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obituarieS

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions.

Lawrence Anthony “Pete” Ward

Sept. 5, 1944 – July 8, 2022

Lawrence Anthony “Pete” Ward was the kind of American man usually reserved for fiction: The rural Montana boy who saved up his farmhand cash to buy an Austin-Healey and move to California. The kind of boyfriend who proposes after knowing you for a month and then remains wildly in love with you until his dying breath, 53 years of marriage later. The kind of dad who gives you a 30-pound stone carved with the words “Follow Your Dreams,” so you’ll never be without his support. He once moved a boulder out of the road so that other motorists wouldn’t face the danger he just evaded. He did this single handedly. At age 70. While on chemo.

When diagnosed with the rare blood cancer multiple myeloma and given two years to live, he wished for another decade. He slipped away quietly in his sleep on July 8, 2022, at age 77 — nine and half years after that diagnosis.

Six-foot-three with kind charisma, Larry was a radio broadcaster, an Air Force veteran, a devoted husband, a (very) patient father to three daughters and a grandpa who made legendary corn patty pancakes. Born Sept. 5, 1944 in Chester, Mont., the eighth of 11 children to Teresa and Walter Ward, Larry had eight sisters and was the youngest of three brothers.

Even among a big brood, he leaves a massive void.

Called “Pete” by family — a nickname that confused strangers for decades — Larry graduated from Chester High School in 1962 where he was voted Best Dancer and then served four proud years in the U.S. Air Force manning an MC88, the typewriter for logging Morse Code. As a lifelong wordsmith and an innovation enthusiast, he helped connect his sprawling family in the early 1980s with a magic once dubbed “electronic mail.” To his final days, he signed his texts “MC88.”

With style and a sense of adventure, the farm boy headed for the big city in the late 1960s. He attended San Francisco City College and worked at Macy’s — where he met his “Italian Beauty” and lifelong love, Nancy Angela Salvemini. They wed on Aug. 31, 1969 at Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach and remained inseparable for more than half a century.

The young couple raised their three daughters Celeste, Janelle, and Alison, all while Larry operated his own photofinishing business, Kamerama and studied at the University of San Francisco where he graduated with a degree in communications.

That degree, a talent for storytelling, and a commitment to truth steered Larry to broadcast journalism. He worked on-air at KTHO and later became the news director at Sacramento’s AM station, KGNR. Every morning over breakfast, his wife and daughters tuned the radio to hear his warm voice report the news.

A love for family memories returned Larry to photofinishing. He established Fuji Film’s processing operations in the Bay Area, then took a similar role with Kodak before opening his own Ward Enterprises and Minuteman Photo Van, an onsite postcard business headquartered at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge — a monument he loved so much that he once built a bespoke scale version of it as a balcony for the family home.

A natural problem-solver, Larry often acted as a bridge himself, facilitating journeys, leading others to safety and providing safe haven above high tides.

In fact one could map the geography of his life around significant bridges: The Golden Gate at sunset. Pont Neuf in Paris, where he and his beloved Nancy made fond memories. The “over the river and through the woods” bridge at Randall Tract in the Sierra Nevada where they spent their later years photographing critters, gazing at shooting stars and watching what the river brought by, until his illness nudged them to the foothills of Placerville.

The final span of Larry’s life was spent spotting turkeys and deer crossing through the oak brush, celebrating the Warriors winning the NBA Finals, laughing with family and eating tiny ice cream cones alongside people who treasured him.

He is survived by wife Nancy; daughters Celeste Altus (Lee), Janelle York (Steve) and Alison Ward (Jarrett) and grandchildren Josiah York, Olivia York, Sofia Altus and James Altus.

He has five living siblings: Dorothy Rennick of Missoula; John of Choteau, Margo Hendrix (Ron) of Seeley Lake; Caroline Forseth (Orville) of Fairfield; Rita, of Polson and Kathy Hammer (Robert) of Seattle.

He is preceded in death by siblings Sally Evans (Joe) of Browning; Norky Smith (Scott) of Peru, New York; Joe (Suzanne) of Louisville, Ken.; Karen Forseth (Steve) of Fairfield; and his parents Walter and Teresa Ward of Choteau.

Services were private and he was laid to rest with military honors at Sacramento Valley Cemetery July 21. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local wildlife rescue or the International Myeloma Foundation at Myeloma.org. We wish him safe passage through the golden gates and into the grand ol’ everything. We’ll miss you, MC88. As you used to say: write if you get work.

Donna Snyder

June 25, 1942 – July 14, 2022

Donna was born in Lexington, Neb., to parents Roy Gerald Chadwick and Nettie Helen Ross. Donna grew up with her three brothers and is survived by two of them as well as her three children, 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Donna retired from Tierra Del Oro Girl Scout council. During retirement she was instrumental in starting a museum and a Victorian Tea for Girl Scouts locally. Donna was an active Girl Scout for over 50 years.

Donna enjoyed the outdoors, sewing, knitting, cooking, silk screening, architecture design, rail car riding, researching her family history and operating an automotive shop with her husband Bob. She and Bob helped others enjoy the outdoors through their volunteering over many years through Scouting and railcars. Donna was one of the first women to own a railcar with the Motorcar Operators West Club. During her lifetime Donna took many trips across the country by car and rails to some amazing places including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Canada, Alaska and Europe.

Please come and celebrate her life with us on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Diamond Springs/El Dorado Firefighters Association Memory Hall at 3734 China Garden Road in Diamond Springs, Calif., from 2-4 p.m. We will be sharing memories of her and will be serving her favorite dessert of ice cream.

Kenneth James Maslen

april 18, 1928 – July 7, 2022 Kenneth Maslen, 94, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 7, at his home in Camino, with his family at his side.

Ken was born April 18, 1928, in San Rafael, Calif., to Kenneth and Emma (Ann) Maslen. After graduating high school in 1946, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Korean War on the naval destroyer the USS Leonard F. Mason DD852.

In 1952, Ken was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, and went on to meet his future wife, Alice Larson. On June 14, 1958, the two were married in Redwood City, Calif. In the years to come, Ken and Alice would welcome two boys; Tyson in November of 1959 and Timothy in December of 1962.

Ken worked as an appliance technician for Sears for 27 years and retired in 1990. He loved spending his free time outdoors, whether that was skiing, golfing, fishing, or hiking. He was always up for an adventure and a good laugh.

Ken is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alice, son Tim (Teresa), four grandchildren, six greatgranddaughters, and his sister Betty and her family.

He was preceded in death by his son Tyson.

A memorial service will be held in September at Gold Hill Winery, date pending.

WEATHER

Georgetown 95/74 95/74

Coloma Coloma 100/70

El Dorado Hills Placerville 97/73 97/73

Cameron Park 97/64

Cameron Diamond Diamond Springs 98/72 Camino 95/75 95/75 Pollock Pines 94/72 94/72

Somerset Somerset 95/72 95/72

Fair Play Fair Play 95/72 95/72 South Lake Tahoe 78/37 88/52

Map shows today’s Highs and overnight Lows PLACERVILLE 5-DAY FORECAST

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday HIGH: 97° LOW: 73° HIGH: 95° LOW: 74° HIGH: 92° LOW: 75° HIGH: 91° LOW: 71° HIGH: 88° LOW: 69°

A mainly sunny sky. High 97F. Winds light and variable. Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High around 95F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Partly cloudy. High 92F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 91F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Mostly sunny skies. High 88F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Charlene Prentiss

april 18, 1947 – June 8, 2022

Charlene Nancy Prentiss passed away peacefully on June 8 at her home in Placerville, Calif. She was preceded in death by her father John Hope and her mother Charlotte Hope. She is survived by her husband James Douglas Prentiss with whom she was married for 53 years; her sons Todd Prentiss (Maria) and James Kevin Prentiss (Christina) and daughter Kimberly Rose (Timothy).

She is also survived by her brother; Robert Hope (Joy) who resides in Garden Grove, Calif.

Charlene has 16 grandchildren along with 11 great-grandchildren.

Charlene was born on April 18, 1947, and raised in Los Angeles, Calif. She attended George Washington High School. In 1969 she married James Douglas Prentiss and in 1973 they purchased a home in Garden Grove, Calif., where they raised their family. Charlene worked for Wells Fargo Bank in Garden Grove for 27 years. She retired and moved to Placerville in 2008 where she lived until her death.

Charlene was a devoted wife, daughter, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend and colleague. Charlene had a deep love for her husband who she had known since she was 12 years old. Throughout the course of her marriage, she and Doug took many opportunities to travel together and take vacations to spend time with family. Charlene was a wonderful mother with whom she had a close and loving relationship with all three of her children. She was selfless with her interactions with her children and was always willing to make sacrifices for their well-being. Charlene’s daughter, Kimberly describes her as the perfect role model and best friend.

Charlene will be missed deeply by all those who loved her. She will be remembered and forever in our hearts.

Celebration of life will take place at her home with her family on Aug. 19, where her family can remember all the love she has given. We know she is no longer in pain and is in peace with our Lord, Heavenly Father.

James Edwin Smith

Feb. 27, 1943 – July 17, 2022

James Edwin Smith passed away July 17 after contracting liver cancer. He was born to Eleonore Louise Dugan and Edwin Merle Smith Feb. 27, 1943 in Orange City, Calif., when his father was stationed there in the Air Force.

He was a paper boy and then started sweeping the meat department at Van’s Market at 15 years old. He lived in Sacramento and El Dorado counties for most of his life. He loved the grocery business for 60 years.

Pitching softballs was his hobby and sports in general. He umpired baseball and basketball. He was concerned about people and their life struggles.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Rebecca; his children Pamela Bennett (Tom), Julie Mercado (Randal), James Jr. (Denise) and Shawn who passed in 2004.

He is a loving grandpa to Melissa, Andrew, Kristin, Randy, Rueben, Rylee, Raygan, Whitney and Ashley. He is the great-grandfather of 12. He was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS when he was 19 years old.

His memorial service is July 30 at 1 p.m. at 3431 Hacienda Road in Cameron Park, Calif.

Death Notice James (Jim) Flint

Sept. 18, 1950 – May 5, 2022

Jim died suddenly of a heart attack in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was an El Dorado High School alumni from the class of 1968.