All Obituaries

Justin Davis Seaman August 3rd, 1999 - September 6, 2019 We never thought that we would be writing our son’s obituary, but here we are, trying to find the words to honor our beloved son. It is with heavy hearts and great sadness, we announce the passing of our youngest son, Justin Davis Seaman, on Friday, September 6th, 2019 at the young age of 20. Justin was born on August 3, 1999 in Eureka weighing in at 9 lbs., 3 oz. He completed our family. He will be remembered for his goofy...

Virginia celebrated her 95th birthday on August 31st at her residence in Eureka with her family and friends. She passed away on September 4, 2019. Virginia was born in Scotia to Shirley Showers Cloney and Mary Agnes Canty Cloney and was one of four siblings a sister - Frances Cloney Wahlund (Mickey), and two brothers - Shirley Bud Cloney (Sally) and Daniel Terrence Cloney. She attended Scotia Elementary School and graduated from Fortuna High School in 1942. In the fall of that year, she...

Toya “Toyita” Irene Petersen went to Heaven Tuesday, September 3, at 4:45 in the morning. Toyita was born in Guadalajara, Mexico on September 16, 1971. She would have been 48 on the 16th. We came to Humboldt County from Mexico on December 11, 1975 and she has lived in Humboldt since then. When Toyita was approximately 14 she developed schizophrenia. Our mom and stepdad took care of her every need until our Mom went to Heaven two years ago. Then our stepdad, George Batiste, was...

Martha Combs Abbott was born in St. Helena, California, on October 7, 1940, and passed away on August 29, 2019, at 78 years old. Martha was raised in Napa, California where she graduated from Napa High School in 1956. After marrying Milton M. Abbott, Jr. in 1959, she lived in Napa and Fremont, California, until 1967 when the family relocated north to Humboldt County, where they resided in Arcata and McKinleyville. During that time, Martha worked for Humboldt State University in the Library...

Richard (Dick) Lauer passed away peacefully August 5, 2019. His wife Carol of 70 years and his daughter Linda Anderson were at his side. Dick was born in Racine Wisconsin on November 12, 1927. The family moved to California In 1934. Dick lived In Oakland until he enlisted in the Army Air Corps near the end of WWII and served in the Occupation of Germany. Dick had a long career with J. C. Penney as Advertising and Visual Merchandise Manager. He retired after 34 years as District...

Gioabbo “Joe” Pera passed away on Thursday August 1, 2019. He was 89 years old. Joe immigrated to the United States in 1960 at the age of 30 from Italy. He married Anita Pecchia and settled in to life in America. Together they raised a son, Steven Pera. He worked as a Green Picker, picking ferns for local florist shops. In the mid ‘70s he went to work for Eureka City Garbage and operated the cardboard press from which he retired. In 1961 he started a small yard service...

With her two children by her side, Bonnie Lee Botkin passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 91. Born in Oklahoma in 1928, Bonnie moved to California with her family during the Depression and eventually graduated from Eureka High School in 1947. Less than one year later, she married Herbert Harold Botkin, and the two of them enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Herb’s passing in 2011. In the weeks prior to her passing, Bonnie was visited by each of her four grandchildren. They...

      Babe passed away on July 21, 2019, at the age of 93. Babe was born to Libero and Carolina Banducci.   He was welcomed by his two older sisters, Teresa and Fiorina. He grew up on I street one block from the Arcata Plaza. Babe graduated from Arcata High School in 1944. Two months later he headed to Texas for Basic Training and then on to Seattle to be shipped out to the Pacific Theater. He was part of the 96th Infantry Division, Deadeyes, Leyte/Okinawa as a...

On July 24, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and dear friend Mary E. Durrett peacefully went to be with the the angels with family and friends by her side. Mary (Sally) joined her husband, Hub (Sam) and many family members and friends dear to her heart. Mary was born in Antlers, Oklahoma on June 15, 1931, to Jesse James and Ruby Marie McCollough. As the second born of seven children, Mary was always caring and nurturing to everyone. At the age of 16, Mary found her...

Gino P. Zarucchi passed away on July 14, 2019 in Fortuna at the age of 93. He was born on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926 at the Old General Hospital in Eureka. He spent his early years in the lumber camps in Fieldbrook with his parents, Michele (Mike) and Isolina. He moved to Eureka when it was time for his schooling to begin. He attended Eureka High School, leaving during his junior year to enlist in the US Navy. He served aboard the USS Buckingham in the Pacific as a machinist mate. He was...