Obituaries

Obituary: Bob Beebe

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Bob Beebe, a 30-year resident of Idyllwild, relates the news of his passing Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at his home in Hemet. Bob came to Idyllwild as a teacher in language and music at the famed Desert Sun School, but very soon became recognized as a…

Obituary: Bonnar Blong

Long-time Idyllwild resident Bonnar Blong peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, of natural causes. He was 86 years old. The son of Dr. Peter H. Blong and Eleanor Blong, Bonnar grew up in the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area. After graduating from Alhambra High, Bonnar joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country…

Obituary: Michael M. Bassman

Michael Melvyn Bassman died Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease a few days before his 88th birthday. He was born in Boston to Fannie and David Bassman. The family came to California when Michael was in his teens. He graduated from UCLA and went into the building business. Michael met his wife,…

Obituary: Reva Ballreich

On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, Reva Ballreich, widely known as “The Lilac Lady,” died peacefully in Rancho Mirage at the age of 84, three days after her birthday. A piano prodigy who gave her first concert in Germany at age 8, Ballreich enjoyed a luminous career as a concert pianist primarily in Europe. Vladimir Horowitz,…

Obituary: Jack Garner

Jack Garner, 89, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009. He was born Feb. 4, 1919 in San Bernardino to Robert F. Garner Jr. and Cosette Steiner Garner. He was the great-grandson of one of the pioneer families of San Bernardino. Jack attended city schools, then Harvard Military School (now Harvard-Westlake School) in Los Angeles. After four…

Obituary: Elizabeth A. Reece

Elizabeth A. Reece, 76, of Palm Desert, passed away Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, in Palm Desert after a long illness. She was born Nov. 4, 1932, to Anthony Seifert and Marie Smith in Wadsworth, Ohio. She worked as a drafting assistant, a waitress, a bartender, in retail sales, an insurance agent and a caterer. She…

Obituary: Norma Joan John

Norman Joan John, 77, formerly of Idyllwild, died at Magnolia Rehab in Riverside Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, where she had lived after suffering a stroke on March 4, 2004. She was born June 17, 1931, to Robert David Herman John and Rosalie Garaway John. She had been employed at Sears in El Monte, National Dragster…

Obituary: Ronald Daigh

Ronald Owen Daigh, 59, of Idyllwild, passed away peacefully at home Sunday night, Dec. 14, 2008, with his wife Sandii and her long-time friend Deborah Warren at his side. Ron was born Sept. 26, 1949, in Torrance, and was raised in Redondo Beach. During his childhood in the 1950s and 1960s, Ron enjoyed boat trips…