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Evelyn Merrin
Evelyn Berger Merrin, co-owner and operator of the Christian Book Center in downtown Sacramento for many years, died April 6, 2007 at the age of 96.
Mrs. Merrin was born June 26, 1910 in San Francisco to Lawrence L. and Olga Lindgren Berger. She grew up there and attended Glad Tidings Bible College where she met her future husband.
However, before marrying him she and a friend worked in ministry in Wyoming, traveling and preaching in small churches.
She and Raymond R. Merrin were married in 1933 and lived in several states where his ministry took him. They came to Sacramento in 1947 and opened the book center. He died in 2005, after 73 years of marriage.
Mrs. Merrin loved music, said her family, and enjoyed playing the piano while her family sang along.
Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her son Lawrence, five sisters and two brothers.
Mrs. Merrin is survived by her children, Darlene Noffsinger and husband Jim of Evington, Va., Melva Underwood and husband Clyde of Elk Grove, and William Arlen Merrin and wife Linda of Emery, S.D.; 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Private services were held Tuesday. Remembrances may be made to the Salvation Army, Sacramento Citadel Corps, 2550 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.
Theodore Christner
Theodore Eugene (Ted) Christner, a longtime resident of the Elk Grove area, died April 19, 2007 following a brief battle with cancer. He was 74.
Mr. Christner was born July 8, 1932 in North Platte, Neb. and graduated from North Platte High School in 1950. It was there he met Barbara Jean Hocquell, and the two were married April 5, 1953, just after he completed basic training with the U.S. Army and before being sent overseas. He served five years with the Army, including a tour of duty in the Korean War.
Following his Army stint, they moved to Northern California and Mr. Christner went to work for Proctor & Gamble. During the 1970s they relocated to Holdredge, Neb. to raise their sons, but returned to Elk Grove 10 years later. While in Nebraska, he worked for the Tri County Irrigation District.
Upon their return to California, Mr. Christner joined J.H. Kleinfelder & Associates as a construction inspector. After retiring from that, he formed his own construction inspection business, and served as president of the Construction Inspectors Association as well as head of the local American Inspectors Association. Mr. Christner inspected many of the modular school buildings still in use today, in the Elk Grove and San Joaquin school districts.
He was an avid fisherman, hunter and camper, and enjoyed his large vegetable garden, sharing much of the produce with friends and neighbors. His family said he always had a home improvement project going.
Mr. Christner was preceded in death by brothers Donald, Roy and Richard Christner.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jean Christner of Elk Grove; sons Tom Christner of Lenexa, Kan. and Scott Christner and wife Tawney of Marysville; grandchildren Rehana, Alicia and Kile; and great-grandchildren Amaya and Aiden.
Mr. Christner was the brother of Gladyce Eberly of Orange and Conrad Christner and wife Stephanie of Aurora, Colo.
No services were held at his request. His ashes will be interred at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb.
Edith Barnes
A memorial service for Edith A. Barnes, a lifelong resident of the Sacramento/Elk Grove area, will take place Sunday, May 6. Mrs. Barnes, 75, died April 5, 2007.
She was born in Sacramento, and was a member of the Elk Grove United Methodist Church and Methodist Hospital Volunteer League.
Mrs. Barnes was preceded in death by brothers Joseph F. Eck Jr. and Edward L. Eck, and sister Virginia Brown.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth JC Barnes of Elk Grove; children Kevin D. Barnes and wife Debbie, Kerri Lynne O’Connell and husband Robert, and Kyle R. Barnes; and grandchildren Elizabeth and Kayla Barnes and Kenneth and Kelsey O’Connell.
Mrs. Barnes was the sister of Gerald G. Eck, Leon Eck and Vernon Douglas Eck.
The May 6 services begin at 2 p.m. in the Elk Grove United Methodist Church, 8986 Elk Grove Blvd. Cremation was private with inurnment in South East Lawn Cemetery, Elk Grove.
Remembrances may be made to the Jessie Baker School, 8850 Southside Ave., Elk Grove, CA 95624, or the Youth Fund of the Elk Grove United Methodist Church, 8986 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624.
Arrangements were by South East Lawn Mortuary, Elk Grove.
Donald Seale
Funeral services will take place Thursday, July 12 for Donald Richard Seale, a longtime resident of the Elk Grove area who died June 23, 2007 following a battle with cancer.
Mr. Seale was born Dec. 13, 1934 in Red Bluff to Richard and Eunice Seale, and grew up in Sacramento. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 and served on the USS Wasp and Yorktown, traveling the world by sea.
Mr. Seale was a welder by trade and a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union No. 447 for more than 38 years. He was also a member of the South Sacramento Moose Lodge and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1267. Hobbies included hunting, fishing and camping with family and friends.
In August 1959 he married Rosann. She survives him as do his daughter Staci Bettis and husband Jimmy; grandsons David and Dylan all of Elk Grove; and sister Donna Green.
Thursday’s services begin at 11 a.m. in Elk Grove Funeral Chapel, 9101 Elk Grove Blvd. A reception will follow at the South Sacramento Moose Lodge.
Interment will be July 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cottonwood Cemetery
in Cottonwood.
Remembrances may be made to the Carmichael Emblem Club No. 355, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 426, Carmichael, CA 95609-0426, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Larry Kneppel
Funeral services are today, July 6 for Larry Kneppel, a longtime resident of south Sacramento who died July 1, 2007 at the age of 48.
Mr. Kneppel is survived by his wife of 21 years, Amy; sons Larry, John and Vincent; mother Jane; and grandchildren Janessa, Amadeu, Maudesol, Jessie, Betty, Lorena, Elena and Michael.
He was the brother of Keith and Spencer, and father-in-law of Martha and Kim. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation is today from noon to 7 p.m. The services begin at 3 p.m. at East Lawn Elk Grove Mortuary, 9189 East Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove. Cremation is private.
Mason Fong
Funeral services will take place this morning (Friday) for Mason Alan Fong who died July 6, 2007 at the age of 16.
He was born in Sacramento and was a member of the class of 2009 at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove. He also participated in the Afterschool Teen Program at the school.
Mason was preceded in death by his grandfather Donald Belli and great-grandfather Clarence Owyang.
He was the son of Todd and Debbie Fong and brother of Ashley Fong all of Elk Grove; grandson of Albert and Sandra Fong of Sacramento and Joyce Belli of West Sacramento; and great-grandson of Jean and Roy Camper and Myrtle Owyang of Sacramento and Alta Allsworth of Idaho.
Today’s services begin at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of East Lawn Elk Grove Mortuary, 9189 East Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove. Entombment will follow in East Lawn Elk Grove Mausoleum.
Arley Wisdom
Arley Edward Wisdom of Elk Grove died July 10, 2007 at the age of 65. He was born May 8, 1942.
Mr. Wisdom was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Myrtle.
He is survived by his wife Frances Wisdom of Elk Grove; father Arley H. Wisdom of Urbana, Mo.; children Mark, Mona, Rich (Lianne) and Kimmy (Shane); 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Wisdom was the brother of Tom (Holly), Monty (Rich), Arleta, Margo (Virgil), Guy, Gary, Gene and Butch.
Services were held July 14 at East Lawn Elk Grove Mortuary Chapel followed by interment in East Lawn Elk Grove Memorial Park. Remembrances may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Terry Sims
A celebration of the life of Terry Jay Sims will be held Saturday, July 21. Mr. Sims died July 11, 2007 at the age of 50.
He was born May 20, 1957 and rose to the rank of lieutenant with the California Youth Authority, retiring after 20 years.
Mr. Sims’ interests included playing guitars, watching football, restoring cars and motorcycles and collecting coins and Star Wars memorabilia.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Denise; son Brandon, daughter Megan, grandsons Chase and Payton, parents Floyd and Connie Sims, brother Floyd III (Lee), sisters Jody and Suzanne Campo (Kelby), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Saturday’s service begins at 10 a.m. at East Lawn Elk Grove Memorial Park & Mortuary, 9189 East Stockton Blvd. Remembrances may be made to the Pat Tillman Foundation, P.O. Box 50053, San Jose, CA 95160, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
