USA > California > Kern County > Lake Isabella > Obituaries from the Kern Valley Sun newspaper, Volume XII, 1995 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
He and Marie had been married only 21 months. They resided in Mt. Mesa. He was cremated and his ashes are to be spread over the Rose Gar- den at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield.
.
70
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1997
Gordon Harold Shay
Funeral services for Mr. Gordon Harold Shay were con- ducted on Tuesday, October 14, 1997, at the Rose Chapel in Lake Isabella, with Pastor Deryl Lackey of the Mountain View Southern Baptist Church officiating. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7665 gave full military honors to Mr. Shay during the service. A graveside committal service was held following the services with Pastor Bert Simpson of the Mountain View Southern Bap- tist Church presiding at the Kern River Valley Cemetery in Wofford Heights. Mr. Shay was 71 years old at the time of his passing.
Gordon Shay was born on February 12, 1926, in Yale, Oklahoma, to his parents, Walter and Ima. At the turn of World War II, he entered the United States Navy where he proudly served his country. After the war, Gordon met Mary Louise Blevins, his future wife. The two were married on June 11, 1949, in Shafter, Califor-
1
u ri S
ti
₾
y S
See OBITS on page A10 1
Joan Margaret Kent
Joan was born April 1, 1937 in Monterey Park, California, and passed away October 24, 1997, in Bakersfield. She was 'a resident of the Kern River Valley for 20 years.
She enjoyed horseback riding, crossword puzzles and was an avid reader.
Joan is survived by her hus- band of 30 years, Art Kent, of Wofford Heights; son Paul Willis of Carson City, Nevada; and daughters, April Blevins of Weldon, and Peggy Willis of Carson City, Nevada; brother Bill Forgie of Wofford Heights; sister Mary Ann Esparza of Scottsdale, Arizona; her mother, Lela D. Forgie, also of Scottsdale; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Valley Mortuary.
71
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1997
Jack Metro Pakulak
A mass for Christian burial was said Friday, October 17, 1997, at 11 a.m. at St. Jude's Parish Catholic Church in Wofford Heights for Jack Metro Pakulak Sr. of Lake Isabella. Officiating was Father Jim Kudilil of St. Jude's. Interment followed at the Kern River Val- ley Cemetery in Wofford Heights.
Jack was born August 5, 1906 in Winnipeg, Canada, and died October 11, 1997, in Mt. Mesa. He was 91 years old. Jack was a crane operator for 30 years in the lumber in- dustry. After his retirement, he moved to Lake Isabella and enjoyed many years at his fa- vorite past time of fishing in the Kern River Valley.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella, in 1973. He is survived by his sons, Jack and Mary Pakulak Jr., of Ridgecrest; Robert and Sally Pakulak of Roseburg, Oregon; brothers Bill Pakulak of Eu- gene, Oregon; Steve Pakulak also of Eugene; sister Mary Pederson of Oregon; grand- children Eric Pakulak of Or- egon; John Pakulak of Windsor, California; Stella Renner of Oceanside, Califor- nia; James Pakulak also of Oceanside; Joe Pakulak of Corona Hills, California; Theresa Pakulak of Santa Rosa, California; Anne Pakulak of Petaluma, Califor- nia; great-grandchildren David Renner of Anaheim, Califor- nia; Melissa Pakulak of Oceanside; Nicholas Pakulak of Oceanside; Amy Pakulak of Ridgecrest; Demian Pakulak of Petaluma; and his very dear friend, Willa Mae Heinsohn, of Lake Isabella.
Arrangements by Ridge- crest Mortuary.
Margaret Watrous
A memorial service was held Saturday, November 1, 1997, at 11 a.m. for Margaret Ethel Watrous, age 70, who died Sunday, October 26, 1997.
The service was held at the Madera Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Offici- ating was Jim Watrous. Inter- ment was at Arbor Vitae Cem- etery in Madera, California.
Mrs. Watrous worked at the Madera County Federal Em- ployees Credit Union for 24 years, from 1968 until her re- tirement in 1992.
A native of Long Branch, New Jersey, she lived in Madera for the past 37 years.
She is survived by her hus-
band of 50 years, William "Bill" - of Madera; and her two sis- ters, Gwen and Bertha Lamphere of Connecticut.
Mrs. Watrous' passing is also mourned by her children and their spouses, Margaret and Rady Hoskinson of Madera; Thomas and Leanne Watrous of Bodfish; Wayne and Shelah Watrous of Mt. Mesa; Andrew and Doreen Watrous of Biola, California; William and Debby Watrous of Clovis; James and Anna Watrous of Madera; John and Dolores Watrous of Madera.
Also mourning her death are grandchildren, Micah Watrous of Clovis; Seth Watrous of Bodfish; Mckenzie Watrous of Mt. Mesa; Philip Watrous of Mt. Mesa; Alexia Watrous of Mt. Mesa; Anisa and Amanda Watrous of Madera; Shelby Watrous of Madera; Sara and Joshua Hoskinson of Madera; Rebekah and Naomi Watrous of Connecticut; William and Robert Watrous of Madera; Benjamin Watrous of Biola; and one great-granddaughter, Kathryn Watrous of Clovis.
Arrangements by Ridge- crest Mortuary.
72
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1997
Eddie A. "Suds" Edwards
Eddie Andrew Edwards, age 55, born February 17, 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona, died Novem- ber 2, 1997, at his home in Lake Isabella.
He was raised in California, living in the Los Angeles area until moving to the Kern Valley in 1978. He was an accom- plished finish carpenter, and worked with many of the con- tractors in the valley. Eddie especially enjoyed his motor- cycles, camping at Fish Creek, and watching NHRA Drag Rac- ing.
Eddie is survived by his wife, Jeannie. Although he did not have children of his own, with his marriage to Jeannie, he inherited a large "family of the heart," son and daughter-in- law, John and Alita Beam of Lake Isabella; son and daugh- ter-in-law, Greg and Michelle Beam of Caliente; daughter Chris Beam of Port Angeles, Washington; granddaughters Shari Beam, Leslie Beam, Tif- fany Willis, Latisha Jones, Tesa Willis, Lynzie Jones, Julie Beam, Kelsey Beam, Samantha Keeling; grandsons Brenden Hall, Denton Beam, Travis Beam, Greg Beam, Chantz Brodie, and one soon- to-be great-grandchild. "Suds" also leaves his brother-in-love, Jim Neukirchner and wife Judy. Eddie was much loved by his father and mother-in-law, Jack and Ellen Warner
of Orangevale, California; sister and brother-in-law, Bert and Dan Mainwaring of Diamond Springs, California; sisters-in- law, Emily L. Word and Jane Culver of Placerville, Califor- nia; and numerous nephews.
A memorial service was held on Monday, November 10, 1997, at the Highland Method- ist Church in Lake Isabella. Pastor Jack Dilley officiated and Bakersfield Family Funeral Directors handled the arrange- ments.
Eddie was a wonderful per- son and exceptional husband and will be very much missed.
Thomas Valentine Sims
Private arrangements were made for Thomas V. Sims who passed away November 5, 1997 in Bakersfield. Mr. Sims was born in Skiatook, Okla- homa on November 19, 1923. He served in the Navy for sev- eral years before moving to Buena Park where he worked for Dresser Pacific Pump in Huntington Park for 37 years. After retiring, he moved to the Kern River Valley in 1985. He enjoyed motorcycle riding.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marie Sims of Onyx; his sons, Tom Sims of LaPalma, California; and Bruce Sims of Onyx; daughter Katheryn Nixon of Yucca Val- ley; three grandchildren, Marhea, Heather and Travis; and one great-grandson, David; his brothers, Milton Sims of Onyx; Wallace Sims of . Browley, California; and Walter Sims of Oceanside.
Arrangements by Valley Mortuary.
73
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1997
Barbara Jean Bly
A memorial service was held to celebrate the active life of Barbara Bly on Saturday, No- vember 8, 1997 at 11 a.m. at Highland Chapel Methodist Church in Lake Isabella. Rev. Floyd Castillo will be officiat- ing. Barbara passed away peacefully at her home in Lake Isabella on November 1 after a lengthy battle with cancer. At her side were husband Lynn, daughter Lynda, and longtime friend Polly Butler.
She was born Barbara Jean Moore in Burbank, California, - on November 17, 1927.
Barbara is survived by hus- band Lynn of Lake Isabella; twin daughters, Lynda Heran of Rancho Palos Verdes, Cali- fornia; and Lorna Guevara of Huntington Beach, California; a son Larry of Bodfish; grand- daughters, Katie and Meghan Heran, of Rancho Palos Verdes; two brothers, Gayle Moore of Mariposa, California; and Bud Moore of Lakewood, California. She was preceded in death by a sister, Eloise, in 1981.
She graduated from Leuzinger High School in Hawthorne in 1945. She met Lynn Bly while working at Northrop. They were married October 15, 1948, and re- mained married for 49 years. They built their home in Westchester, California, where they lived for 31 years.
Barbara worked at Lennox High School for 10 years as a textbook cerk and career cen- ter aide. She retired just be- fore moving to Bodfish in 1978 with her husband, Lynn.
She and Lynn built and op- erated the L&L Car Wash and Laundry in Lake Isabella. They built their home in Lake Isa- bella and moved in Thanksgiv- ing of 1990.
Barbara had been very ac- tive since moving to the area, including the Pink Ladies, the Women's Club, and TOPS. She also showed her creative abilities by taking up ceram- ics, oil painting and porcelain dolls. She excelled at all.
She was a loving and de- voted wife, mother,. grand- mother and friend to all. Her presence will be greatly missed by friends and family alike.
Arrangements by Valley Mortuary.
Joseph Eugene Norris
Graveside services were held Friday, November 7, 1997, at 11 a.m. at the Kern Valley Cemetery in Wofford Heights for Joseph E. Norris, age 64, of Kernville who passed away November 1 at his home.
Joseph was born January 19, 1933 in Santa Maria and had lived in Kernville for one- and-a-half years. He worked for 15 years with National Cash Register Co. as a salesman. He also had his own business, Los Angeles Equipment Sales, for several years. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, both in Santa Maria and Wof- ford Heights, and a member of the Kern Valley Mens Golf Club. Joseph also served his country in the U.S. Navy dur- ing the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Diana Norris; his twin brother, John; three daughters, Paige Norris, Kristen Norris, and Sherri Harvey; one son, Russell Harvey; grandsons, Nicholas Norris, Sean Akerboom, and Eddie Ramos; granddaughters, Malia Rikard, Joey Ramos and a host of friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Bakers- field Family Funeral Directors.
74
NOVEMBER 19, 1997
Jack Vernile Ashworth
Memorial services were held on Friday, November 14, 1997, at 2 p.m. at the Kern River Valley Cemetery in Wofford Heights for Jack Vernile Ashworth of Weldon. Pastor Carlos Fandino of the First Church of the Nazarene in Lake Isabella officiated with the Vet- erans of Foreign Wars Post #7665, Lake Isabella, offering the lasting Veterans Memorial Tribute to Mr. Ashworth and his family.
Jack Ashworth was born to his parents, William Edward and Alcoe Genevive Ashworth, on May 22, 1925, in Tulare, California. During World War II, he proudly served his nation in the United States Army. He was an artillery instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia. On May 15, 1969, he married his wife, Leah Mary, in Torrance, Cali- fornia. In 1996, Jack retired after working as a self-em- ployed licensed residential contractor. He and Leah then moved to the Kern River Val- ley area, settling down in Wel- don.
: C
7 ....
.-
-
:
He and Leah thoroughly enjoyed traveling in their RV and visiting with family and friends. Jack was a wonderful man and he loved his family fiercely. In years past, he loved to take them all camping, teaching all of them to enjoy life. He was always there for his wife and kids. He was al- ways there to help and did everything that he could for them.
Jack is survived by his wife of 28 years, Leah; and by four children, Carolyn Correa of Temecula, California; Marcia .Gann of Torrance, California; Mike Filben of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Tom Filben of Cambria, California. He is also survived by his grandchildren, April and Aaron of Temecula; Melissa and Tiffany of Tor- rance; Wendy of Cambria; and Marley and Kira of Salt Lake City. Also by his brothers, Ri- chard Ashworth of Carson City, Nevada; and Donald Ashworth of San Manuel, Arizona. Jack will be truly missed by all those of whom he loved, and by all those who loved him.
Services arranged by the Lake Isabella Funeral Home.
Edith Pauline Johnston
A funeral service was held Friday, November 7, 1997, at the Lake Isabella Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for Edith Pauline Johnston' of Weldon. Officiating was Mel Hetrick. Interment followed at Riverside National Cemetery.
Edith was born November 26, 1921, in Washington, Pennsylvania and died No- vember 5, 1997, in Mt. Mesa. She was 75 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, in 1989.
She is survived by her chil- dren, Carol Behm of Weldon; Danny Johnston of Yucaipa, California; Gary Johnston of Lake Isabella; Joe Johnston of Florida; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by
Ridgecrest Mortuary.
Varnum Iva Kenney
Varnum Iva Kenney, resi- dent of Bend, Oregon, passed away October 22, 1997, from an extended illness. He was 85 years old.
Mr. Kenney was born on March 12, 1912 to parents, Charles and Frances (Varnum) Kenney, in Fresno, California.
He married Helen (Beth) Kenney in Reno, Nevada. She preceded him in death.
During World War II, Mr. Kenney served in the Army Corp. of Engineers and was stationed in the Middle East. He worked as a master auto mechanic with the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles. He was also a mem- ber of the Kern Valley Search and Rescue Team.
Cremation was in Bend with no services being held. He is survived by his niece, Cheryl L. Thayer, of Lake Forest, Cali- fornia.
1
75
DECEMBER 3, 1997
Louis J. Kriebs
On November 13, 1997, Mr. Louis J. Kriebs of Kernville passed away in Bakersfield. He was 74 years of age. Louis was born to his parents, Peter and Mary Kriebs, in the Ga- lena Township of Illinois on June 1, 1923.
During World War II, he proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, serving the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. After the war, in 1949, Louis went to the Los Angeles Police Academy and became an officer for the City of Los Angeles. He then re- tired in 1964, residing in Gardena, California. In 1971, he married his wife, Ilse, and in 1984, Louis and Ilse moved to the Kern River Valley area, then residing in Kernville. Louis became actively involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, becoming a life member of the V.F.W.
Louis is survived by his wife Ilse of Kernville; his daughter Sherry of Tempe, Arizona; and his sons, Larry of Hemet, Cali- fornia; and Garey of Medford, Oregon. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brian, Bon- nie and Ethan. Louis will be greatly missed by all those who loved him and by all those of whom he loved.
Arrangements by Lake Isa- bella Funeral Home.
Everyone knew and loved Daniel and Daniel knew and loved everyone. His passing is a great loss to the valley.
Daniel is survived by his daughter Kitty Kreft and her husband Bill of Oceanside, California, and by his son John Cleary of South Lake Tahoe.
Arrangements by Lake Isa- bella Funeral Home.
Doreen G. Schonmann
A 23-year Lake Isabella resi- dent, Doreen G. Schonmann, passed away November 23, 1997, at the age of 67. She was born June 19, 1928, in Los Angeles. She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Marcelo J. Schonmann; her son, Mike Fellows of Blythe; her daughter, Carol Blackmon of Long Beach; and her sister, Joanne McCollum, of Los An- geles.
Daniel Francis Cleary
On November 11, 1997, Mr. Daniel Francis Cleary of Lake Isabella passed away at the age of 72. Daniel entered life in Los Angeles, California, on January 9, 1925.
During World War II, Daniel served his nation in the United States Marine Corps. Later in life, he began working for the Garrett Airesearch Corporation as a Security Police Officer. During this time, he became very involved with his commu- nity. He joined the American Legion, where he later became the Sergeant At Arms for the Lake Isabella Post #711. Daniel also became active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, becoming a life member, and he was also inducted as a life member of the Disabled Ameri- can Veterans.
In the late 1980's, Daniel moved from Los Angeles to the Kern River Valley and put down roots in Lake Isabella. He joined the local American Legion Post #711, the V.F.W. Post #7665, and the Disabled American Veterans. He also became very involved with the senior lunch program at the Kern Valley Senior's Center.
76
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1997
Kern Valley loses link to its legendary past
By BRET BRADIGAN Kern Valley Sun
The Kern Valley has lost one of its few remaining links to its pioneer past with the passing of William Walker Kissack Sunday.
Kissack, 82, died in his sleep after enduring several years of health problems, though he re- mained fit and active right up to the end.
"Just this week he was out on the backhoe feeding the horses," said daughter Carolyn Kissack- Hancock.
A memorial service is planned - for Thursday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Lake Isabella. Pastor Floyd Castillo will offici- ate.
Judging by his legacy, Bill Kissack has had a lasting impact on his community. Besides his long and colorful career as a rancher and farmer, he founded and developed the community of Mountain Mesa, donated the land on which Kern Valley Hospital stands, then served on its board of directors for nearly 30 years. He and his wife of 56 years, Grace, also organized the annual Easter Egg Hunts on their pasture for more than 30 years.
The Easter Egg Hunts were "symbolic of how he felt about people. Bill was a friend of every- one," said longtime friend Coun- try Huckleberry. "He'd go out of his way to help anyone -it didn't matter who they were."
Twosignal achievements made him most proud, Grace said. For a long-time cowboy, being named Kern County's Cattleman of the Year in 1991 ranked near the top of a lifetime of distinction. The 1994 ceremony when the Kern Valley Hospital was dedicated to him and Grace also hit a high note.
"The hospital was his life. He never missed a meeting, said Grace. "When we had guests, he'd always take them out there to see the plaque."
Bill Kissack Memorial Ser- vice: Thursday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. First Baptist Church in Lake Isabella. Pastor Floyd Castillo officiating
Bill Kissack's father, William C., emigrated from the Isle of Man, a small but scenic island in the Irish Sea between Wales and Ireland and ancestral home to many Kern Valley pioneers. In 1909, his passage was paid for by the Joughin and Stevens ranch families. After working off his indenture, he brought his sweet- heart, Jesse Ellen, over from the Isle of Man in 1914.
Bill Kissack was born a year later, March 12, 1915, in a house not three miles from his present home. The old house was con- demned after Isabella Dam was constructed, then Bill bought it back at auction and had it moved to the present site.
1
Though the old house contin- ued to serve as a storage shed, Bill may well have had sentimental reasons for buying his birthplace. The old homestead served an im- portant social function in the pre- dam Kern Valley, with hayrides and cookouts and post-church Sunday picnics.
"He was a hell of a fine guy. There wasn't a finer man to work for. He was fair. He'd make you work hard, but he would really listen to you."
Ken Rhoads
"I always had a feeling of plenty. He was al- ways a good provider." Grace Kissack
"Dad was at his greatest on those Sunday afternoons," Carolyn said. "We'd have lots of people over, and we'd take the hay down to feed the horses, then have lots of food."
It was also a place which forged the enduring work ethic Bill Kissack was famous for. "If some- thing had to be done, he did it," said Carolyn.
"I always had a feeling of plenty," said Grace. "He was al- ways a good provider."
That ethic was passed down from both parents. "Bill's mother was one of the most beautiful women to ever come from the Kern Valley," said Grace. "But you'd see her out in the fields working alongside the men."
After the learning the business of ranching on his father's spread, he was hired as foreman for the A. Brown ranch in 1940, where he worked for five years.
One person who remembers Bill Kissack well from that time is Ken Rhoads, from another pio- neer family, who, at the age of 13, was hired as a ranch hand.
"He was a hell of a fine guy," Rhoads said. "There wasn't a finer man to work for. He was fair. . He'd make you work hard, but he would really listen to you."
77
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1997
During that time, some trends suspect he'd make up reasons to drive past the South Fork School, where the new teacher had caught his eye. "He'd wave to me as he'd go by," said Grace, who had come to the rural school in 1939 from Ohio after graduating from Uni- versity of California at Los Ange- les. "It was pretty fascinating for a young woman - coming up to cowboy country."
The school had 50 students and two teachers. Grace taught grades one through three; the other teacher taught fourth through eighth. Rhoads said it was a demanding place. "When you got out of the eighth grade, you had a better edu- cation than they do coming out of junior college nowadays."
The Kern Valley - though large in geography - was small in social circles in those days, Rhoads said. "You knew every- one who went up and down the road." A new school teacher - especially one as attractive and stylish as Grace - was the focus of attention. "She had a new '39 Chevy when she came up," Rhoads said. "That was really something."
The young Bill Kissack was also the focus of much attention, Grace said. "He was very hand- some, and very wholesome." It did take him awhile to muster up the nerve to ask the schoolteacher out for their first date, a hayride and dance sponsored by another local family.
They were married in 1941, and continued the ranching tradi- tion.
The high point of that tradition may have been the annual high country trips to summer pasture at Beach Meadow, Carolyn said. "We'd have carts and carts of groceries, and Dad would have the saddlebags laid out every- where, packing for the trip," she said. They would stay in the camp all summer, a place where work was fun.
"There are so many kids he'd take with us, and their fondest memories were of the high coun- try," Carolyn said. "He loved that life."
Survivors include wife Grace and daughter Carolyn; grandsons Scott Kissack and wife Cari and Craig Young; granddaughters Kristine King and husband Greg, Kimberly Harper and husband Frankie, Heather Dunne and hus- band Lance, and Angie Young. Great-grandchildren are Billy and Kacie Kissack, Kenny Shanahan, Derek and Daniel King, Conagher and Francesca Harper, daughter- in-law Lynda Kissack and dear friend Country Huckleberry.
Bill is preceded in death by parents William Crellin and Jesse Ellen Kissack; brother Jim Kissack; son William Lee Kissack and daughter Linda Elaine Kissack.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Kern Valley Hospital Foun- dation, P.O. Box 1628, Lake Isa- bella, CA 93240.
78
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1997
William Walker Kissack
A memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church in Lake Isabella, Thursday, De- cember 4,. 1997 at 11 a.m. Pastor Floyd Castillo officiated.
Kern River Valley pioneer, William Walker Kissack, passed away peacefully at home November 30, 1997. Most of his 82 years were spent surrounded by the mountains and valley that he dearly loved. His lifetime was devoted to assisting the community and his family. All who knew him found joy in his quiet smiling manner. His strong will to live was proven as he overcame one health obstacle after an- other in the past few years.
Born March 12, 1915, at the ranch site, Bill was both a cattle rancher and land developer. One of his proudest accom- plishments was being named Kern County Cattleman of the Year in 1991. Both he and his son, William Lee, developed the town of Mountain Mesa. The Kern Valley Hospital was dedicated to both Bill and Grace, his wife of 56 years, in 1994.
As a young man, Bill did stunt riding for the movies made here in the valley before the lake was established. Like many of the pioneers who settled here from the "Isle of Man," he possessed both quali- ties of toughness and tender- ness.
Bill was blessed in sharing so many wonderful years with his wife Grace. They shared fully in ranching duties and the raising of their three children. Later the tremendous joy of being grandparents and great- grandparents was precious for both. The love of Bill and Grace was extended for over 30 years to all the neighborhood chil- dren who attended the Annual Easter Egg Hunts in the Kissack pasture.
Surviving Bill is his loving wife Grace; daughter, Carolyn ·Kissack Hancock; grandsons, Scott Kissack and wife Cari and Craig Young; granddaugh- ters, Kristine King and hus- band Greg, Kimberly Harper and husband Frankie, Heather Dunne and husband Lance, and Angie Young; great-grand- children are Billy and Kacie Kissack, Kenny Shanahan, Derek and Daniel King, Conagher and Francesca Harper; daughter-in-law, Lynda Kissack; and dear friend Country Huckleberry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.