Emily Christina Neish, 104, died Feb. 2, 2013, in Crescent City. She was born June 2, 1908, in Portland, Ore., and was a Del Norte County resident for 55 years.

Celebration of Life services will be held at the United Methodist Church on Saturday at 1 p.m. Sign the family’s online guestbook at wiersmor
tuary.com. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

Nickolas James Gillespie of Jackson, Wyo., was lost to the mountains while skiing powder on the southeast face of Survey Peak on January 27, 2013.

Nick was born on December 13, 1982, in Eugene, Ore., where he graduated from Willamette High School in 2001. He attended college at University of Oregon, completing his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in 2007. Nick worked on fire crews for six years with Oregon Department of Forestry, Willamette National Forest, and Lassen National Park. He served two of those years on Alpine Hotshots in Rocky Mountain National Park.

He moved to Jackson in 2007 and was employed by Grand Teton National Park as a “trail dawg.” Within a couple years he became a trail crew leader. For two winters Nick volunteered in Parque Nacional Los Glacieres, Argentina, instructing locals on trail construction techniques. There he was able to explore Patagonia and hone his mountaineering skills. He also adventured around Ecuador, Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. Nick moved to Jackson permanently three years ago. He was promoted to assistant trail crew supervisor this fall and was due to begin in mid-February.

Nick’s love for the Greater Yellowstone area propelled him to explore the highest places. From the North Ridge of the Grand Teton to Warbonnet Peak. Nick climbed his heart out, picked endless huckleberry patches, and fished the rivers. He excelled at most things one could think of, including, but not limited to, stone masonry, surfing, cribbage, golf, frisknock, juggling, unicycling, skiing, ping-pong, morel hunting, disc golf, beer tasting, piano, banjo and guitar. Nick saw beauty and had an artistic approach to all things. Developing deep friendships and making life fun will be his enduring legacy. He will be deeply missed by all of his family and friends, near and far.

Nick is survived by his mother Alison, his father Jim, his sister Heidi, his girlfriend Elizabeth, his extended families and innumerable friends. 

A celebration of life will be held at Dornan’s in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Saturday at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made to the Jenny Lake Rangers Fund and Teton County Search and Rescue.

When the Gillespies return home to Eugene, a celebration of life will be planned for all who wish to attend.

— Submitted by Family

Daniel Christopher Lopez

Daniel is survived by his beloved wife Vera Lopez; daughter Karen and son-in-law Chuck Seward; sister-in-law Marian Lopez; nephews and nieces Laird and Wanda Lopez, Deanna and Rich Kahoalii, Kerri and Ken Lopez Johnston, Laurie and Dirk O’Reilley, Lance Lopez and Lindsey Reichlin and numerous other relatives.

Daniel was preceded in death by his siblings Paul Lopez, Chet Lopez, Richard Lopez and sons Philip and Carl.

Lois Marguerite Kindleberger, 77, died Oct. 30, 2012, in Medford, Ore. She was born Feb. 25, 1935, in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Services will be held Saturday at 5 p.m., with a reception to follow, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Crescent City. For more information, call 464-4322.

Vernon T.  Tom  Helms, 75, died Jan. 26, 2013, in Gasquet. He was born July 18, 1937, in Medford, Ore., and was a 65-year resident of Del Norte County.

Celebration of life services will be held at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel on Saturday at 11 a.m. Sign the family’s online guestbook at wiersmortuary.com. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

Daniel Christopher Lopez, 95, died Jan. 25, 2013, in Crescent City. He was born Jan. 3, 1918, in San Juan Capistrano, and was a 33-year resident of Del Norte County.

Visitation will be held at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funeral Services will be at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel on Friday at 2 p.m., with interment at Smith River District Cemetery. Sign the family’s online guestbook at wiersmortuary.com. Arrangements by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel.

On January 23, 2013, Bob passed away from complications due to a bilateral lung transplant. He was surrounded by his wife Debbie and loving family.

Robert (Bobby, Bob, Robin) Rice was born in Crescent City at Seaside hospital on September 24, 1958, to parents Robert and Patricia Rice. He lived in Del Norte County as a child then moved around to several cities in Northern California before eventually returning to the place he knew and loved. As a resident of Del Norte County, Bob found his first job as a stock boy at Daly’s department store, where he would meet the love of his life, Debbie Borges. For Bob, it was love at first sight. A few years later they were married on March 25, 1978, in Gasquet, at the Gasquet Bible Church Bob attended as a child. They soon welcomed their first child Cristopher Robert and two years later their second son,  Adam John (after Debbie’s father, John Borges). Bob was a proud father who often wore screen-printed t-shirts with his children’s pictures on them. He began a career at Miller Rellim that would last almost 10 years. During this time he also volunteered at the Crescent City Volunteer Fire Department. Bob cherished the relationships and brotherhood he established as a firefighter including softball games, Fourth of July games, barbecues, and house boating trips.

Bob then made a career move to the Department of Corrections in 1987 that would forever shape his life. He moved his family to Sonora, Calif., to work at Sierra Conservation Center for two years waiting for the completion of Pelican Bay State Prison. He then returned to Crescent City to be a part of the original guard at Pelican Bay. He served as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant during his tenure at Pelican Bay. 

During that time he found a calling as a union representative for the local chapter of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) for most of his career. He loved his work as a union representative and through that was involved in the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF). He was the acting president of the Pelican Bay State Prison Athletic Association (PBSP-AA) and thoroughly enjoyed running the annual golf tournament. The relationships he formed from those organizations and  the Bay  would remain throughout his entire life. He was passionate about his job and had a strong voice for things that he stood for.

Jack M. Tillson, also known as Josh M. Leavitt, a long-time resident of Klamath, passed away peacefully in Crescent City on January 15, 2013. He was born April 28, 1929.

Jack was born a logger, one of the very finest on the Northern West Coast. He was a dear friend to everyone he met and loved to tell stories of his logging days. Jack also loved to share his fishing, hunting and camping stories. 

All of his memories were shared as if they only happened yesterday. He had a phenomenal photographic memory. He had a great love for his baby dogs and the hummingbirds that would feed from his feeders on spring days. 

Jack would spend his afternoons hanging with his friends at Crivelli’s and the Country Club. Jack had a great zest for life and celebrated his life to the very fullest.

Steven Pedro Hernandez

He loved his family dearly and would do anything for them. He lived for his Anaheim Angels, and he enjoyed rocking out to his music. He would not want anyone to mourn over him but to celebrate the time you had with him, the times he made you smile and the silly things he would do to make a better day.

Daniel T. Davenport

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dana (succumbed to leukemia in 1997), his father, Dean (2001); and his mother, Frances (2011). 

Dan is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bryon Evans of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandsons, Ethan (12) and Sean Evans (6); sisters Deanna (Vern) Bianchi of Anderson and Jean (Darrell) Schock, of Auburn, Calif.;  brother, Ronald (Wanda) Davenport of Battle Ground, Wash.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Dan grew up in Weaverville, where he attended school through his junior year of high school. He stayed with close family friends in Alaska his senior year and graduated from Wasilla High School. While in Alaska he worked on the docks and fishing boats and realized his love for the ocean.

After graduating in 1968 Dan returned to Weaverville and began working for the U.S.  Forest Service at the Big Bar Ranger District. In 1973 he married Debbie Sankey. They had two girls, Dana Marie (1975) and Donna May (1978).