Rayetta Warlick, born Rayetta Colleen Short on July 30, 1937, passed away on April 15th of this year, 2025, at the age of 87 in Eureka.

She is survived by her husband and sweetheart, (her handsome Timmy) Timothy David Warlick; her brother, Raymond Short; her three remaining daughters, Lona Deaton, Theresa Laidlaw, and Polina (Polly) Hryn; her 14 grandchildren, Monica Hurley, Toni Williams, Christine Klebe, David Elsa, David Deaton, Michael Dority, Jennifer Laidlaw, Tori Laidlaw, Ridge Peterson, Brice Peterson, Ford Peterson, Justin Lendahl, Benjamin Hryn, and John Hryn; her 16 great-grandchildren, Russell Hurley, Kashi Hurley, Brittany Wonnacott, Kenny McDonald, Elijah Hill, Eve Juntz, Mickey Juntz, Ayden Juntz, Jenny Juntz, Liam Juntz, Aubrey Juntz, Amelia Juntz, Elle Dority, Hudson Dority, Hannah Lendahl, and Lucy Hryn; her eight great-great grandchildren, Elijah Hurley, Alexandria Black, Ash Black, Stormy Black, Aurora Black, Ava Carns, Lannon Carns, Michael Davis; and her dog, Rosie. She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Short; her mother, Marie Antoinette Short; her sister Myra Zamarripa; and her daughters Debbie Klebe and Tuesday Peterson.

Bride, mother, grandmother, friend … homemaker, bookkeeper, dealmaker, fun maker … Rayetta (Rat) has been crowned with a life well lived, and abundant love for her shall be carried forth by those of us who remain.

With dominant traits of wit and magnetism, she found her match in Tim, her love and companion to whom she was a fiercely loyal and devoted partner spanning most of their lifetimes. Statuesque and elegant, standing firmly by Tim’s side, they were a couple to be reckoned with, both fun-loving and flirty with attractive personalities, making them quite the popular duo. With an innate sense of fashion (hot pants inclusive), and a unique style all their own, they complimented each other, that along with their shared spunky, sassy, quirky sense of humor. Together they partook in countless adventures, some taking them across the seas to New Zealand and the Isle of Man, a British island territory.

Rayetta helped to secure heavy equipment contract jobs for Tim throughout California and Nevada, accompanying him and simultaneously getting bookkeeping jobs. She also worked for an extended period in HR at Blue Lake Forest.

Naturally self-expressive and silver-tongued, Rayetta had interest in real estate and with sharp negotiating skills, She had the ability to talk anyone into just about anything. She had innovative ideas and the know-how to translate them into concrete actions. And with her inherently clear understanding of the most important aspects of life, she had the ability to communicate that insight to others, providing a solution … and a smile.

Rayetta was a caring, generous, nurturing figure, adept at gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, and yarn work to name just a few. She also enjoyed crafting stained-glass art and pitching horseshoes, eventually winning the entire Northern California Horseshoe Tournament.

She liked street tacos and her daughter Debbie’s homemade chicken enchiladas. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Her favorite song was Danny Boy. Her favorite ice cream was chocolate peanut butter. Her longest friendship was with Laverna, her friend of 87 years. They grew up together, as their mothers were acquainted.

She has now been held up in the arms of heaven, her light of golden dusk merging with the eternal flame, the everlasting embers of her memory remaining to guide us along our path. She glances down at the tears in our eyes and soothes us with the enveloping hug of a gentle breeze. Though she may seem further from us now, we shall see, in every rose, her beauty and eternal youth. We shall look on with admiration at her spirit in the magic of morning dew on a spider’s web, the replenishing droplet on a flower petal, the playfulness in an April shower.

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