevard in Bakersfield. Bill Willingham of the Tehachapi Church of Christ officiated the service. Wood Family Funeral Service has been entrusted with her care. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.

Daniel George Mitchell, 1943-2013

Daniel George Mitchell

1943-2013

Daniel George Mitchell passed away peacefully on April 9 at Evergreen Healthcare in Arvin. A graveside memorial service was held on April 12 at 2 p.m. at Tehachapi Public Cemetery – Westside, in Tehachapi.

Daniel was born on April 2, 1943, to Kenneth Mitchell and Priscilla Suich in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Cleveland State University in 1968. He worked for North American Coal Corporation for 30 years, mainly in their Dallas corporate office.
Daniel was an active member of St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas and helped lead a Catholic singles group. He was a gregarious, fun-loving person, generous with his means, and kind to all who knew him.

He is survived by his only daughter, Julia Barraclough; her husband, Jonathan; and two grandchildren, Sophia and Danahae of Tehachapi. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Mitchell; and nieces, Justine Derrett and Cassandra Plato of New York.

Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. handled the arrangements. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.

Cheryl Anne Garcia, 1956-2013

Cheryl Anne Garcia

1956 - 2013

An Angel winged her way to Heaven on April 8. Cheryl Anne Garcia was born on April 2, 1956, in Hollywood. She was raised in the San Fernando Valley where she met the love of her life, the boy next door, Elias Garcia Jr. In May of 1977, they married. Cheryl and Elias went on to have three children. In the summer of 1989, Cheryl and the family moved to Tehachapi. While working and raising the children in Tehachapi, Cheryl worked on a nursing degree from Bakersfield College. In the summer of 1995, she accomplished her dream of being a Registered Nurse. She worked as an RN at KMC in the NICU. She had a tremendous heart for those tiny babies. In 2005 Cheryl went to work for Anthem Blue Cross. Cheryl was a natural born healer.

Cheryl donated lots of her time to various community organizations. She was very passionate about the American Legion Auxiliary’s "Feed the Veterans Program." She also donated time and goods at Christmas by making food baskets and wrapping toys for children and families that were not as fortunate as others. Cheryl was a firm believer in taking care of others.

Cheryl enjoyed traveling, reading, going to Pismo with her husband, and quality time with family and friends. Of all things Cheryl cherished, those she cherished most were the relationships with her family and her friends. She had that sparkle all grandparents have when speaking about their grandchildren. Cheryl was more than a grandma, she was a mentor and a friend to her grandchildren. Nothing was more important than her "grandma time." Those were her special gifts.

Cheryl leaves behind her mother, Paula Raboy; and her husband of 36 years, Elias Garcia Jr.; her son, Elias Garcia III and his fiancée, Trish Stevens, along with their children, Crystal Garcia, Andrew Garcia, Julia Laughlin, and Cole Stevens; her son, David Samuel Garcia; her daughter, Paula Colon and son-in-law, Michael Colon, and their child, Gryphon Colon.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 19, at St. Malachy Catholic Church at 9 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Legion Auxiliary’s "Feed the Veterans Program."

Wood Family Funeral Service has been entrusted with her care. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.

Ascencion Cazares, 1939-2013

Ascencion Cazares

1939 – 2013

Ascencion Cazares passed away after a long illness on Monday, April 1 at San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield. His family was at his side.

Ascencion was born on January 1, 1939 in Santa Catalina de Tepehuanes, Durango, Mexico, to parents Pilar and Leocadia Cazares. He was the third of nine children. The family immigrated to the United States when he was 7 years old and settled in Tehachapi in 1951. Ascencion began working at Monolith Portland Cement Company when he was 18 years old.

Ascencion proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1967, serving as a Specialist Fourth Class Transportation at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. His duties included couriering generals, hauling mysterious (sometimes refrigerated) cargo, and the occasional reconnaissance mission throughout the Los Angeles basin.

After completing his military service, he returned to Tehachapi and his job at Monolith. He completed high school while attending night classes and then continued his education at the DeVry Institute of Technology, where he was certified in Semiconductors and Vacuum Tube Electronics. At Monolith, he held a variety of positions throughout the next 43 years including repairman, miller, truck driver, and mix chemist (for 24 years). A dedicated worker, Ascencion was forced to retire in 1999 due to a disabling lung condition.

In October of 1965, Ascencion married Mary Elizabeth “Bette” Martinez. Together, they raised three children. Ascencion always stressed the importance of education to his children. All of his children earned degrees from four-year universities and have pursued careers in law enforcement, education, and engineering. Ascencion’s education never ended; he was an avid reader and a devoted follower of current events. He also became an excellent cook in his retirement years.

Ascencion is survived by his wife, Bette; children, David, Beitrys, and Shelley; brother Joseph; sisters Frances, Lucretia, Mary, Lupe, and Martha; and grandchildren, Mariah and Aleia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pilar and Leocadia; sister, Alice; and younger brother, Manuel, a Marine killed in action in Vietnam.

Funeral services were arranged by Wood Family Funeral Service. A vigil and rosary were held on April 11 at St. Malachy Catholic Church. A funeral mass was held on April 12 at St. Malachy, followed by a military burial at Bakersfield National Cemetery.

Pauline Hifner Burgeis, 1928-2013

Pauline Hifner Burgeis

1928 - 2013

Pauline Hifner Burgeis went to be with Jesus on April 2, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Pauline was born in Tulare on August 2, 1928. She grew up in Caliente Canyon and Cameron and went to Tehachapi High School.
Pauline came back to Tehachapi 20 years ago and married her childhood friend, Ramon Burgeis.

Her father, Paul Hifner; mother, Ila Yribarren; sisters, Joyce Yribarren and Alta Mae Fink, have all gone before her and welcome her with open arms.
Pauline is survived by her husband, Ramon Burgeis; sisters, Betty Burgeis (Bob) from Tehachapi, and Kathleen Landers (Bob) from Lone Pine, and brothers, Lawrence Hifner (Larry) from Campbell, Jim Hifner (Nella) from Tehachapi, and Ronald Yribarren (Diz) from Bishop.

Also left to mourn her passing are daughters, Sharon Jacobs (Jim) from Tehachapi, Ila O'Connor (Michael) from Modesto, and son, Roger Walker from Richmond, Maine; stepdaughter, Linda Vaughn from Moses Lake, Wash.; stepson, Bill Burgeis from Washington; and their children and grandchildren.

Pauline got great enjoyment from her six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful grandmother.

Pauline was greatly loved and will be missed so very much.

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at the Wood Family Funeral Service Chapel in Tehachapi. Visitation will be prior to the service, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Wood Family Funeral Service is handling the arrangements. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.

Ascencion Cazares, 1939-2013

Ascencion Cazares

1939 - 2013

Ascencion Cazares, a 60-year resident of Tehachapi, passed away on April 1, in Bakersfield. He was 74 years old. A Vigil Service and recitation of the Rosary will be on Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Tehachapi. The Mass of the Resurrection will be held at the church on Friday, April 12 at 9 a.m., with a reception immediately following in the church social hall. The Rite of Burial will be that afternoon at Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin at 12:30 p.m. A full obituary will be in next week’s edition of the Tehachapi News. Wood Family Funeral Service has been entrusted with his care. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.

Marie Suitor, 1939-2013

Marie Suitor

1939 – 2013

Marie Suitor of Tehachapi died on Easter Sunday, March 31, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by family. She was born in Brookline, Mass., on July 22, 1939, to Albert and Casmira Boyer. Marie graduated from Saint Aidan’s High School in 1957.

Marie worked for Avon for the last 20 years and received many top seller awards to show for her efforts. She always greeted her customers with a smile and often became friends.

Marie had a great love for volunteering in Tehachapi. She was Director of Respite for years, made many happy memories, and helped a lot of clients along the way. Marie also volunteered for Hospice, which in the end filled her journey with love and compassion.

Marie was an amazing stay-at-home mother and wife. She devoted her life to raising her children. She was a fabulous chef and loved to share her talents with friends and family. Marie cooked organically years before anyone knew the benefits. Her amazing dinners were memorable to all who attended.

Marie will be joining her beloved son, Scott, who passed away in 1992. She is survived by her husband, Bill; sisters, Barbara and Cherie; daughter, Elizabeth; son, Glenn; and grandchildren, Cuentin, Colby, Bridgette, and Billy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the family residence on April 27 at 2 p.m. We will remember Marie with good food, fun stories, and vibrant life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marie’s name to: Hoffmann Hospice, 8501 Brimhall Road, Bldg #100, Bakersfield, CA 93312. Wood Family Funeral Service has been entrusted with her care. For condolences please visit www.woodmortuary.net.