obituaries

Richard G. Bauer, Jr.

Richard (“Rick”) Geib Bauer Jr., born July 2, 1953 in Glendale, died Feb. 7, 2008.

Rick graduated from La Cañada High School in 1972. He attended college in California and Colorado.

Rick moved to Colorado in 1993. He loved fishing and the mountains. He was the Rocky Mountain sales manager for the Edwards Company for many years. He started his own company, Bauer Systems, specializing in fire safety systems. Many of the large buildings in Colorado and Wyoming benefited from Rick’s expertise in fire safety.

Rick married Joni McCall on Oct. 15, 2006 in Estes Park, Colo.

Rick is survived by his parents Marilyn and Richard Bauer, wife Joni, daughter Brooke Bauer, brother Steve Bauer, sisters Karen Stoffel and Gini Bauer.

Funeral services were held Feb. 12 in Northglenn, Colo.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or your Alcoholic Anonymous Chapter.

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Clara M. Butcher

Clara Morgan Butcher passed away in La Cañada on Feb. 7. She was surrounded in love by friends and family.

Clara is survived by her daughter, Roberta Whitla; son-in-law, Guy; grandchildren, Keegan and Braeden; stepchildren Joseph and Thomas Stitick; and four step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. and son, Robert W.

Clara was born in Kelso, Wash. on July 8, 1925. Her family moved to Inglewood, Calif. when she was 2 years old and later moved to Tujunga, where she attended and graduated from Verdugo Hills High School. She later attended and graduated from Glendale College and earned a bachelor’s degree from the USC College of Archiecture in 1948.

Clara is best known throughout the U.S. for her architectural business, Clara Morgan Butcher Designers. She opened her first office in La Cañada. After closing that office she worked out of her home until she and Robert built a new office at 3712 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta in 1973. Clara was one of the founding board members of the Architectural Designers Association and a mentor to many. Her legacy lives on in the countless residential and commercial buildings she has designed.

Clara will be missed as a loving and dedicated mother and friend. Her spiritual connection to many is a testament to her Christian values.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 11 at Descanso Gardens. A scholarship fund is being set up in her honor at the USC Architectural School.

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Jessica Cuesta

Jessica Christine Cuesta passed away in her home on Feb. 15, 2008, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Jessica was surrounded by her family and friends at the time of her death.

She was born in South Lake Tahoe on June 15, 1970. She married her best friend, Robert Cuesta, on Aug. 16, 1997. Jessica was an incredible mother to her two young children, Cameron and Ashlin.

Jessica was best known for her love of running and the outdoors. She was thoughtful and caring and always looking out for others. She was free-spirited and full of life. Her spirit touched those who knew her.

Jessica, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, is survived by her husband, Robert; son Cameron; daughter Ashlin; father, Daniel Murray; mother, Barbara Link; brothers Brian Murray and Gerred Link; and sister, Julia Newlin.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Lighted Window at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.

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Margaret Farr

Margaret Summers Farr was born on June 16, 1923, in Chicago, Ill. and died Feb. 6, 2008. She was a resident of La Cañada Flintridge from 1966-2005 before moving to Bakersfield to be closer to her son Bill and his family.

She and the whole family appreciated the special care given by her daughter-in-law Chrissy and her other caregivers in Bakersfield. Margaret was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was predeceased by her husband Bill and her sister Jane. She leaves her sons Walt, Fred (Sherry) and Bill (Chrissy), her daughter Kathy (John) Thorpe; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Margaret treasured her time in La Cañada. She enjoyed playing bridge and was an avid volunteer for a number of organizations including Children’s Home Society. In 1979 she received a Les Tupper Community Service Award. She will be dearly missed by her family and those whose lives she touched.

The funeral Mass was held at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church on Monday; burial followed at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

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Peggy Ferry

Margaret (“Peggy”) Jane Ferry died Feb. 12, 2008.

Born in Pasadena on Feb. 10, 1919, Peggy was a devoted wife, a loving mother and a generous volunteer.

She grew up in Altadena, San Diego and later, Glendale. It was during her time at Glendale High School that she first met the young man, Bill Ferry, who would later become her costar, husband and father to their three children.

Marriage was put on hold when war intervened, and Peggy became a Red Cross nurse. In 1942 Bill Ferry was granted leave between his training and next assignment and he and Peggy both eagerly jumped at the chance to get married. For the following year or two, she accompanied Bill to a number of bases around the United States as he took on more assignments as captain in the US Army. In 1944 he was shipped over to Europe where he remained until 1946.

Billy Ferry was born in December 1946, Jane in December of 1948 and Helen Anne, born in June of 1955, completed their family. Peggy made sure the children all got a little art and music in their education, while Bill occasionally had to supply the discipline. In 1951 the family moved into a house in La Cañada, and have called it home ever since.

As her family grew, Peggy found increasing rewards in a wide field of volunteer projects. Over the years she gave much of herself. She was on the boards of four Catholic grammar and high schools. Peggy was a volunteer at Holy Family Adoption Center; a supporter of the Holy Angels Church for the Deaf; a charter member of St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church and her parish’s Grief Ministry group; and a member of the Education Foundation of Los Angeles Catholic Diocese. She also served as a trustee for the Fund for Irish Seminaries and long actively supported the Right-to-Life Program.

Her service also included the Bethlehem House for the Poor, Angel’s Flight Los Angeles, the Cardinal’s House of Prayer and the Christ Child Society of Pasadena. Several civic and church groups have honored her for her actions over the years.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, William Ferry (2000); and their daughter Jane (1972). She is survived by William Ferry Jr, his wife Beth, Helen McMeekin her husband Tom and her five grandchildren: Mike, Ann, Sara, Kay & Tyler.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either St. Andrews Monastery, P. O. Box 40, Valyermo, CA 93563; or St. Bede’s Brothers Helpers, 215 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada, CA 91011.

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Virginia Gibbons

Virginia (“Ginny”) Margaret Gibbons, born Sept. 3, 1926, died in her sleep on Feb. 7, 2008, of natural causes. She died as she had lived her life, with dignity and grace. She was frail, but continued to know her family.

Growing up in San Francisco with her parents Ralph and Charlotte Mason and her sister Margie, Ginny always dreamed of adventure. Her life of 81 years was full of wonderful memories and friendships.

She married the love of her life, James W. Gibbons, on Aug. 9, 1953 in Mountain View, Calif. They moved to Southern Calfornia in 1959, raising their family in La Cañada.

After the kids were on their own, Ginny and Jim moved in 1991 to their home in Black Butte Ranch, Ore. where they enjoyed the Pacific Northwest. They moved to Leavenworth, Wash., in 2005.

Ginny was a wonderful wife, the best mother and a genuine, kind and giving friend to many. She held numerous jobs from billing at Stanford Hospital, waitress, events sales at Ticketron to a counselor at Diet Center. She enjoyed entertaining, preparing lavish, gourmet feasts for friends and family. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe, China, Mexico and Hawaii, to name a few of her favorite destinations.

Ginny is survived by her husband Jim of Leavenworth, Wash.; sister Margie of Aptos, Calif.; son Michael (Evelyn) of Portland, Ore.; and daughters Kathy (Brad) Schmidt of Leavenworth and Marty Ross of Fairfax, Calif. She also leaves grandchildren Kelen, Claire, Peter, Brendan, Grace, Brecklyn and Matthew. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, special friends and her kitty, Pawnie.

The family is planning a private celebration of her life in her favorite place, Yosemite, at a later date. Memorials can be made to the organization of the donor’s choice.

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Robert Samuelson

Robert Adolph Samuelson, faithful husband, dedicated father and grandfather, beloved brother, and builder extraordinaire, passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, at 5:15 a.m. in his home. He fought the good fight against mesothelioma cancer. He was 81 years old, born on July 8, 1926.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge.

Bob, a California native son, attended Hollywood High School, graduating in 1944. He moved to La Cañada in 1950. He was an avid golfer along with his wife, and a member of Oakmont Country Club in Glendale and Sunrise Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

Bob was a terrific dad and grandpa to his family, an active community leader in La Cañada, a faithful church member of the Lutheran Church in the Foothills, an active regent of California Lutheran University, and a builder and one of the owners of Samuelson Partners Company with his brother, Jack.

For several years, he served as president of the La Cañada Chamber of Commerce, and was very instrumental in bringing the YMCA to La Cañada, leading the construction program and was a major financial contributor. He was an honorary chairman of the YMCA Capital Fund Drive.

“The YMCA has had no better friend than Bob Samuelson and his loss will be deeply felt by all. The Samuelson brothers have contributed so much to all of the Y’s building programs from the beginning to the last phase. There was nothing that Bob would not do to help build CCYMCA into the wonderful community asset it is today,” said longtime YMCA volunteer and friend, Pat Aho.

“Bob was a mentor, close friend and quiet supporter of the Y,” said Tim MacDonald, a former YMCA board member and president. “For 50 years, Bob shared his time and talents with the development of both YMCA facilities. He approached every project with a smile and used his knowledge and charisma to get much accomplished. Upon completion of the Verdugo Hills Branch he felt something was missing so he created and delivered hand painted flower boxes to decorate the front of the new facility. Bottom line, he was the best!”

Bob also worked with the Camp Fire Girl program, was recognized with the Les Tupper Service Award.

He was chairman of his church’s sanctuary building committee, and helped to fulfill any need the building required, from a new kitchen, to eliminating the bee swarm from the well-known statue of the arms raised to the sky.

Bob was especially pleased to be part of the dedication ceremony last spring at California Lutheran University where he was involved in funding and building the “Samuelson Aquatic Center,” a state of the art facility for water sports. Also on campus is the “Samuelson Chapel,” named after his father.

Bob and his brother Jack are co-founders of the Samuelson Brothers Construction Company, founded in the summer of 1946. They have been in business 62 years, and have been recognized for their expertise in the execution of many important, innovative buildings in Southern California and beyond. Bob’s handprints can be found on numerous buildings in La Cañada. He had a commitment to an expanded view of community, providing affordable living opportunities, being a founder of Beacon Housing.

Bob is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Doris Samuelson, their four children, Gail, married to Gary McGinnis; Brooke, married to Scott Bustrum; Scot, married to Lizbeth Samuelson; and Jill, married to Jhoe Abejon. Bob and Doris have 12 grandchildren: Matthew McGinnis, Michele Shaver, Brett, Dane, Alex and Connor Bustrum, Tad, Taylor and Tanner Samuelson, Joe Jr., Drew and Kelsey Abejon. They also have five great-grandchildren: Nicole and Andrew Abejon, Ryan and Trevor McGinnis, Madison Shaver, and another great-grandson on the way.

Bob will always be known for his generosity and philanthropic effort in various and unique programs, benefiting education and faith-related endeavors.

He will be missed by family, friends, and community. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Lutheran Church in the Foothills (address above), or Beacon Housing, 5000 Edenhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039.

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Frances Silliman

Frances Silliman died Jan. 31 in Montrose. She was 94.

She was born Frances Emily Hughes in Calhoun County, Ark. Frances married Guy Silliman Sr. who was also from Calhoun County.

They began their married lives in Camden, Ark. and later moved to El Dorado, Ark.where Frances worked at Murphy Oil Company until she retired in 1976.

In 1979 they moved to Montrose to be near her only child, Alfred, daughter-in-law Jean, and two grandchildren Guy and Gina.

In addition to working and raising a family, Frances enjoyed sewing as a life-long hobby. She made clothes for her family and especially for her grandchildren. In her retirement years she became an accomplished quilt maker and produced many baby blankets and adult sized quilts.

Frances is survived by her son, Alfred; daughter-in-law, Jean; grandchildren, Guy Silliman and Gina O’Bryan; and great-grandson Coleman Michael O’Bryan. Funeral services, conducted by the Rev. Skip Lindeman of the Church of the Lighted Window in La Cañada, were held Tuesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.