Idyllwild Town Crier

Lowell Helms, the owner with his wife, Judy, of Uniquies Melting Pot in Village Lane, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002. The Helms had moved to San Jacinto due to Mr. Helms’ health and sold the business. Prior to the move, Mr. Helms had been an active volunteer with the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce.

Lorraine Gloria Byerly, 73, of Mountain Center, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002.

O.J. Fisher Jr., 90, died of heart failure on Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, at his residence on Sunwest Drive in Hemet. Mr. Fisher was born June 14, 1911, in Greenville, Ohio. He went to Washburn University in Wichita, Kan. During World War II he moved to San Diego with his brother to work at Convair. Mr. Fisher married...

Helena S. Parker of Idyllwild, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001. She was 85. Mrs. Parker was born and raised in Prague, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Howard H. Parker, USMC (ret.). A memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at Idyllwild Community Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24 at...

Don Shinkle, 75, of Idyllwild, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001. Mr. Shinkle was born May 31, 1926. He married Jo in 1950 and the couple had five children. The Shinkles owned retail and wholesale nurseries in Hemet and the San Fernando Valley. They also owned a Sizzler restaurant. The couple moved to Idyllwild in 1975. Mr. Shinkle was a member of the Rotary...

Larry Leroy Keelin, 60, of Idyllwild, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001, at Hemet Valley Medical Center. Mr. Keelin was born July 29, 1941, in Huron, S.D. He graduated from South Dakota State University of Brookings, S.D., with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was in the heating and air conditioning business for more than 27 years. He worked six years for...

Austin Ross, 16, died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, in Pine Cove. He was born April 22, 1985 and lived in Pine Cove with his father, Larry Ross. Austin loved the outdoors and spent much of his time hiking the local mountains. He was well-trained in mountaineering and recently received his ham radio license. Austin loved all animals and wildflowers. He was...

Born Feb. 10, 1932, Peter Wilson Patton grew up in San Marino. He lived in Idyllwild for the last 13 years and died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, in his condominium in Palm Desert. Mr. Patton was a pilot in the U.S. Navy, serving as a lieutenant commander. For several years, he was a soaring instructor and tow-plane pilot with Sail Plane...

Priscilla Ann Greisen, 66, of Idyllwild, died of a stroke on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001 at Hemet Valley Medical Center. Ms. Greisen was born Aug. 23, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wis. She was a tour guide of the Iron Garden Museum in Idyllwild. The museum was a vast collection of antiques collected by her father, the late Arnold Jorgenson. She was a member...

Joseph Bernard Germain, 73, of Idyllwild, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001, at his home. Mr. Germain was born Nov. 2, 1928, in Minneapolis. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class from the U.S. Navy. Mr. Germain worked for 42 years as a bricklayer for BAC Local 4. He had been a resident of Idyllwild for 11 years and provided...