obituaries
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Beverly Jean Raber
Richard Walton White
03/14/23 – 06/02/15
11/11/48 – 05/28/15
Beverly Jean Raber passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on June 2, 2015. Beverly was born in San Francisco on March 14, 1923. She was a fifth generation Californian whose family settled in Northern California with some of the earliest Spanish Land Grants. It was in San Francisco that she met the love of her life, Dean, at a USO dance during World War II. Dean and Beverly were married in 1945 and spent 65 amazing years together before his passing. Beverly and her family moved from Nebraska to Santa Barbara in 1955. Her life was consumed with family as she supported her children and grandchildren’s school activities, Young Life, horses and a multitude of sporting events. She was active in Bible Study Fellowship and Assistance League. She always enjoyed Monday morning coffee and Tuesday afternoon cards with her friends. She was very proud of her 45 year association with CALM Auxiliary as one of its founding members. She is preceded in death by her husband Dean, infant daughter Barbara Ann Raber, parents John and Evelyn Lillian Ward, three sisters and one brother. She is survived by daughter Diana MacFarlane (Ralph); son Daniel Raber (Anna); grandsons Daniel McNamara (Teri); John McNamara (Brenda), Peter McNamara (Jenny), Christopher Raber (Katie), Jonathan Raber (Meredith), and Patrick Raber (Katelynn); ten great grandchildren,;several nieces and nephews, and her beloved cat “Oh-Susanna.” Beverly left this world in the same way she lived her life: surrounded by faith, family, and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her. There will be a celebration of Beverly’s life June 15, 2015, at 11:00 am at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the celebration with a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CALM Auxiliary (PO Box 30058, Santa Barbara, CA 93130-0058) or Hospice of Santa Barbara (2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, CA 93103) Arrangements by McDermottCrockett Mortuary.
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Richard Walton White was born on Armistice Day 1948 to Walton Alexander and Joan Audrey (Grover) White in Santa Barbara, California. He passed away suddenly on May 28, 2015, at his home in New Cuyama doing what he loved: working at his computer researching Mayan culture, history and lore. He is survived by his wife, Karen Hilts; daughter, Erika; son-in-law Scott and grandson Brett Peveto of Orange, Texas; step-daughter Jessy Adamson; and brother Charles White and family. He will always be remembered for having a generous nature, being a stickler for detail, swapping puns, and being anxious to try out different ideas in Agronomy and Soils Science.
A celebration of Maureen’s life will be held at Stow Grove Park (Area 1) on June 14 at 12pm. The entire family would like to extend their gratitude to her physicians that looked after our beloved: Dr.s Harris Gelberg, Jeffrey Kupperman, and Richard Danson and his staff. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara or the charity of your choice.
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Mark Torresani, longtime Santa Barbara, resident, passed away May 13, 2015, a few weeks after a diagnosis of cancer. His two sons, Tristan and Trevor Torresani, his former wife, Amanda Torresani, his sister, Karen Jackson and family, and his best friend and inseparable companion, Sunny, survive Mark. When he was a young boy, Mark moved to the Santa Barbara area with his father, Gene Torresani. Mark attended local schools, graduating from San Marcos High in 1966. During his high school years, they lived in the Santa Ynez Valley, where he landed his first real job at Rancho San Fernando Rey. Mark grew up with horses and dogs, and his love of animals led him to enroll at UC Chico with the hope of becoming a veterinarian, but that was not to be. In 1973, Mark married Amanda Davis and enrolled in SBCC’s Marine Diving Technology program. Three years later, they moved to Scotland where Mark began his diving career in the North Sea. This was a far cry from ranch life, but Mark took to it “like a duck to water” and enjoyed 10+ years as a commercial diver in job locations around the world. Mark had worked construction jobs with his contractor dad from the time he was a small boy. When it was time to leave his storied diving career, transitioning to being a carpenter and handyman came naturally. Mark with a Dodger hat on his head, behind the wheel of his truck, and with a dog always riding shotgun were a common sight around Santa Barbara for many years. Mark had a passion for playing chess, poker, pool, and softball. More recently, Mark and Sunny could be found at the Summer Solstice yard lending their multiple talents to the celebration, making many new “Solstice” friends. Please join us for Mark’s Celebration of Life at Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, June 27th at 2pm. Be sure to bring your ‘Mark stories’ to share with his family and friends. The family would like to say a special thank you to Serenity House and SBVNHC for their loving care during Mark’s short illness.
Thomas Allin, daughter Lauren Rodgers; grandson Isiah Skye Rodgers; granddaughter Olivia Suzanne Marshall; mother Becky Duff; father Paul Fritts; stepmother Martha Fritts; brothers Paul Fritts, Jr. and Jeffrey Fritts; and sister Kelly Duff. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Suzanne’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at events.lls.org/pages/calso/ InMemoryofSuzanneMcNeely. Arrangements by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary.
Margie Janssen Wells
08/09/48 - 05/13/15
05/26/37 - 05/27/15
JUNE 11, 2015
02/23/1916 – 05/22/15
Mark Raymond Torresani
Maureen E. Ewing
Maureen Ewing was surrounded by her family when she peacefully passed away rather unexpectedly on May 27, 2015. “Mo,” as she was known among her friends and family, was born to Kenneth and Elizabeth Lott on May 26, 1937, in Amsterdam, NY. She was raised in the Village of Canajoharie, NY. After high school, Maureen attended the State University of NY at Plattsburgh where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1959. Soon after, accompanied by her younger brother, she drove across country to California where she began her 37-year teaching career with the Goleta Union School District in 1961. She retired in 1998 from La Patera School where she taught for 27 years. One of many bright spots in Maureen’s life was being with family, friends, and colleagues. She loved spending afternoons at her favorite lunch spots with her dear friend of nearly 50 years, Jean Mora. Mo had a big heart and was known to befriend visitors to Santa Barbara and was delighted with the occasions of getting reacquainted with former students. Throughout her life, Maureen enjoyed gardening, cooking, traveling and attending live concerts. She was an avid sports enthusiast. In her later years, she took a greater interest in providing for the birds that made their daily visits to her beautiful home. Maureen was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth W. Lott (2011) and Elizabeth Gregg Lott (1986). Maureen is survived by her brothers Gregg Lott (Josie) of New Zealand and Kenneth “Skip” Lott (Lisa) of Clayton, CA; her daughter Lisa of Ventura, CA; sons Todd (Kris) of Ventura, CA and David (Darleen) of Camarillo, CA; nephews Colton & Dillon; grandchildren Cayden, Ashlynn, Kelly, Cameron & Kyle; and cousins residing in Washington and New York.
Ellen B. McCall
Ellen B. McCall was born in 1916 in Clay Center, Kansas, to Louise and Gottlob Bauer. One of 5 sisters and 1 brother, she moved to St. Louis during WWII and in 1947 moved to Santa Barbara to be with her sister Katharine Bauer Smith. In Santa Barbara she met and married John C. McCall, a prominent dentist. After his death in 1964, Ellen worked at Robinsons, first in the Bridal Department and then in linens. She was an active member in the Santa Barbara Women’s Club, the Santa Barbara Garden Club, the Backyard Fence Club, VFW Auxiliary, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, and the Eastern Star. She traveled extensively and saw all parts of the world. She was an avid gardener with a very green thumb. During the last four years, she resided at Casa Los Padres and in February celebrated her 99th birthday with friends and family. Her family would like to thank the staff at Casa Los Padres for the love and care they have given her over the last four years. No services are planned. If you would like to remember Ellen, please do so with a donation to your favorite charity.
Suzanne McNeely
Suzanne McNeely (born Audrey Suzanne Fritts) passed away May 16, 2015. Born in Wichita, KS, she obtained her undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University and her graduate degree from St. Louis University. Suzanne worked for 12 years at University of Chicago hospital before moving to Santa Barbara in 1988, where she founded Senior Planning Services and Coastal Home Care. Suzanne was passionate about her elder-care work and was honored with many awards, including the Spirit of Small Business Award for Best Woman-Owned Company 2009, Champion in Health Care award 2012, Community Business of the Year 2012, and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award in 2014. Having served her community on many boards over the years, she was currently on the Board of Directors for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and was a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She loved her family and friends, fine wine, oysters, music, dancing, the Oregon Country Fair, NPR, a good book, and a great happy hour. Suzanne is survived by her husband,
Margie Janssen Wells, 100, of Santa Barbara, California, formerly of Davenport, Iowa, died peacefully in her sleep on May 12, 2015, at Serenity House in Santa Barbara. Margie’s primary roles were wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, homemaker and friend. She enjoyed many lifelong hobbies from sewing, baking (won many first-place ribbons for her bread), needle pointing, woodworking, drawing, and playing scrabble to watching Judge Judy and Two and a Half Men. She had a great sense of humor and a ready laugh. She enjoyed spending time with her family and their friends who became second children to her. Her life was filled with tolerance, acceptance, gratitude, humor and mostly love. Margie is preceded in death by her husband, Justus Neff Wells, of 38 years and her son,“315” (aka William Wells), of Atlanta. Survivors include her sister, Dorothy Janssen of Davenport, her six daughters and one son: Jane Wells (Burt) Ferrini of Chicago, Suzanne Wells of Moline, Patricia Tierney of Santa Barbara, James N. Wells of Davenport, Mary Timothy (Michael) Jacobson of Carolina Shores, N.C., Nancy Wells of Santa Barbara, and Margaret Wells of San Mateo, California. She will also be remembered by her seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many friends for whom she created her loving art and needlepoint mementos. A private service and burial were held at Memorial Cemetery in Davenport. A celebration of her life will be held in Davenport at a later date. The family extends their gratitude to all the staff at Serenity House for their extraordinary care and kindness.
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