Obituaries and Wedding Bells

Will Cockrell

Cockrell, was born in the Cedarville Hospital on July 4, 1958 to William (Bill) Cockrell and

Cockrell. He passed away on April 21, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Will lived most of his life in Surprise Valley, with the exception of the years he attended college. He spent one year at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore., and one year attending Wyoming Tech, where he received his Automotive Technician Degree.

Upon his return back to Surprise Valley, after school, he met his wife of 43 years, Debra Ann Carey. They married in 1979 and began ranching in a family partnership with Will’s parents. In 1988, they branched out on their own, purchasing one of the former family ranches, the Patterson Ranch. Between the years 1983 and 1992, they had four children. Will and his wife Debra along with their Ray Hamel

Ray Warren Hamel passed away May 6, in Klamath Falls, Ore. at the age of 92. He was born June 30, 1929, in Sacramento, to parents Fred and Elsie Hamel. Ray was raised on the family cattle ranch in Davis, as a fourth generation cattleman. Shortly after graduating from Davis High School, he was drafted and served during the Korean war as a cook. He met his future wife, Ruthmarie Mulligan, square dancing at the Tremont Hall. They were married May 23, 1959, at the Tremont Church. Ray and Ruthmarie raised three children, Carrie, David and Howard. Ray farmed and ranched in the Davis area with his father and two brothers until 1977; he then moved his family to Dairy, Ore. where he farmed for the next forty plus years.

Ray was a social, active man who was deeply involved in farming and the cattlemen’s association for the majority of his life. He enjoyed farming, ranching and hunting. He four children have always aspired to be a working team. This working spirit continues on today. Will’s passion has always been the cattle business, besides ranching, he was asked by Ellington Peek one day if he could ship a load of cattle for Shasta Livestock and 26 years later he was still involved with Shasta Livestock and Western Video Market. He always felt that his customers and the buyers were some of the best people he ever met and some of his very best friends he had.

Will is survived by his mother Betty Cockrell, his wife Debra Cockrell, his four children Cassie (Cristian) Oyarzun, Ashley Cockrell, Wayne (Carli) Cockrell, and Weston Cockrell. Also, his two grandsons Kiko and Kason Oyarzun, and his three sisters JoJo ( Dan) Henningson, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Carol (Tom) Wulfekuhle, of Billings, Mont.; Jeanne (Craig) Spratling, of Deeth, Nev.., as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dog “Axe” his loyal companion, who has known for some time, that something wasn’t right with his master.

Services were held on May 3. Memorial donations can be made to the Andy Peek Livestock Scholarship, P.O. Box 887, Cottonwood, CA 96022, or the Modoc County Cattlewomen’s and Cattlemen’s Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 711, Alturas, CA 96101. Will felt strongly about supporting and trying to keep the youth coming into agriculture.

always found time to stop and visit the neighbors; and in later years, Rice’s feed store was a regular hang out to tell stories. His family and friends will always remember him as a kind and giving person.

Ray is survived by his wife, Ruthmarie; his daughter, Carrie; his two sons, David (Cindy) and Howard (Kim); eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two younger brothers, Owen and Alan.

A memorial service was held at Davenport’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd, on Friday, May 20. A graveside service will be held at the Dixon Cemetery, 800 S. First Street in Dixon on Friday, June 3 at 11 a.m.

Los Alamos cattleman William “Bill” King, 81, passed away at home on February 13. A proud sixthgeneration Californian, he was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 28,1940. Bill’s mother, Consuelo Rickard King, was a member of the de la Guerra and Oreña families, early California settlers from Spain. His father, Captain C. E. King, was a career naval officer whose various deployments moved the family around the country and abroad.

Even at a young age, Bill made lasting impressions. At 13 he was caught smoking on national TV during the first televised presidential inaugural parade for Dwight Eisenhower in 1953. Bill’s mother once received a letter from the principal at Bellermine boys’ prep school in San Jose asking politely that Bill not return as he was accused of putting dynamite caps on the railroad tracks – a charge he always denied. A gifted athlete, in high school Bill played basketball for Honolulu’s Saint Louis School Crusaders who won the Island Territory Championship before Hawaii became a state. Although the King family enjoyed living in different parts of the country, Bill’s best times were summers at his mother’s family’s Cuyama and Los Alamos ranches.

Bill attended Santa Clara University where he continued to play sports and stir up trouble with fellow classmates who also became lifelong friends. After graduating in 1962 Bill attended law school for, in his words “about 10 minutes” while running a few cattle with his brother Chuck. He had reminisced recently that when he watched his first load of cattle come down the loading chute he knew instantly he wouldn’t be a lawyer and King Bros. Cattle Company was born. The brothers leased a rugged ranch in Parkfield and realized their true passion – the cattle business. Bill and Chuck continued to run cattle for the next decade. After the partnership dissolved, Bill ran his own cattle herd and operated the receiving station in Buellton for the Templeton Livestock Market until he retired in 2014. wedding bells

Though the cattle business was tough, Bill always reminisced about the good times trading cattle on the Mexican border, last minute plane rides to cattle auctions, and all the “legends” and great people he met along the way. Bill’s other passion was singing and playing guitar. He sang the National Anthem at the Salinas and Elks Rodeos as well as at the Fiesta Rodeo in Santa Barbara and other fundraising events. Late night jam sessions with fellow musicians were always a highlight for him on Ranchero Visitadores rides and at the National Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Elko, Nev. Bill loved to perform on stage with yodeling cowboy Monte Mills who also facilitated Bill’s longtime wish to record his own CD. In 2005, Bill and his brother Chuck were chosen as Honorary Vaqueros for the Fiesta Rodeo in Santa Barbara. Bill was recognized as Livestock Producer of the Year by the Santa Barbara County Fair in 2007. In 2011, the King brothers were Honored Vaqueros at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Bill was a member of Los Rancheros Visitadores (Los Picadores Camp), the Society of Los Alamos, California Rangeland Trust, California Cattlemen’s Association, Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Santa Barbara County Range Improvement Association. For those who wish to remember Bill, donations may be made to the California Rangeland Trust or the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Bill is survived by his devoted wife Saundra; Bill’s children Jenny (husband Luke), Billy (and daughter Margeaux) and Katy (husband Randy); Saundra’s children Britt (and sons Ryan and Blake), Craig (wife Tina and children Zach, Olivia, Mariah and Justin) and Shelli (and sons Grant and Bryce); Bill’s nieces Teri (and daughters Ciera and Sammie), Tina (husband Brian and sons Bryson and Cole a/k/a Quad Tracks), and Caci (husband Shawn). Kellen Patterson Jared and Lauren Patterson, Caldwell, Idaho, welcomed their first child Kellen Val Patterson on April 27. Kellen weighed in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Val and Chris Patterson, Declo, Idaho and Brad Ramey and Angie Wiseman, both of Ridgefield, Wash. Tylie Lax Tylie Lax, second daughter of Bobby and Randie Lax, Adrian, Ore., arrived on April 29. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was welcomed by big sister Teevin. Grandparents are Dennis and Kathy Pimentel, Fruitland, Idaho; Bill Lax, Adrian, Ore.; and Mike and Jody Falleur, Gearhart, Ore. Derousse & Sparrowk Cassidy DeRouse and Jordan Sparrowk were wed in a ceremony in San Luis Obispo on April 2. The bride is the daughter of Mike and Marcia DeRousse, Escalon. The groom is the son of Jeff and Wendy

NEw Arrivals Sparrowk, Clements. The couple has made their first home in Boise, Idaho, where Jordan is employed by Snake River Farms, a subsidiary of Agribeef.