October 24, 2016

  Col. Heath “Bo” Bottomly
September 30, 1919 – October 24, 2016

Col. Heath “Bo” Bottomly was born in Chinook, Montana, on Sept. 30, 1919. He was a graduate of the University of Montana and the West Point class of 1944, and a decorated fighter pilot who served in the Pacific in World War II, and later, in Vietnam and Thailand. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he was a Christian speaker, storyteller, writer and coach, who lived in Etna for a number of years.

Col. Bottomly was an inspiration to writer’s at the Writer’s Club for his encouragement in journaling and the result of his journaling  which led to his taped stories of his own experiences, which were exciting adventures!
Tim Colbert said that he knew Col Bottomly knew him from the Scott Valley Berean Church and from being his tennis coach at Etna High School. Several years later reading a newspaper in Idlewild, CA for our anniversary,  when I saw his picture It was an advertisement for him to tell stories at different events. I told my wife, “I know this man!” and promptly called the number associated with the add.  His wife, Penny answered the phone and she remembered who he was and invited over….So Tim showed up the next day and talked with the Col. for several hours. He showed him where he was recording all his memoirs of the wars he had been in. He gave him a stack of CD’s that were memoirs of his days in Vietnam. This man had lived through it all, shark attacks, tiger pits, Vietcong, being shot down out of an airplane, and being staked to a tree… He had survived it all! Since then I have passed the stories on to other friends that knew him to keep his memory alive. They also  help show the world what our troops do to keep us safe. “Thank you Lord for sharing him with us!” editor’s note

On Oct. 24, 2016, he died peacefully at home in Winchester, California. Col. Bottomly was preceded in death by his daughter, Viki Jagger; and his first wife, Elizabeth Bottomly.

He is survived by his wife, Penny Bottomly; his brothers, Richard and Forbes; his sister, Elizabeth Withington; his children Roc Bottomly, Kirk Bottomly, Sheri Carlson and Kris Hurst; 12 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren.

He will be interred at Riverside National Cemetery at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 2, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Col. Bottomly’s name to Wounded Veterans Initiative: cci.org/veterans. — in Etna, California.

October 8, 2016

by Judy Bushy Published in the Siskiyou Daily News October 4, 2016
Light breezes kept the mosquitoes at bay around the campfire. Stars sparkling in the vast black sky overhead gave a peaceful feel. Occasionally you’d hear a fish splash in their leap from the Klamath River nearby. Sitting around a cheery campfire with friendly camaraderie was the perfect end of a very busy day.

We were content from the 50’s style Sunday chicken dinner that Bonnie had made and was served by smiling high school girls. Previous year Gloria had made delicious so ‘mores, but we’d enjoyed dinner and all the homemade pies! Pete had brought his guitar and sang a couple of songs, one about the silver-hair aging, and one he’d just written about new young life. How fast it goes from one to the other.

A couple from the resort joined the circle and asked what brought us here. Liz explained we were celebrating the author, Stella Patterson, who wrote Dear Mad’m. Liz and Pete Lismer, grandnephew of Stella, had written Dear Mad’m Who Was She? answering many questions about Stella’s life.

.. They shared how Stella’s relatives wanted her to move back to San Francisco to “take care of her” in her declining years. Her independent streak and having been told she had “young legs” recently, led to her plan. For one year she wanted to live on her mining claim on the Klamath River! That it was for “business reasons,” gave her the excuse she needed! She’d try it for a year.

Dear Mad’m was the book she wrote about living in a rustic cabin, the friends she met, a mule named Pete, goats invasion, learning mining and clean-up, storms, wildlife, without indoor plumbing, woodstove, and other challenges, with only her faithful dog, Vickie. Even with all the answers to questions about Stella’a life, more questions pup up. On that night around the campfire, as we so often wished that we could ask her questions and get to know her better. If only she had written more!

Rod Diridon said right then, “Remember That!”

Have you ever written down the stories of your life? You have wonderful experiences, probably hardship and trials mixed in too, but they’ve made you who you are and you’ve learned from them. Write them down! It might end up being something you’d just want to share with your family and friends, but Stella W. Patterson’s one year story turned into a best seller and 70 years later, people are still reading and enjoying her adventures. Adventures which are like those you have in your own life each day and could write about as well.

October 2, 2016

                                                                                                     Wilson Forbes was born in Moynalty, county Meath, Ireland on September 14, 1922 on the farm where he grew up. He emigrated to England after World War II and worked at repairing tractors and farm machinery. In 1950 Wilson emigrated to North Dakota where he was in the ministry for 6 years. Following that he went to Minot State College and became a teacher, teaching four years in North Dakota and Montana before receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation for a year of graduate studies. He then moved to Happy Camp and stayed the rest of his life.

Wilson married Helen Houkom on December 24, 1960 (55 years) and they have three children.: Kathleen (Ron) Johnson, Craig (Twila) Forbes, and Ken (Janel) Forbes. Kathleen preceded him in death in 2006. Wilson and Helen have 10 grandchildren. At services October 1st his grandchildren, Kyler & Rachel Forbes, Jayden Forbes, Kade Forbes, Alex Forbes, Zachary Forbes and Riley Forbes sang, “Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go!”

Wilson was the science teacher at Happy Camp High School from 1965 to 1980, and during evenings and weekends he built the house that is still the family home.

Afer retiring from teaching he became a master craftsman, making beautiful furniture and moved on to desighing cand making concrete garden beds and chicken tractors. Through the years he had an amazing garden and he was never happier than when he had baskets of produce to share with others.

From a young age he submitted to the will of God in his life always seeking to follow the teachings of Jesus.  this was the guiding light of his life. He passed from this life into eternity in the home he had built, surrounded by loving friends and family on September 21, 2016. He will be dearly missed by many.

September 18, 2016

Joe Blackhawk Harrison passed away on Sept. 18, 2016. He was 25 years old.

Blackhawk was born on Nov. 3, 1990, in Yreka to Joe and Dorcas Harrison.
He is survived by his father, Joe Harrison of Happy Camp; mother, Dorcas Harrison of Happy Camp; brothers and sisters, Mario Gomez (Whitney Kelly), Bubba (Matthea) Perez, Robert (Emma Lee) Perez, Kevin Harrison (Ramona McCovey), Ben Harrison, Brenda Harrison, Malford Harrison, Charlie Eastlick, Ella (Arden) McCovey, JoAnne Harrison, Suzanne Harrison, LuAnne Harrison, Sandra (Keith) Aubrey, China, John Frank, and Rain; Maternal Grandma, Priscilla Tuter; Grandma, April Spence; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many loving friends.

He is preceded by his Wife, Karrie Albers; Paternal Grandparents, Joe Frank Sr. and Winoma Harrison; Maternal Grand Father, Robert Spence; Uncle, Hobart Harrison; and Maternal Great Grandmother Rose.

Join Blackhawk’s family to celebrate his life at the Karuk Tribe gym, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. Burial services at the Happy Camp Cemetery with a Potluck to follow. Girdner Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at www.girdnerfuneralchapel.com.

Blackhawk will be remembered for his smile, charming personality and his stories.

We love you Joe-Joe.