Tracy Claus died Sunday evening, Feb. 22, 2004, at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. He was surrounded by his wife of 25 years, Jane, his son, Stephen, his future daughter-in-law, Melinda, and a loving family. His passing was peaceful after a painful fight with lung cancer. Most of his family was able to spend time…
Michael B. Scheffer, 67, of Norco, died at his home Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. Mr. Scheffer was born June 11, 1936, in Hollywood and lived his entire life in Southern California. He attended elementary and high school in Idyllwild. He was an avid pilot from a young age and enjoyed flying until recent years. Mr….
Ralph “Jim”E. Todd, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, in Riverside. Mr. Todd graduated in 1930 from Elwood High School in Elwood, Kans. Mr. Todd lived in Riverside County for 47 years. For 35 years, he was a carpenter in Idyllwild. He also built several homes for himself. Services were held Monday, Jan. 12 at…
David “Dave” E. Burgess, 69, of Idyllwild, died from complications of leukemia on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 at Hemet Valley Medical Center. Mr. Burgess was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minn. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Texas and had been an engineer for 45 years, retiring in 2003 from Remtec Systems in Gardenia….
A.D. “Slim” Moneysmith, 80, of Idyllwid, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004. He was born in 1924 in Knoxville, Iowa. Mr. Moneysmith had been an electrician and was a 15-year resident of Idyllwild. He belonged to the Idyllwild Lions Club, the American Legion Post 800 Honor Guard, the San Diego Asebring Drivers (founding members), the Sports…
Stephen “Steve” Don Ambrose, 39, of Hemet died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 at the University of California Irvine Hospital from complications after surgery. He was born Sept. 4, 1964, in Banning. Mr. Ambrose was the activity coordinator for recreation and sports at Morning Sky School in Mountain Center. He was a behavior intervention counselor, dorm…
Leland M. Swanson, 82, of Hemet, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, in Hemet. He was born the fourth of seven children to Rueben and Bernice Swanson on April 12, 1921, in Walla Walla, Wash. He graduated from WaHi in 1939. Mr. Swanson worked for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin as a paper carrier in his…
Francine Ann Billman, 61, of Idyllwild, died of breast cancer Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003 at home. She was born Feb. 9, 1942, in Bell, Calif. She graduated from Glendale High School and California Western College. She previously lived in El Cajon and Glendale. Mrs. Billman was director of residential services at Morning Sky School from…
Gerald LaMotte Burke, 85, of Idyllwild, died of a heart attack Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003 at Desert Regional Medical Center. He was born Feb. 5, 1918, in Trenton, Mo. Mr. Burke was a retired machinist with 17 years employment at Consolidated Products Inc. of Idyllwild. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II…
Darleen Ann Taylor, 47, of Pahrump, Nev., died from pneumonia at her home on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003. She was born Aug., 20, 1956, in Mojave, Calif. Ms. Taylor had lived in Idyllwild for 18 years and had been a member of the Idyllwild Lioness Club. She had worked in the garden center at Wal-Mart…
