James Arthur “Jim” Smith passed away peacefully at his home in Mattole Valley on March 15, 2025. Born January 16, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka, Jim was the oldest child of Donald and Mildred (Lindley) Smith. Shortly after his birth he and his mother joined his father at Garfield Air Base in Illinois, where his father was a twin engine flight instructor in the Army Air Force.

Jim grew up in Ferndale, attending local schools and graduating with the Ferndale High School Class of 1962. He continued his education at Humboldt State College before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1966. After his military service, Jim continued what would be a 35-year career with the California Department of Transportation as a CalTrans Transportation Engineer. Significant projects he supervised included construction of the Rio Dell-Scotia Bridge, the Lindley Bridge at Mattole, widening of Hwy 199 by Patrick’s Creek Resort, and the Del Norte bypass, before retiring in 2000.

Retirement allowed Jim to fully embrace the places and pastimes he loved. Summers were spent in Christmas Valley, Oregon, on Dennis and Pam Mauney’s ranch, while winters brought him back to the Mattole Valley, where his mother had been raised. He was the proud grandson of four Humboldt County pioneers: George Lindley and Verna Hindley Lindley of Mattole and Arthur Smith and Alice Haugh Smith of Port Kenyon/Arcata.

A man of adventures and many interests, Jim was an avid skier in his younger years, even working a season as a ski instructor at Squaw Valley, alongside his good friend Dennis Mauney. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jim had a passion for aviation, piloting his own Cessna 172C. He enjoyed the open water aboard his Clipperman sailboat. Later in life, he took to riding his EVELO electric bicycle. He also had an unexpected brush with media fame when a cascade of bricks flattened his Volvo during the 1992 earthquake - his loyal dog, Shotzie, miraculously survived inside.

Jim is survived by his aunt Guimar Lindley; sister, Susan (Dean) Petersen; his brother, Jack (Joanne) Smith; his nieces, Wendy (Norm) Sotomayor; Kalynn (Bobby) Dolcini; Julie (Brandon) Axell; his nephew, Josh (Kim) Smith; his stepmother, Donnis Smith, and his former wife, Davina George. He will also be fondly remembered by Janice Thomas, Teresa “Toad” & Charlie Hower, Nick & Patty Mendes, Paul & Alana Clark, Pam Mauney, Larry Turnbow and Charlie Jones.

As per Jim’s wishes, no formal service will be held. His ashes will be spread in Mattole Valley and Christmas Valley, the two places he called home. The family extends their gratitude to Dr. Mullins, Dr. Albertini and Dr. Shayeb for their compassionate care.

In honor of Jim, donations may be made to The Ferndale Museum, (PO Box 431) or Ferndale Fire Dept. (PO Box 485), Ferndale, 95536; or the Petrolia Fire Dept. (PO Box 169) or Mattole Valley Historical Society, (PO Box 144), Petrolia, 95558.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jim Smith’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

UPDATE, April 1, 2025:

Not so fast! The College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees today has decided to pump the brakes this proposed mascot change. At today’s meeting, the board decided to get more community input before swapping Corsairs for Wolves, the Times-Standard reports.

Trustee Lorraine Pedrotti, who represents a region that largely overlaps the parts of Humboldt County represented by Supervisor Rex Bohn, voiced concern about changing something that’s been around for so long, though CR President Keith Flamer said a task force already solicited community feedback, according to reporter Robert Schaulis. 

Flamer also suggested that controversy may be inevitable in the current political climate, when jettisoning a mascot for its associations with slavery may strike some as “DEI-like,” potentially inviting political retribution.

###

Bad news for fans of 15th Century Mediterranean sea bandits: College of the Redwoods plans to abandon its current mascot, the Corsairs, in favor of something a bit more locally relevant and a bit less freighted with historical baggage: the Wolves.

CR’s previous logo. | Via CR.

On Tuesday, the community college’s Board of Trustees is scheduled to approve the mascot swap as one of numerous items on the consent agenda. 

“The Corsairs mascot is being retired due to its problematic historical associations,” a staff report explains. “Corsairs were involved in the African and European slave trade and continuing to use this mascot does not align with the College’s commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for all students and community members. “

CR formed a “Mascot Development Task Force” to explore new options, soliciting input from the community and from the Wiyot Tribe. The process yielded three finalists: the Condors, the Wolves and the Krakens. 

The Wolves got the task force nod “because of the wolf’s close connection with the Wiyot culture and to the unceded territory upon which the Eureka Campus occupies,” the staff report notes. CR President Keith Flamer agreed with the recommendation. The Times-Standard first reported on the proposed mascot swap on Saturday.

Another point of lupinus connection: In 2022, the Wiyot Tribe celebrated the purchase of a 46-acre coastal property near present-day King Salmon, at the base of Humboldt Hill, known by the Tribe as Mouralherwaqh or “wolf’s house.”  CORRECTION: The area known in Wiyot stories as “Wolf’s House” —Chvuchgudidaluwilhi in Soulatluk — was closer to the CR campus — hence the recommendation.]

What do you think of the (proposed) new mascot? Would you have gone for the Condors or the Krakens instead? Head on over to LoCO Pollz to weigh in.

###

A man in his early 40s is currently being carried by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital with second-degree burns after he was engulfed in flames for about 20 seconds following a “flare-up” at the Scotia Mill power plant, according to scanner traffic.

The man’s beard “melted” in the fire and he had to jump off of a 10-foot balcony to escape the flames, according to the feed. He landed on his hand and was in “excruciating pain at this time,” the caller informed dispatch.

Here’s the scanner feed from around 9:40 a.m.:

Scanner

This story is developing and will be updated. 

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman led a crowded town hall meeting this afternoon at the Adorni Center on Eureka’s waterfront, speaking to an anxious but broadly supportive crowd of around 500 people. Over the course of about an hour and 40 minutes he addressed what he characterized as the “existential threat to democracy” presented by President Donald Trump and his Republican enablers in Congress.

“The truth is, I have never been more worried and alarmed about the direction of this country,” Huffman declared early in the meeting. He said Congressional Republicans have abdicated their responsibility to serve as a check on the executive branch, choosing instead to be obsequious while Trump “lurch[es] toward authoritarianism.”

Among the crowd was a smattering of vocal critics of Huffman’s support for sending military aid to Israel. They occasionally yelled at him from the standing-room-only area at the back and from elsewhere in the large room. He addressed a few direct questions about the violence against Palestinian people in Gaza, and near the end of the meeting he delivered a forceful response to a couple of especially outspoken critics.

The crowd was mostly on his side, though. After entering through a side door, stage right, Huffman strolled to the lectern amid a hearty round of applause. About three quarters of the crowd stood as they clapped and cheered for the North Coast’s Democratic representative in Congress. 

Appearing chuffed by the warm reception, Huffman began with a couple of jokes. He noted the blustery weather outside and quipped, “Someone should propose an offshore wind project; this would be a perfect spot for that!” And after thanking the City of Eureka for making the Adorni Center available he remarked, “It is amazing to see this kind of a turnout. And gosh, I just wonder, how did George Soros find and pay all of you?”

But he quickly acknowledged the “sobering and grim” political moment. He rattled off a few Congressional “funding victories” from recent years, including the $426 million federal grant to build a heavy-lift marine terminal on Humboldt Bay (“We’re still going to have to fight for that funding,” he acknowledged); $37 million for Klamath River restoration; and $15 million for restoration of forests and watersheds in Redwood National and State Parks.

Huffman also noted his recent election as ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. 

“But look,” he said. “I’m real clear on why probably most of you are here. I think you are all really reeling, as I am, from this wave of executive orders unlike anything that we have ever seen, from the wrecking ball of DOGE, from the on-again, off-again tariffs that seem to change almost by the hour and the economic chaos that all of this is unleashing, and just everything else that’s in the news right now.”

As the Trump administration flouts the law and tests legal boundaries, Huffman said, “Republicans in Congress … seem to have forgotten that we are a separate and independent branch of government that the Founders put right up front, Article I of the Constitution. … This Congress thinks it works for Donald Trump, and that is a big constitutional problem.”

He also lamented the “extralegal” (as in illegal) and “incompetent” actions of DOGE, the onslaught of executive orders gutting and eliminating federal departments and the billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook who are “bending the knee” before Trump.

He told a brief anecdote to illustrate the point: At a ceremonial lunch he was obligated to attend at the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, Huffman overheard Amazon’s CEO speaking to Trump’s youngest son, Barron. “And I can overhear Jeff Bezos kissing up to this kid Barron Trump and telling him what a brilliant and insightful young man he is,” Huffman said. “I mean, the level of sycophancy with billionaires trying to curry favor was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Huffman said he agrees that the violence in Gaza has been horrific, and he’s even more horrified that the Trump administration seems willing to rubber-stamp more of it. He added that while he doesn’t like the current Israeli government, he also didn’t want to “throw the people of Israel under the bus.”

Faced with two lousy choices, Huffman said, “I tried to use our influence to redirect the Israeli government and the Israeli war plan, and it didn’t work. So I’m not happy with the outcome either.”

As staffers and volunteers walked around the room with live microphones, Huffman continued to take questions, addressing such matters as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (“a singularly unqualified person running the Department of Health and Human Services”); the potential elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); threats to social security, Medicare and Medicaid; and the elimination of funds for local food banks (“I can’t imagine anything more cruel and wrongheaded.”)

A woman named Carol Monet said she’s worried about green-card holders and other legal residents being “disappeared” by immigration officials for exercising their right to free speech.

Huffman said he saw the potential for such actions back when Trump was disingenuously disavowing Project 2025, and now it’s happening.

“Yeah, the arbitrary, random, secretive disappearing of people is happening across the board,” he said, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been bragging about revoking the student visas of protestors who have “exercised political speech he disagrees with.” Huffman referenced the famous “First they came for … “ passage from the 1930s by German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller and said, “That’s exactly where we are in America right now.”

One attendee told Huffman that he was preaching to the choir and urged him to do more. He responded that while he may lack the charisma and star power of AOC and Bernie Sanders, he’s in their same “fight camp,” and he vowed to visit a Republican district soon.

A U.S. Navy veteran asked Huffman what’s being done to protect habeas corpus, people’s right to challenge the legality of their detention or imprisonment, given the recent crackdown on people who protested against the violence in Gaza.

“ICE is taking plain-clothes, Gestapo goon squads piped up to the gills to take people off the street, take them halfway across the country to a for-profit ICE detention center, or even worse, to yet another Republican-founded overseas torture, slave-labor gulag,” the man said. “What are we doing to protect our students from Cal Poly? And what are we doing to free the political prisoners already taken?”

Huffman said the rights of habeas corpus and due process are “at the core of who we are as a nation,” and he vowed to defend them in every way he can. But he also noted that, being in the minority party in Congress, he doesn’t have the ability to issue subpoenas or hold hearings. Still, he said he would lean on his Republican colleagues because “this shouldn’t be partisan.”

The most heated exchange of the afternoon came toward the end of the event. A woman named Karpani Burns (no relation to this reporter) described a scene in which a Palestinian father held the head of his dead son and challenged Huffman to look at his own moral compass in the context of the “tens of thousands of people that have been murdered” in Gaza.

“I have not yet seen one move on your part to care, to do something except continue with your vote for arms to Israel,” she said. “You continually say they have a right to defend themselves. They are not defending themselves. They are butchering a people. It’s called ge-no-cide.”

Huffman said he finds the violence in Gaza morally repugnant. “I promise you, I really do,” he insisted. “I’m horrified by it, including the scenes that you described, which are really happening. And I wish there was something more that I could do to stop it, but I’ve not been sitting on my hands.” 

As he continued, a woman near the front started shouting at him, calling Israel an ethnic state. He asked to be allowed to finish.

“​​I believe the state of Israel does have a right to exist,” Huffman said. “That doesn’t mean I support everything they do, okay? So there are contradictions and nuances here. It is an issue that does not reduce to an absolute binary the way I think it has been suggested.”

He went on to say that he has tried to support Palestinians “in ways that many pro-Israel folks are upset with me for,” adding, “I’m probably in a position where I please absolutely no one on this issue.”

Other people in the room shouted angrily as he continued. The woman near the front kept shouting, “Palestinians have a right to exist!” Huffman engaged in a bit of back-and-forth before going on the offensive with a remark about the last presidential election. 

“You know what?” he said. “Maybe getting thousands and thousands of people not to vote for Democrats in the last election because they weren’t perfect with what you want was a dumb idea.” 

The crowd began cheering in response. He continued. “Maybe you should have some accountability for just totally misplaced advocacy on this issue, but let’s move on.”

The woman continued to shout at him — “You are a war criminal voting for genocide” — as others urged her to sit down. 

Huffman turned his attention to the last public speaker of the day, a man who recounted his harrowing experiences interacting with the American medical system as he sought care for his son, who suffered from severe mental disabilities in his youth. He said he and his son have reached a state of normalcy thanks to the $3,000 per month in Medicaid they receive, and he said the Trump administration represents an existential threat to that kind of care.

Huffman thanked the man for summing up what’s at stake in this political moment, noting the cruel irony that those dismantling the country’s social safety net are among the richest people on Earth.

“They’re these oligarchs that will never feel any of this, and they are just zeroing out programs without any concern for what it means for people’s lives … ,” he said. “Thank you for helping draw that connection, because it’s a super central part of this moment that we’re all in, and I think a very appropriate note for us to end on. Thank you for a great conversation.”

View more photos of the event below, and you can watch the video of the full town hall meeting at the bottom of this post, courtesy Access Humboldt.

They’re expecting a packed house at the Adorni Center on Sunday, where Jared Huffman is set to take center stage for a town hall meeting at 1 p.m. The congressman is expected to give constituents an update on how he sees the state of D.C. politics while also answering some questions. 

Access Humboldt is live-streaming the event. Watch below. LoCO will have a full report later.

The sound was deafening – chanting, stomping feet, cheers and boos. The din was coming from very nearby. Getting up from the desk where I’d been lesson planning, I went to the window. Outside a large group of students had gathered at the entrance to the building.

“Dersler yok!” Cancel classes! This was one of the rallying cries. The group about 150 or so students was led by a female student carrying a bullhorn. Others were demanding that security open the doors to the building, which had been locked beforehand as a precaution. Out in the corridor, a few students who had stayed for classes were standing at the windows, watching the demonstration and taking video on their smartphones. They grinned nervously, excitedly.

“I want to be active!” said one of them, a youth of perhaps eighteen, looking upon his peers with both admiration and envy.

Photos: Tressler.

The demonstrations have been happening here in Ankara and across the country for days, as the world by now surely knows. Since the arrest of popular Istanbul mayor and Turkish presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu last week, major anti-government protests have persisted in Istanbul, Izmir, and other cities. As you may have read, the mayor was accused of corruption and of links to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK, which officially is listed here as a terrorist group. Here in the nation’s capital, similar unrest has continued both in the center district of Kızılay, where the government offices are located, but has also spread to university campuses. Which is what was happening outside my office window this past Tuesday.

Many students say that, as young Turks, they are worried about their country’s future and fed up with the ruling government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in charge of this country since 2003, before most of these students were even born. Critics accuse Erdogan and his ruling AKP Party of manipulating the justice system, of falsely arresting Imamoglu so that, if convicted, he could be eliminated as a viable presidential candidate and also help AK Party recapture political control of Istanbul, which has been led by the minority CHP for the past few years.

After watching them protest for a while, I went back to my office to continue preparing for lessons. But then a roaring sound seemed to buzz around my ears, as if I were wearing headphones. Suddenly I realized the buzz was not a buzz but a clamor, much louder now than before, and it was coming from inside the building. You could even feel reverberations in the walls. The protesters were inside.

Out in the corridor, the students had gathered on every floor, holding signs (One young woman held a sign that read in English, “I DON’T NEED SEX BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT F***S ME EVERY DAY;” another read, “LIBERTY OR DEATH” with the ‘A’ made into an anarchy sign.

The chants continued, as many students from the nearby classrooms joined them. There were more calls to cancel classes, calls for the government to resign, shouts of support for the minority party and so on, continuing for several minutes, with a few teachers, security staff and even janitorial personnel, their morning cleaning interrupted, quietly observing. Presently, the demonstrators filed out, exiting the building and taking their gathering over to a large green mall outside.

Inside, the school was unusually quiet. It was expected to be a quiet week anyway, with the end of the holy month approaching and the coming of bayram and the spring weather. The demonstration seemed in line with how the past few days have felt – a whole country once again rocked by tumult and unrest.

I say “once again” because for anyone who’s lived in Turkiye any length of time grows accustomed to its volatility, natural or not. In the fifteen years or so I spent in Istanbul, one had the opportunity to witness the riots and protests over Gezi Park back in 2013 – the proposed destruction of a park in Taksim Square that quickly became a rallying point for anti-government protests. Many of us call recall every evening in Istanbul and in cities across the country the strangely musical clamor of pots and pans, an evening ritual in which people stood on their balconies and banged these kitchenware as a show of unity against the government.

Then, there was the failed military coup of July 2016, when a calm Friday evening was suddenly overrun with tanks and soldiers on the bridges, jets soaring overhead in the night, and frantic citizens (my wife and I included) scampering to buy supplies from the shops that were still open, fearing days or even weeks of crackdowns and deprivations.

And of course, there were other upheavals: March 2020, when classes and everything else suddenly were brought to a screeching halt with the pandemic and the announcement of lockdowns, and we all had to more or less spend the next year of our lives at home. We’d scarcely gotten used to being back outside when in February 2023, a massive earthquake struck, killing more than 50,000 and displacing thousands more.

Throughout these events, the economy has been an ongoing soap opera, with hyperinflation and with each cataclysmic event plunging the lira further down against the dollar (after the recent arrest of the Istanbul mayor, the lira briefly fell to 40-1, before rebounding to about 35 – people say that the government sold a lot of dollars to help stabilize the currency.

I could go on, but at this point, what’s the point? Things are too touch and go. Millions rallied to support Imamoglu this past Sunday by voting for him as a presidential candidate. Meanwhile, protests continue each day, as evidenced by the demonstration right here in the building where I work this past week.

After Tuesday’s protest, some students returned to their classes. A few of them, looking sweaty, tired but nonetheless proud (empowered?), stood and talked excitedly to each other in the corridors and outside in the smoking area. From previous conversations, I’ve gathered that many of them wish to leave Turkiye upon graduation. They want to go West, to Europe, North America. Most of them seek money, as young people tend to do, but also because they want greater stability. Of course, looking at the region – from Ukraine to Gaza, and also at the growing tensions around the world, particularly between America and Europe, one at times feels troubled by the notion that perhaps nowadays nowhere is entirely secure, that greener pastures may be illusory.

But I was touched by the students’ passion, courage and commitment. As a journalist, I have witnessed many demonstrations over the years. The causes may differ – from environmental protests in Northern California, to anti-nuke rallies in Prague, and so on — but the feeling is the same, the desire to seize the reins, to somehow make some kind of change. To see citizens, here or elsewhere, young or old, have that look in their eyes, and to hear it in their voices, is something that never ceases to amaze, even inspire.

Will any of it make a difference?

“No,” says one young man, when asked. His eyes fall briefly, crestfallen. Then again, how often do such demonstrations prove to be effective anywhere? But maybe that’s not the lasting thing. For these young people, so often accused of being lazy and self-obsessed with social media, maybe it’s a relief to know that maybe after all they do care about their country’s future, and about their own. Perhaps it is the dawn of something.

(Note: The Istanbul mayor remains in custody. Later in the week, the terrorism charge was dropped, which means Imamoglu’s interim replacement can be from his party, rather than a hand-picked AK Party member, which would have occurred had the terrorism charges remained. Many here attribute this as a sign that the nationwide protests appear to have had some impact.)

###

James Tressler, a former Lost Coast resident and journalist, is a writer and teacher living in Ankara.

Betty Jane Eberhardt passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025, at Frye’s Care Home in Eureka, one week after her 96th birthday. She had loving phone conversations and visits with family on her birthday. She was very happy to meet her two new great granddaughters, in the months and weeks prior to her passing.

Betty was born February 9, 1929, in Loveland, Colorado, the youngest of 10 children born to Elizabeth Beideck and David Dreith, Volga Germans from Russia.

Her parents were farmers and life was not easy. Betty’s older siblings provided much of her care while the family worked in the fields. As she grew, Betty had to take on many farm duties including herding cows and bulls around a four mile pasture area when she was just eight years old. This was a big responsibility for a young girl. Years later, she and her sister Helen milked cows in the early morning before they headed off to school.

Betty’s mother passed away in 1937, when she was 9 years old. Her father married Anna Pauley, in 1938, adding an older step-sister to the household. Betty liked both of them. Unfortunately, her step-mother passed away when Betty was 17 years old.

Betty’s family lived in Colorado, until her father bought an 80 acre farm near Minatare, Nebraska. They moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1940, living there until the farmhouse was cleaned up and upgraded with electricity.

Betty attended Minatare High School and she loved school. She had the most beautiful smile and made many friends, several of whom she stayed in touch with throughout her lifetime. Betty relied on friends to drive her to school. On occasion, she would have to walk the four miles to home, do her chores, and prepare the evening meal for her father and brothers. In her senior year of high school, Betty missed school every Monday, as it was her job to do the family laundry. Despite all the setbacks with chores at home and on the farm, Betty graduated from Minatare High School in 1947, the only child of her family to do so.

Betty met Elmer Eberhardt on a blind date. She said when Elmer gave her an unexpected kiss, she saw stars. She was smitten with Elmer, and she had found her soulmate. Betty and Elmer were married in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in November, 1948. They lived in Omaha for a short time so Elmer could attend a trade school. In 1949, Betty gave birth to a son, David, in Scottsbluff, where they lived until 1953. Elmer’s older brother suggested they come to Northern California, where there were many jobs in the timber industry since neither Betty, nor Elmer, had any intentions of farming. After many months of contemplation, they headed west to Humboldt County.

Betty and her family soon found a tiny duplex in Eureka. After their daughter, Diane, was born in 1955, Bettyand Elmer purchased a small fixer-upper home on Hodgson Street in 1956. Their daughter, Debra was born in 1957, and the family was complete. They would live in this home until 1977, when they purchased a home in Cutten.

Betty was a good mother and wife. She took joy in caring for her family. She always kept a spotless home and wanted the yard to look nice. Betty enjoyed baking, and made countless pies, cakes, cupcakes, and cookies over the years for her family and friends. Throughout her life, Betty made many phone calls and sent cards and letters in her efforts to stay in touch with people. In addition to showing attention and kindness to others, Betty also took great pride in her own appearance and was always very well put-together. She loved to bargain- shop, and always made the greatest buys on beautiful outfits and shoes. Her hair was always curled, her makeup done just so, and her lovely smile and bright eyes were more accentuated by the ways she cared for herself.

Betty supported her children in their school functions and in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, and Job’s Daughters. Betty was an active member of Washington School PTA and was presented with an Honorary Service Award in the 1960s. In 1966, she began working for the Eureka City Schools in the cafeterias at Zane Junior High School, and later at Eureka Senior High School. She then worked as a teacher’s aide at Jefferson, Marshall, and Alice Birney Elementary Schools. Her final position was as a resource aide at Lafayette Elementary School, retiring in 1991. For a short while she tutored students at her home.

Betty and Elmer enjoyed exploring the beauty of Humboldt County. They made family outings to beaches, rivers, and forests. The Sequoia Park and Zoo were also favorite places. Sometimes, relatives from Nebraska and Colorado would visit. Betty and Elmer also loved traveling back to the Midwest to visit their family members. They would take their children to different National Parks, National Monuments, and tourist spots along their chosen routes. Betty and Elmer enjoyed exploring our beautiful country. They also traveled to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, in 1969.

When Betty and Elmer moved to their Cutten home in 1977, they began a daily two mile walking routine. In later years, walking shorter routes, they could be seen holding hands as they walked. Betty and Elmer met their neighbors and became friends with other walkers over the years. After retirement, they did more walking and traveling. Betty and Elmer hiked to the top of Mount Lassen. They often traveled to Arizona to visit their daughter, Debra, and her family. On another occasion, after several months of preparation, they walked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. They attended family reunions in the Midwest as well as their Minatare High School Class Reunions. Betty and Elmer joined OCTA (Oregon California Trail Association) and, for many years, hiked pioneer trails across the western states. They met and made lifelong friendships with several of the OCTA members. Betty and Elmer joined some of their family members on an Alaskan Cruise. Their children and grandchildren joined them on trips where they followed pioneer trails they had previously explored. Betty and Elmer especially enjoyed their annual family trips to Oregon beach houses near Gold Beach, for 17 years.Betty adored her grandchildren. She and Elmer attended their school functions, birthday, family, and holiday events. Betty loved having the grandchildren visit and always had homemade cookies for them.

Three of her granddaughters lived in Cutten and attended the neighborhood schools. Betty and Elmer provided the best ‘Grandparent Daycare’ during school holidays, summer vacation, and afterschool. Betty would help her granddaughters learn to read and do mathematics. They would watch her bake in the kitchen and sometimes sneak a bite of dough when she wasn’t looking. Betty and Elmer took the girls on walks and to Sequoia Park. The girls cherished this time with their grandparents. Betty and Elmer celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in November of 2020. When Elmer passed away in 2021, at age 96, Betty lost her partner and the love of her life. Betty loved the wonderful life that she and Elmer had built together. Six months after Elmer’s passing, she moved to Frye’s Care Home in her Cutten neighborhood. Betty immediately initiated a daily walking routine which she kept up for several years. Some of the staff at Frye’s were like her extended family and cared for her until she peacefully passed away.

Betty is survived by her sister, Helen Honstein from Hay Springs, Nebraska; her children, David Eberhardt (Marie), Diane Larkin (Dan), Debra Harper (Pat); her grandchildren, Matt Eberhardt, Marc Eberhardt (Sara), Jacob Eberhardt, Sara Farley, Brooke Logan (Garrett), Amy Borden (Huna), Katie Larkin, Hannah Gossi (Jared), Emily Larkin Jewell (Brandon), Steven Harper (Rachel); her great-grandchildren; her great, great-grandchildren; and her nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. Betty is predeceased by her husband, Elmer, by her parents, David and Elizabeth, her step mother, Anna, her siblings, Mary, Lydia, Alexander, William, Leroy, Lenora, Charles, and Harold, and a grandson, Bryan Hubbard. Betty is missed by family and friends, and those whose lives she touched with her kindness. The lasting memories of her legacy will live in our hearts forever, and her beautiful smile will never be forgotten. Knowing that Betty is again with her beloved Elmer brings us joy and gives us comfort and peace.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Frye’s Care Home and Hospice of Humboldt for the compassionate care Betty received.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Humboldt. A small family Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Betty Eberhardt’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.