Faye B. Smart, 88, formerly of Garner Valley, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 in Pasadena. She was born April 28, 1917 in Littleport, Iowa. Mrs. Smart was retired from Security Pacific bank in Hemet. From 1984 to 1987, she wrote a Garner Valley news column, “GV news notes,” for the Town Crier. The Neptune Society…

Nita Finney, former executive secretary during the early days of ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts), died Jan. 30 of a chronic heart condition, according to her son, Brian Finney. Finney was 95 and living in Gig Harbor, Wash., when she died. Mrs. Finney worked with Max Krone, ISOMATA founder, until he retired in 1967. When she…

Jesse Francis Watkins, 80 of Anza, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006 at home of natural causes. He was born July 16, 1925 in Decatur, Ill. Mr. Watkins served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. He was in the 467th Bomb Group, the 789th Bomb Squadron, serving 23…

Robert A. Palmer, 88, of Hemet, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006 at home. He was born Dec. 12, 1917 in Pasadena. Mr. Palmer served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He was a teacher and administrator at Hemet High School from 1953 to 1983. Mr. Palmer lived…

Robert Geldard Hayton, 86, of Idyllwild, died at home Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 of natural causes. He was born April 27, 1920 in Waltham, Mass. Mr. Hayton was a retired personnel officer with the Orange County health department. He also was a retired aviator major with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of…

Long-time former Idyllwild resident Margaret Adams, 84, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 of hip fracture complications. She was born Feb. 2, 1921 in Pasadena. Mrs. Adams was a life-long animal lover who was a member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Memorial services are pending. She is survived by five…

Eunice Emerson Hayton, 82, of Idyllwild, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005 at Hemet Valley Medical Center of natural causes. She was born May 25, 1924 in Worcester, Mass. Mrs. Hayton was a homemaker and belonged to the Mountain Quilters of Idyllwild, the Mile High 12 Club and also sang. A memorial service is planned for…

Marguerite Clapp, 96, of Idyllwild, died peacefully in her sleep early Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, of natural causes in Hemet. She was born Aug. 27, 1909 in Redlands. Mrs. Clapp was a longtime Idyllwild and Palm Springs resident. She was an accomplished violinist for the Redlands Bowl, as well as a soloist for a Los…

Mildred Geneva McKee, 91, of Hemet, died Friday, Nov. 25, 2005 in Hemet. She was born Aug. 13, 1914 in Illinois and lived in Davenport, Iowa until 1931 when she moved to Mentone. She graduated from Redlands High School in 1933. She married Kit McKee in 1933. They were married for 60 years before his…

Bill Riekert, 65, of Idyllwild, died of a sudden and unexpected case of meningitis Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 while vacationing in Costa Rica. Mr. Riekert was born Dec. 6, 1939, raised in New York, and worked in the textile industry which brought him to Palm Springs 20 years ago. After a short time living at…