Obituaries

    April 15, 2011
    Obituaries

    Stanley V. May

    Stanley V. May, beloved father and husband, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the age of 56. Stan was born in Wilmington, North Carolina on August 22, 1954 to Stanley and Fern May.

    He spent most of his youth in Colorado and his teen years in Bangkok, Thailand, where he graduated from the International School of Bangkok, Thailand. After graduation he joined the Navy, where he served honorably for six years.

    He continued his education at the University of La Verne while working full time, and received his B.S. in Mathematics. He then started his long career working for defense contractors, working first for Unisys for 19 years, then for Litton, and Northrop Grumman. He continued working as a senior systems analyst for Bank of America in recent years. He was always a dedicated employee, and worked up until the day he was admitted to the hospital.

    Stan was involved in AYSO soccer in recent years, and enjoyed watching the kids play and develop their skills. Stan became a board member for Region 39, and was their Web master and IT director. He received training through AYSO to coach, was the Division director for U-12 Boys for two years, and recently received his E-license through Cal South to coach.

    When he wasn’t working or involved in soccer, Stan enjoyed traveling with his family. He was known to take long road trips and loved to explore the United States. He often enjoyed going to Jackson, Wyoming during the winter.

    Stan will always be remembered for his strong work ethic and his kindness. He will be greatly missed by his many friends, co-workers, and family. Words cannot express how deeply he was loved or how much he will be missed by those who knew Stan.

    Special thanks to Dr. John Padour for his care, time, and his words of encouragement during these difficult months. Also a special thanks to the nursing staff at Community Memorial Hospital, especially Nurse Edith on the sixth floor, you were so loving and caring to our beloved Stan.

    Stan was preceded in death by his mother, Fern Butcher, and his infant son Matthew May. He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Deanna, and his son, 13-year-old Adam, whom he adored; his father, Stanley V. May Sr. and stepmother Elizabeth of Grand Junction, Colorado; and his sisters, Kathy Kunze, Pam Lepus, Caroline Butcher, Elisa Wilcken and Holly Takatsuka.

    Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 15 at Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, CA. Stan was entrusted to the care of family-owned Joseph Reardon Funeral Home, 757 E. Main St., Ventura, CA, where visitation was scheduled from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

     

    Mary Belle Smith

    December 4, 193 – April 8, 2011

    At age 79, Mary died at home in Payson, Arizona, after battling cancer. She was born and raised in Pratt, Kansas, where she enjoyed being the daughter of Otto and Leona Blankenship. Once she graduated from Pratt Senior High School, she served four years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Sergeant.

    At the end of her military career, she met her husband, Max L. Smith, of 53 years. Prior to living in Payson, Arizona, she lived in Santa Paula, California for over 25 years where she raised her children and served in her church and the community. She created and served as president of the Santa Paula Youth Employment Services, as well as being a Girl Scout leader for many years.

    Mary is survived by her four children: daughter Maryann Davis of Pocatello, Idaho, son Harry Smith of Russell, Kansas, son David Smith of Santa Paula, California, and daughter Linda Schaefer of Peoria, Arizona; along with eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; extended family member Ginger Scherer of Pratt, Kansas; and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly.

    Mary never met a stranger along her journey of life; everyone was a friend. Thank you to all those who were part of her walk on this earth and now on her sacred path to Heaven. Her Memorial Service will be held at Mountain Bible Church at 302 E. Rancho Road in Payson, Arizona, on April 30, 2011 at 11 a.m.

     

    Benjamin Chavez Martinez

    Benjamin Chavez Martinez, 86, rejoined his creator in the early hours of Wednesday, April 13, 2011 surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on August 10, 1924 in the small town of El Rancho de Guadalupe, Guanajuato, Mexico.  He loved Santa Paula dearly and was a resident for 51 years.  He enjoyed to work, talk and spend time with family.  He worked various years in agriculture field work and gardening.

    Benjamin is preceded in death by his parents Valente Chavez Centeno and Basilia Martinez Cardenas.  He is survived by his wife of 83 Antonia and 8 children: Camilo (Guadalupe) of Mexico City, Cecilia (Jose) of Mexico City, Alejandra Chavez of Santa Paula, Estevan (Lucia) of Santa Paula, Zenaida (Eleazar) of Juventino Rosas Mexico, Juan Jose (Yolanda) of Fillmore, Angelina (Juan) of Oxnard, and Demetrio of Santa Paula. He has 28 grandchildren and various great grandchildren. He also leaves behind numerous in-laws, nephews, and nieces from the Chavez, Guzman, and Canchola families.  Special thanks to Family Circle, Taurino, Fillmore Convalescent Center, and Anacleto Rangel for all their kindness and friendship during Benjamin’s life.

    A special thank you from Ms. Eva Guzman of Blanchard School to all the staff, families, and community members of Santa Paula who kept her grandfather in their prayers and thoughts during his last few weeks.

    Visitation will be on Sunday, April 17, 2011, 2 to 8pm a Rosary will be recited at 6pm at Stetler Mortuary, 128 S 8th, Santa Paula. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 18, 2011 at 9:30am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 427 N. Oak ST, Santa Paula.

    If you would like to help with services please make a donation in the name of Benjamin Chavez Martinez at the Santa Paula, Bank of America.

    Arrangements are under the direction of Funeraria del Angel Stetler Mortuary, 128 S 8th, Santa Paula, CA., 525-5595.

     

    Helen L. Hale

    I was born Helen Lena Bouley, on April 30, 1912, to Charles Moreland Bouley and Sarah Green Bouley, on a 250-acre farm near Paden, Oklahoma, a few days after the sinking of the Titanic. The ninth of ten children, I along with my siblings learned to raise all kinds of animals, as well as grow most of what we ate, on our farm. We washed outside in a big black iron pot we boiled our clothes in. Mother made her own soap out of fat and lye, used a washboard and hung clothes out on the line. I remember our kitchen always had fresh biscuits and loaves of bread that mom made every day. All the farmers for miles around would help each other out at harvest time. We all helped. The ladies cooked for all the farm help. We had a good life on the farm.

    I attended school through high school in Paden, Oklahoma. I received my Bachelors of Science degree from the State Teachers College in Ada, Oklahoma. I taught school in Paden and Seminole, OK.

    I had known Orville Leroy Hale since the 4th grade. Orville served our country in WWII in Europe from 1932 till October 1935. I married Orville Leroy Hale in 1937, but always called him Hale. Our son Tom was born in 1946.

    Orville, Tom and I moved to Santa Paula, CA in 1956, where I started my teaching career for the Santa Paula Elementary School District. I taught at McKevett School and Orville worked as an accountant for Steve Love Chrysler Plymouth dealership in Santa Paula. I always enjoyed working with kids in my years in the classroom, and after my retirement in 1977 continued to work in the district helping new teachers until I was 93.

    I am survived by Tom, his wife Dotti, as well as blessed by our grandchildren, Brooke, Brady and Bree, and nine great-grandchildren.

    I have always said that when I die I want to have lived a full life. I have devoted myself to others, especially children. The  harder I worked, the more I lived. I have always lived in the now, knowing the future cannot be controlled. I have tried to prepare both spiritually and emotionally for death, so when the time comes I could go in peace. I believe death should not be frightening, but about living. I have had a wonderful life. I want the ones I love to know that I will meet you again. I have loved all of you so much.

    Helen passed from this life peacefully, joining her beloved Orville on Tuesday, April 12. A celebration of Helen’s and Orville’s life will be held on Saturday, April 23 at the First Christian Church, located at 829 Railroad Ave. in Santa Paula, at 10 a.m., followed by interment at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery. Memorial donations in Helen’s name may be made to the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital for Children, 3160 Geneva St., Los Angeles, CA 90020.





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