One of the founders of the Humboldt Folklife Society has passed away. Jim (James Wendell) Mangis died in Ventura on February 14, 2016 after a brief illness. Born in 1953 and raised in Bethesda, Md., Jim attended Humboldt State starting in 1973. He mastered fiddle, mandolin and harmonica while playing for contra dances with the…
Obituary: Joann Branco
Joann Branco, wife of Dave Branco for 41 years and a cherished member of our community, passed this week with her husband and children by her side. Joann, the quiet, reserved one in the family, was nonetheless always ready with a wave, a hello or a cookie for neighborhood kids. As the circle of her…
Obituary: Keith Conn Bowman
In loving memory of Keith Conn Bowman, 79. Born May 13, 1936 in Bandon, Ore. to Nolan and Josephine Bowman, he was the third of five children. He went to be with the Lord on Feb. 10 in Eureka. Keith loved fishing on his commercial boats, hunting and being in the woods. He ran track…
Obituary: James Steven Reinhold, Nov. 20, 1954 – Feb. 16, 2015
James Steven Reinhold, a 1976 Humboldt State University Journalism Department graduate, has left this world. His IBM Selectric keys, quick and acerbic witty one-liners and comebacks have forever been silenced. James will be remembered by many as deeply involved in local volunteering and grassroots political organizing in 1970s Arcata and Humboldt County campaigns. He himself…
Obituary: Don Shepherd March 9, 1929 – Oct. 28, 2015
Donald (Don) Ralph Shepherd of Redding died in Mount Shasta on Oct. 28, 2015 at age 86 from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. Don was born March 9, 1929 to James and Clara (Young) Shepherd of Blue Lake and graduated from Arcata High School. Through his experiences as a truck driver and Cat skinner,…
Obituary: James Stephen Stutsman
It is with great sadness that we report the sudden passing of our beloved James Stephen Stutsman on Dec. 12, 2015 at a young age of 51. Born at Mercy Hospital in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 1964, he was also known as Jim or Jimmy to his family and friends. He was a former May Day…
Obituary: James N. Sorensen
James N. Sorensen, 70, passed away unexpectedly in San Francisco on July 29, 2015 from complications following a stroke. He was born August 7, 1944 in Princeton, Missouri, but grew up a valley kid among the stone fruit orchards of Reedley, Calif. Jim enlisted in the army in 1967 and served as a Special Forces…
Obituary: Althea ‘Alfie’ Jane Taylor
In the early hours of July 8, 2015, my wife of almost 50 years, Althea “Alfie” Jane (LaPlant) Taylor passed away after a 14-year journey with Alzheimer’s which eroded a healthy, independent woman into a helpless, totally dependent woman incapable of initiating any function or of speaking. One only hopes that in death her soul…
Obituary: Jerry Jacobson
Jerry Jacobson was born a twin on May 20, 1948, to Donald and Cecilia Jacobson in Eureka, California. On July 30th, 2015 he died, unexpectedly, at age 67. A life happened in between. A proud veteran of Vietnam, he has been called to join his Lord and Savior, his many fallen comrades, his parents and…
Obituary: Walker Owen Greacen
Walker Owen Greacen died on Saturday, July 18 in an all-terrain vehicle accident at his grandparents’ land in northwestern New Mexico. The son of Greta de la Montagne of Bayside and Scott Greacen of Arcata, and Clary’s beloved younger brother, Owen was a student at Jacoby Creek Elementary School, where he was to have entered…