Roberta Billups died March 13, 2013, in Crescent City. She was born in Los Angeles and was a 48-year resident of Del Norte County.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services will be at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1770 Northcrest Drive, Crescent City, on Monday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Del Norte County Veteran’s Cemetery. Sign the family’s online guestbook at wiersmortuary.com. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

Kevin Eugene Page

Kevin was born July 15, 1958, in Atascadero, Calif. He grew up in Hermosa Beach, graduated from Redondo High and worked in restaurants prior to moving to Crescent City with family in April 1978. While working as a hot plant operator he met his future wife in 1979; they married in 1981, and he fathered two daughters. He later pursued a lifelong career as business owner and technician in automotive repair.

Kevin was an avid cook and enjoyed sharing his tips, tricks and more importantly, meals with loved ones. Spending time with his grandchildren, playing guitar and ballroom dancing were some of his favorite pastimes. Camping around his birthday was his preferred vacation and celebrated with family and friends who attended each year. Kevin touched many lives and to those that knew him, his door was always open.

He is survived by his wife, Christy; daughters, Erica (Micah) and Elizabeth (Brian); sisters, Diana (Bryan) Stanley, Karen (Jeff) Harner, Annette (Steve) Taylor; grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Kevin Eugene Page, 54, died March 8, 2013. He was born in Atascadero, Calif., and was a 35-year resident of Del Norte County.

Graveside services will be held at the Del Norte County Veteran’s Cemetery on Friday, March 15, at 11 a.m. Sign the family’s online guestbook at wiersmortuary.com. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

Susanne Ellen Stone-Orpin, 93, died March 8, 2013. She was born in Suisun City, Calif., and was a 10-year resident of Del Norte County.

Private services will be held. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

James Alexander Johnson was born in Hubbard, Ore., to Alexander and Gladys Johnson. He attended Albany High School and graduated from Prairie Bible College, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, in 1963. He married his high school sweetheart Johann Beth (Wilkinson) Johnson on October 18, 1963. They farmed and ministered in the Willamette and Umpqua valleys for several years. Jim and Johann moved to Dora, Ore., in 1966 to work for Ted Kirsch at Sun Valley Bulb Farm. Few people are fortunate enough to work at a job they are passionate about, but Jim was truly passionate about farming. He worked for the farm in Dora until it was transferred to Arcata, Calif., and became Sun Valley Floral Farms in 1989. He lived in Arcata but always considered Dora his home. He returned faithfully on weekends to tend to his little piece of paradise on the East Fork of the Coquille River. Jim tended flowers, grew wholesome vegetables and nourished souls along the way. In 1995, Sun Valley purchased a farm in Crescent City and Jim became the manager of that location. He enjoyed being closer to his home and continued to return there frequently. Jim grew crops with seemingly great ease and became a strong leader to his crews. He retired from there in 2008 and returned to his beloved farm. 

Jim was never one to be idle. A pleasant Sunday afternoon to him was weeding, planting or harvesting. He grew flowers that were bigger and more beautiful than most. His grandkids were often in awe of the size of his lilies. He enjoyed helping the grandkids choose a pumpkin and carve their names into it early on for harvesting later! Trips to the river were frequent and cherished. Fishing was the perfect time for reflection. Jim served faithfully for many years at Emmanuel Baptist Church as an elder and a deacon. He loved the Lord with all his heart and strove to serve him in all areas of his life. While his children were students at Myrtle Point Schools, Jim served on the school board and helped form a strong financial base for years to come. 

After a long illness, Marjie Frederickson severed her earthly ties in the early morning of February 23, 2013, in Crescent City. Although Marjie will be missed by many, her passing was very peaceful, and family and friends are at ease knowing she is no longer in pain.

Marjie was born in Ione, Wash., to Earl and Laura Clark. She spent her childhood and much of her early adult years in Washington. She eventually moved to California, where she began her career with the United States Forest Service in Orleans. After several years in California, Marjie moved back to Washington where she ultimately retired from the Forest Service in Packwood. After her husband passed away she left Washington and moved to Grass Valley, Calif., in order to take care of her mother.   

Marjie was happiest when she was in the warmth of the sun, and she had a great love for the Arizona desert, where she spent many winters. She also had a huge passion for gardening. Her lovely gardens were overflowing with flowers, fountains and pathways. At heart, Marjie was an artist. She drew comfort and peace in painting beautiful pictures, crafting and sewing.  Marjie’s home was filled with many of her creations, and while visiting she always insisted family and friends take something home with them. Other favorite pastimes and interests include reading, camping, family reunions and traveling the United States with her husband on their motorcycles.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Laura Clark; husband, Paul Frederickson; sister Pat Carruthers, and grandson Anthony Horton. 

Kevin Leonard Nielsen

Kevin was born on March 6, 1956, in Crescent City to Leonard and Beverly Nielsen, second of four children, and grew up in Crescent City.

Kevin attended local grade schools and graduated from Del Norte High School in 1974. Shortly after he moved to Dayton, Nev., and worked for Snap-on Tools as an Information Technology Manager for approximately 20 years. Kevin married Lynda and had two beautiful children, Matthew and Ashley, and in 2012 moved back to Crescent City to be closer to family.

Kevin leaves his son, Matthew Nielsen and fiancé Amanda Hixon, life partner Lynda Riley and longtime friend and nurse Nicole DeWet, all of Dayton Nev.; daughter Ashley Davis and husband Brian Davis; granddaughter Tyler Davis; grandson Ean Davis; sisters Karen McMillan, Kimberlee Swift and husband Rawland Swift; brother Kris Nielsen; niece Tessa Newman, all of Crescent City; nephew Shad Scalvini and fiancé Mindy Miller of Willits, Calif.; niece Jessica Lindberg of Rohnert Park, Calif.; nephew Kris Nielsen Jr. of Crescent City and numerous other relatives.

Jack Lavaughn Markel was born in Mitchell, Neb., to Wayne Hobbs Markel and Thelma Mae Kelley Markel on August 23, 1931. The family moved to Wolf Creek, Ore., where he graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1950. He served in the United States Air Force, S.A.C., in England. He earned a Good Conduct Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. 

Jack married Mary Louise Peabody in 1956, and they moved to Crescent City soon after. Jack worked in the truck shop for Simpson Timber Company in Klamath for 20 years, making a home for his family in Klamath and later in Crescent City. He began in the parts department and worked up to be the shop foreman before he retired. He was proud to be a
P.E.R. of the Elks Lodge #1689 here in Crescent City. Jack worked for a short time as a security guard in the early 1990s. During his life, Jack enjoyed hunting, bowling and golf. He commercially fished with his small boat, the Mar-Lu, for several years.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and soul mate, Mary L. Markel, his brother Donald E. Markel, and his sister, Bonita Moore. 

Judy Ann Shellabarger

Born on January 11, 1950, in Hamburg, Ark., to Clyde and Earlene Carpenter, she graduated from Del Norte  High in 1968. One of her favorite stories to tell of high school was when she performed as a Redwood Rocket at halftime of a San Francisco 49ers game. 

On May 2, 1970, she married Ron Shellabarger. Soon after they started their family, which included her son Rodney and daughters Julie and Jenni. She was a devoted wife and mother.

Judy worked for the Del Norte Unified School District for nearly 20 years. Some of you may remember her as the pretty, smell-good teacher’s aide at Joe Hamilton. She had an uncanny ability of knowing when a child is in need. 

Judy’s pride and joy came from being “Nana” to her eight amazing, beautiful grandchildren. No prouder “Nana” has ever walked the planet. As “Nana,” she spent timeless hours helping with homework, making grilled cheese sandwiches, blueberry pancakes and watching Sponge Bob. She showed her grandchildren that spending time together as a family is priceless. She was never too busy to color with her grandkids or go on a walk to look for little treasures to keep and store forever.

Judy instilled morals, integrity and great values in her children and grandchildren that will carry on her legacy with pride. 

Judy had a natural ability of making a house a home; always filled with warmth, love and the smell of fresh coffee. Judy had a philosophy about cooking, “if you cook it ... put bacon in it.”

Teddi Ann Raffail (Perry)

She grew up in Pomona with her two sisters, Beth and Chrissie, and graduated from Pomona Senior High School in 1973.

In 1983, Teddi was married on the beautiful island of Kauai. Two years later she gave birth to her daughter Dani Leilani Raffail in Bakersfield, Calif.

After some time in Los Angeles, Teddi moved to Las Vegas, and enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to pursue her education and to be closer to Dani. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Teddi continued her education and graduated with a Master’s in Social Work in 2001. She was actively involved in campus activities, having held a position as a school senator and being on homecoming court.

When her daughter moved away for college, Teddi moved back to Southern California and worked at Victor Valley Community Hospital as a Medical Social Worker. In 2008, Teddi moved to  Gasquet, to work for Remi Vista as a Mental Health Therapist, where she loved and cared for the children she worked with.

Teddi had a special spark and appreciation for the little things in life. With her beautiful spirit, infectious laugh, and big smile, she was the first to be noticed in any room. Anyone that had the chance to meet and know Teddi would say she had the ability to make you feel like family. She cherished the time with her friends, family and coworkers.