Category: memoriam

In Memoriam

Michael Lewis (1955-2022)

It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Michael Alan Lewis of Overland Park, Kansas, born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who passed away at the age of 66, on August 16, 2022. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Michael Alan Lewis to show support.

He was loved and cherished by many people including : his parents, Bobby Lewis and Shirley Lewis; his wife Joan Gullett; his children, Jenny, Christa, Caleb and Gabe; and his grandchildren, Silas Lohr, Gai Pizzutelli, Ajay Lohr, Izzy Pizzutelli, Norah Lohr and Gailee Pizzutelli. He was also cherished by grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

We are remembering Mike with a donation to Sheltering Wings. If you would like to donate, you can do so http://www.sheltering-wings.org.

Memorial/Tribute Site

Donna Whitehurst (1941-2014)

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Mar 21, 1941 – Mar 25, 2014

Donna Sue Whitehurst, 73, of Napa passed away March 25, 2014, after a year long illness.

She was born in Merced, Calif., on March 21, 1941, to Coy and Eula Pomeroy. Donna was married April 12, 1959, to Herbert L. Whitehurst, who predeceased her in death in 1983.

Donna loved to hunt and fish. She was the life of the room, and never met a stranger. Everywhere she went, people were laughing or singing before she left. She was proud to say she graduated with the first class of Vintage High School 1973.

She is survived by her longtime companion, Theron C. Irving of El Sobrante, Calif.; two daughters, Karen Gillespie (Mark) of Port Orchard, Wash., and Kelly Plett (Kevin) of Napa; as well as her grandchildren, Sarah (Provo, Utah), Devon (Arizona), David, Neenah and Damon Gillespie (Port Orchard, Wash.).

Herbert Whitehurst (1935-1983)

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May 26, 1935 – May 2, 1983

Former Napa Resident Herbert ‘Lucky’ Whitehurst died Monday at Queen of the Valley Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was 47.

Mr. Whitehurst was a native of Heber Springs, Arkansas and lived in Napa from 1969 to 1982, when he moved with his family to Kelseyville. Prior to coming to Napa, he lived in San Pablo, California. He was a retired lieutenant for the San Pablo Police Department and had been a police officer there for 22 years. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict, serving with the United States Navy. He was a member of Napa Moose Lodge, California High School Rodeo Association and the California Police Officer’s Association.

According to the graduation roster published in the Napa Valley Register on June 15, 1973, Herbert and his wife Donna returned to school later in life and both graduated from Vintage High School in 1973.

Mr. Whitehurst is survived by his wife, Donna of Kelseyville; two daughters, Karen Gillespie of Napa and Kelley Whitehurst of Kelseyville; his father, Herbert Whitehurst of Meadview, Arizona; one sister, Linda Markham of Angeles Camp; and two brotherse, Neale and Terry Whitehurst both of Napa; numerous nieces and nephews.

His funeral was held May 5, 1983 at the Chapel of the Mission Bells in San Pablo, with the Reverend Palmer Watson from MacArthur Baptist Church and Police Chaplain the Reverend Robert Welch officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Wilson and Kratzer Mortuary.

Find a Grave Memorial

Douglas Voyles (1955-2021)

Nov 12, 1955 – Mar 15, 2021

Douglas Allen Voyles, 65, of Pendleton died Monday, March 15, 2021 at his home. He was born November 12, 1955 in Napa, California to Allen and Mildred (Baxter) Voyles. Douglas grew up in Napa, California and the surrounding area. Douglas attended Napa Community College. He moved here to Pendleton in 1979. Douglas was a Respiratory Therapist at St. Anthony’s Hospital from 1980 until 1996 and then worked at Good Shepard Hospital from 2002 to 2020. Douglas enjoyed road trips, and driving fast cars. He was a member of Alcohol Anonymous and was proud of his 42 years of sobriety. Douglas is survived by his son Matthew Voyles and one sister. He is preceded in death by his parents Allen and Mildred Voyles and one sister.

Tribute Wall

Find a Grave Memorial

Gary Proctor (1954-2020)

Jun 7, 1954 – Dec 5, 2020

It is with great sadness that the family of Gary Proctor announces his passing on December 5th 2020. He was born in Napa on June 7th 1954. He lived in Napa most of his life, until recently moving to Clearlake to be near his daughters and grandsons. Gary loved socializing anywhere, whether it be at the Fair, Walmart or the Casino. He had a big heart and was a generous man, always helping anyone in need.

Gary is survived by his daughters Stacy Hallsted and Lacey Blesio, his son Ricky Proctor, his son in law Chris Hallsted, his grandsons Ryan Hallsted and Aj Blesio.

Robert Helsel (1955-1972)

Mar 3, 1955 – Nov 1, 1972

The Rosary will be recited November 3 in the chapel of Napa Valley Memorial Gardens Mortuary for Robert Alfred Helsel, Jr. 17, who died as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident Wednesday morning.

A native of Spokane, Washington, Mr. Helsel had lived in Napa for the past nine years. He was a part-time student at Napa High School and worked as a service station attendant.

Mr. Helsel is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Helsel; a sister, Dana; two brothers, Tony and Walter; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weber, and his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Helsel, all of Napa.

Robert was interred at Napa Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Find a Grave Memorial

Charles Miller (1955-1973)

July 3, 1955 – Feb 8, 1973

Funerals services were held at Napa Valley Memorial Gardens for Charles Guy Miller, who died Thursday in Kaiser Hospital, Oakland, after a long illness. He was 17.

Charles was born in Michigan July 3, 1955. His family came to Napa five years ago and he had been a member of the Napa High School varsity basketball team.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Miller of Napa; three brothers, Richard of Oxford, Michigan, and Roger and John, both of Napa; two sisters, Rebecca of Napa and Mrs. Nancy Moshier of Oxford; his grandmother, Mrs. Della Miller of Capac, Michigan; two nephews, five nieces and several aunts and uncles.

Find a Grave Memorial

John Beall (1955-2017)

July 28, 1955 – August 17, 2017


John Beall was born on July 28th 1955, the third in a line of four boys and by far the orneriest of all. He hailed from Napa California, the son of Tyson and Faye Beall. They brought him up as a renaissance man. He could make homemade ice cream, wood fire pizza and of course buttermilk biscuits were his crowning glory. He knew how to fix a car, fix a light, fix a wooden game and just about anything else that might need fixing. He could talk politics, history, current events or really anything with the best of them and out talk just about all of them. He bested a teenage boy on a video game, setting a seemingly insurmountable challenge for his grandson Cino in his final hours. Not only did he survive in a pack of women, he reveled in the achievements of his girls and his love for Jenny, Jessica, Savannah, Charlotte and at the top of the pyramid, his beloved Carol.

At 6’5” John could have been an intimidating man yet he chose to turn that prowess into protectiveness. He encouraged his girls to always do and be better, even when they thought they couldn’t. He treated them as precious, being the most important things in his life, all the while encouraging their indelible spirit; engendering a feeling of possibility. Keep your word and don’t lie, the rest will all come.

John spent his working life helping people. He started as an ambulance driver and paramedic. Then following in his father’s footsteps, he became a telephone man on the special services team. He finished his career at Central Washington Hospital as communications manager keeping the lines open in order to better save lives. H

is crowning achievement occurred just after high school. With the assistance of their dear friend Rhonda Brown, he captured the heart of Carol Polzin. Like a knight in shining armor he then braved many tasks that came with his new found love; repeatedly tying the shoes of the disapproving little sister, maintaining constant good-naturedness in face of the not so certain parents of the teenage girl and wooing said girl to elope with him. Theirs was indeed an epic love spanning coasts, states and four decades. Their love and commitment is a shining example of what a true love story can be.

An avid family man whose memory is wrapped in a shroud of warmth and togetherness. As we continue our adventures, he will be with us on the still glass water of the Columbia where he used to cut arcs of rooster tales on one slalom ski, on the slopes of Mission Ridge, in the kitchen of Sun River refereeing a water fight, rocking out at the Gorge, supporting the Mariners at Safeco Field and BBQing on the deck overlooking his beloved apple orchard. He was larger than life and the relationships that he forged with people will transcend time and space.

When you sit down to remember him and his stories crack a Miller High Life, throw on a Far Side T shirt and crank up the Doobie Brothers. Memorial Donations are suggested to Central Washington Hospice, Red Cross – Houston Relief, The Wounded Warior Project or Best Friends.org.

If you’d like to share your memories with us, please visit John’s Heritage Book of Memories to upload stories and photos.