Last year was supposed to mark a milestone in the psychedelic movement. Lawmakers and advocates were set to make California the next frontier in allowing the use of “magic mushrooms.”

They were hopeful because Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 — after vetoing a bill that would have decriminalized the possession of psychedelics — asked legislators for a bill that would prioritize the therapeutic promise of these drugs.

Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, responded to Newsom’s request with a proposal that would have allowed for psilocybin and other hallucinogens to be ingested in a controlled setting and under the supervision of licensed and trained facilitators.

But that bill, like three similar ones before it and after it, went nowhere. Skeptical lawmakers expressed concerns about funding, standing up a complex program and safety as they turned down the measures.

Undeterred, advocates now are regrouping to try again.

What exactly a new legislative proposal would look like in California is still uncertain, advocates and lawmakers say. Most agree that getting something through in California will have to be more narrow than what’s been proposed in the past, and likely will be centered on providing access to veterans.

What’s most feasible is “some sort of pilot program, or something on a smaller scale to prove it out,” said Jesse Gould, founder and president of the Heroic Hearts Project, which has sponsored psychedelic proposals in California and other states. His nonprofit connects military veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder with psychedelic programs in other countries.

Psychedelics remain illegal at the federal level, but voters in two states have authorized them for certain uses and several California cities have passed measures decriminalizing them. President Joe Biden in late 2023 signed a defense spending bill that included money to study how psychedelic drugs could be used to treat veterans and military service members.

What Gould and other advocates envision as a first step for California might look like a proposal Sen. Josh Becker, a Democrat from Menlo Park and Sen. Brian Jones, a San Diego Republican, submitted last summer. Their bill, dubbed Heal Our Heroes Act, would have allowed the counties of San Diego, Santa Cruz and San Francisco to launch up to five centers each where licensed staff could facilitate psilocybin to veterans and former first responders over 21 who passed a screening test.

Their bill did not move forward, but their concept could return.

Prioritizing and limiting this experimental access to veterans and former first responders is the most responsible route, Jones said. He does not support decriminalizing psychedelics for recreational use.

“I want to serve our veterans who are suffering from these mental ailments and do everything we can so that they get the attention they need when they come home,” Jones said.

As of publication, Jones and Becker said they had not yet decided whether they’d re-introduce the Heal Our Heroes bill this year. Wiener’s office did not respond to requests for an interview.

States legalize psychedelic therapies

Approximately 8 million Americans used psilocybin mushrooms in 2023, according to RAND, a research organization, and a UC Berkeley poll showed that 61% of voters support regulated therapeutic use of psychedelic substances.

Since 2020, at least 37 states have introduced bills or ballot measures pertaining to psychedelics. These range from funding research to reducing penalties for possession. Not all proposals make it through, but some researchers predict this momentum will lead to change in state laws over the next several years. One 2023 analysis published in the Journal for the American Medical Association Psychiatry forecasted that a majority of states will have legalized psychedelics by 2037.

In the Golden State, drug reform advocacy groups and researchers have tried at least three times since 2022 to place psychedelic-related measures on the ballot, but have failed to meet the signature-gathering deadlines.

Going to voters is expensive and a major undertaking with no guarantee. The ballot box strategy proved successful in Oregon and Colorado, where voters, in 2020 and 2022, approved measures to allow the facilitated use of psychedelics.

Voters in Massachusetts, however, recently rejected a measure that would have allowed the state to legalize and regulate five plant-based psychedelics for people 21 and up.

Part of the issue with the Massachusetts ballot initiative was that it was too broad, said Jared Moffat, deputy policy director of New Approach, a political action committee dedicated to drug reform. Voters were confused about what exactly the measure would do and who it would apply to, he said. He didn’t view the measure’s failure as a sign that people would reject legalizing psychedelics for specific uses.

“I think that there’s still a ton of support for therapeutic access,” he said. “I think that people, broadly speaking, have a deep understanding that there is a mental health crisis, and that the existing tools that we have help some people, but there are a lot of folks that aren’t being helped.”

Veterans seeking new PTSD treatments

Gould started his nonprofit, Heroic Hearts Project, after his own journey with PTSD led him to the Peruvian Amazon for nontraditional therapies.

Two years after leaving the military, Gould was diagnosed with PTSD. He was also dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury. The former Army Ranger sought therapy from the Department of Veterans Affairs mental, but even before he could see a therapist, he was being offered prescription drugs, he said.

“This didn’t seem like the first, next best step, and I was sort of disillusioned by what was offered,” Gould said. “It was just sort of an acquiescence of, ‘oh yeah, you’re messed up, and you’re going to be messed up,’ as opposed to building tangible steps forward.”

Around the same time, he was hearing about Ayahuasca retreats in Peru. After lots of internet research and a leap of faith, Gould made the trip to Iquitos, a remote town in the northwestern part of the country. He described the experience as one of the most challenging things he’s ever done. Immediately after he felt lighter, more at peace and more connected to everything around him, he said. In the following months, he noticed that the things that would trigger anxiety, hypervigilance or depression, didn’t affect him to the same degree as before, he said.

Groups including Heroic Hearts and Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) provide “healing grants” to veterans from across the country seeking to try guided psychedelic retreats in other countries. More recently, Heroic Hearts has also started helping vets access psychedelic programs in Oregon.

“There are a lot of veterans from California going to our retreats in Oregon,” Gould said. “I feel like if I was a politician in California, that’d be a little bit embarrassing.”

But demand currently outstrips the availability of these grants, said Kurshid Khoja, director of public policy at Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, an organization that focuses on veteran suicide prevention.

“We are saying no to a majority of the folks who are applying because we simply don’t have the funds to be able to send them,” Khoja said. “We try to identify folks who have tried everything at this point, and they need a Hail Mary because they are experiencing a suicidal ideation.”

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In California, 449 veterans died by suicide in 2022, the most recent federal data show. By some estimates 1 in 5 U.S veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan experience PTSD and major depression.

The goal, Khoja said, is get to a point where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves a psychedelic product for therapy that can be available and covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but in the meantime, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions is looking to states to create psychedelic programs.

One of the first things on advocates’ wishlist is a memorandum promising states that the federal government would not pursue charges in states that legalize and regulate psychedelics, said Sam Chapman, a political strategist and former campaign manager for Oregon’s measure that legalized psilocybin use there. The Obama administration issued that kind of guidance to states in 2013 with regard to marijuana.

“The states are going to continue to lead,” Chapman said. “The states passing laws are the reason that the federal government will eventually get off the bench and do something.”

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Heather Mae Lenardo, a beautiful baby girl with a full head of hair, was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1975, to Kathy Jorgensen (Bowser) and David Lenardo of Ferndale. With profound sadness and heavy hearts, we announce her unexpected passing on November 23, 2024.

Heather was born at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, and grew up in the small communities of Ferndale and Eureka. As a child, she was full of energy and love, but she was a tough little girl. Heather liked playing with her older brother Jereme, who lovingly endured her spirited bossiness. She attended St. Bernard’s High School, where she discovered her passion for sports. Heather excelled on the softball diamond and volleyball court, winning many championships and earning the Top Gun award. She later found joy in coaching her younger sister Meggan in softball, passing on her love for the game.

After high school, Heather entered the workforce with determination and a strong work ethic. She started her career in food services, working at Hometown Buffet in both Eureka and Chico. During her time in Chico, she lived with her sister Meggan, further strengthening their bond. Heather eventually returned to Eureka and took on the role of deli manager at Murphy’s Market in Cutten, a position she was truly passionate about. She adored her customers, and they adored her in return. Whether personally handing out holiday dinners on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve or going the extra mile to ensure her customers were cared for, Heather’s kindness and dedication shone brightly.

A couple years later, Heather met Ian Meister Baetge, through a mutual friend. Together, they built a life filled with love and welcomed their son, Hunter, who was the light of Heather’s world. She often said, “Isn’t he handsome?” — a sentiment everyone who met him would agree with. Heather was a proud and devoted mother, attending Hunter’s baseball, soccer, and basketball games, always cheering him on with pride and joy.

Outside of her family and work, Heather had a deep love for gardening. She delighted in growing vegetables, flowers, and plants, particularly her prized artichokes and even an avocado tree she grew from seed. Her compassion extended to animals as well — her beloved cats were always well cared for, and she made sure even stray visitors never went hungry.

Heather’s headstrong determination, big heart, and love for her family defined her. She cared deeply for those around her and made a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Heather is survived by her loving son, Hunter, who was her pride and joy; her life partner, Ian Meister Baetge; her mother, Kathy Bowser, and stepfather, Jeff Bowser; her brother, Jereme Lenardo, and nieces Shaylynn and Kelsey; her half-sister, Meggan (Bretney) Johnson, nephew Xander and niece Malloree; her stepmother, Mary Enos-Lenardo; her half-sisters, Shawna Lenardo and Bernadette Lenardo; her half-brothers, Kevin Lenardo and Bradley Lenardo (Tricia), along with their children, Bradley Jr., Casey, and Kelsey; and Ian’s mother, Jeri Meister. She also leaves behind numerous cousins, extended family members, and countless friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Heather was preceded in death by her father, David Lenardo, as well as her maternal grandparents, Gunnar and Clara Jorgensen and her paternal grandparents.

A celebration of Heather’s life will take place at the Elks Lodge in Eureka on February 1, 2025, from 2–4 p.m. All who knew and loved Heather are welcome to attend to honor her remarkable life and the legacy she leaves behind. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple in honor of Heather.

Heather Mae Lenardo, born on Christmas Day, was truly a gift to this world. She had the best laugh — bold and delightful, just like her.

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

Leesa Ann Gleaton
July 7, 1957 – December 17, 2024

Leesa Ann Gleaton, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2024, at the age of 67 after an 11-year battle with a rare kind of Alzheimer’s called Benson’s Syndrome. She was the loving wife of Larry Gleaton for 50 years, and a proud mother to three sons — Jacob (Jessica), Justin, and Brant (Tawny) — whom she cherished with all her heart. Her family was everything to her, and she found joy in being surrounded by her grandchildren: Brooklynn, Branson, Baylor, Alexis, Jason and Aubrey.

Born on January 30, 1957, in Corning, California to Jack and Jessie Martin, Leesa grew up with a deep love for adventure and the great outdoors. She was the third of five children, with three sisters — Cindy (Denny), Yvonne (Steve) and Jeanne (Orin) — and a brother, Tony. Together, they shared a bond that was strong and everlasting, and Leesa’s love for her family was unconditional.

Leesa’s passions were many. She loved the ocean and could often be found near its waves, even though she had a particularly humorous relationship with the infamous sneaker waves. She would always remind her sons to respect and appreciate the ocean for both its beauty and danger. Constantly repeating the warning to not turn your back on the ocean. She found peace in the rhythm of the ocean, and her love for it was contagious, as she shared her joy for coastal walks with family and friends. It wasn’t unusual for her to spend hours at the beach, enjoying the water and watching the tides.

In addition to her love for the ocean, Leesa was a true outdoor enthusiast. She enjoyed camping and swimming in rivers, lakes, pools and oceans, and her physical energy was boundless. On one outdoor adventure, Leesa went aboloning at Shelter Cove where she found an impressive 7-gram pearl in one of her abalones. You could always find Leesa running, working out, or going on long hikes, her commitment to staying active and healthy reflected her inner strength. She lived with vitality and grace, always encouraging those around her to do the same.

Leesa’s adventurous spirit also led her to travel widely, visiting many beautiful destinations such as Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas and Las Vegas, where she often found herself exploring new cultures and relaxing with loved ones. But no matter where she went, her favorite place to be was with family, especially during the holidays and family gatherings. She was always thrilled to visit her children and grandchildren, finding joy in watching them grow and sharing in their milestones.

After graduating from the College of the Redwoods with her Associate in Science. Leesa began a 27-year career in the medical field starting as a medical assistant and working her way up to office manager. She found the most satisfaction in working with patients daily, but her drive to seek new challenges led her to management.

Leesa was a loving daughter to Jack and Jessie Martin, who preceded her in death. She was also a cherished sister, aunt and friend to many. Her vibrant personality, infectious laugh and kind heart will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Leesa’s legacy of love, laughter and adventure will live on through her family, who will continue to honor her memory by embracing life with the same zest and joy that she did. A celebration of Leesa’s life will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Fortuna Monday Club, her family invites those who knew and loved her to join them in remembering the incredible woman she was.

In place of flowers, donations may be made in Leesa’s honor to her favorite charity, supporting youth sports and outdoor recreation programs.

Rest in peace, Leesa. Your waves of love will continue to ripple through the hearts of those you touched.

Helen Frances Perkins

Born January 16 1924
Died October 15, 2024

Helen came into this world as her parents and three older siblings were moving from Missouri to Colorado for their health. They made a stop in Pueblo, Colo. to give birth. Helen was the fourth child in a family of eight surviving kids. In the Denver area, Helen grew up on a strawberry farm. She and her family always worked hard.

In 1945, she met and married Richard Dye. Together, they moved to southern California and had two children, Richard and Connie. Helen’s second marriage was to Don Perkins. They both ran catering trucks in Southern California.

In 1972, they bought property up in Humboldt County. Helen sent her daughter, Connie, up to manage the property first, and then they eventually made the move soon after.

Helen and Don had 22 acres in Whitethorn where she was widely known as Helen from “Helen’s Greenhouse.” People from all over southern Humboldt knew of her and bought produce and fruit from her and Don. Helen had a 100-foot commercial greenhouse and Don ran a fruit business, where he brought peaches and melons and more up from Central California. These business ventures were how they met a lot of people.

Everyone who met Helen knew how non-judgmental and kind she was. She was a dedicated member of the Miranda SDA church for many years. Eventually, in the early 1990s, she moved to the Little Golden Gate subdivision in the Bridgeville community, and with her acre of land, she transformed a simple lot into a garden paradise.

Her 36-foot greenhouse was built before her new house, and she resumed growing flowers and vegetables. Her daughter’s family moved across the road a few years later and her two grandchildren, daughter, and son in law were able to spend every day with her for the next 30 plus years. Her son Richard (Dickie) lived in a little cabin on her property for 10 years until he passed as well.

Helen was very active into her older years and always knew she would live to 100. But as the goal date approached she admitted it was perhaps overrated. She prided herself for “having her own teeth” and we always joked with her about that.

She was still mowing a section of her yard until age 95 and until her final year of life, (she made it well past 100!) she would still take little walks up and down her driveway and supervise her grandkids weeding, planting, harvesting, or even pressing apples in her cider press. She never stopped loving her garden or flowers and had an ingenious green thumb she passed down to her daughter Connie and grandson Rob.

The legacy Helen left was one of being a hard worker, incredibly kind and constantly positive. She lived life through rose colored glasses.

Her last 11 months of life were spent in the carehome of Fortuna rehab after a fall which broke her shoulder and hip and increased her developing dementia. She was always such a good grandma and had a close bond with her two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and her bonus daughter Sharla Forwood, who daily cared for her in the last year at the nursing home.

She survived her two husbands, Richard Dye (d. 1996) and Don Perkins (d. 2012), and son Richard (d. 2014). All but one of her siblings have already passed away.

She is survived by her daughter, Connie Bertholf (Robert), her grandchildren, Amy Norton (Michael), Rob Bertholf (Magda) and Sharla Forwood. Great grandkids, Abigail (18) and Benjamin (12) will treasure the years they were able to grow up with her as a regular part of their lives. She still has a lot of family in Colorado who love Helen and keep in touch, and several were able to travel to California to visit with her in this last year. We appreciate the love shown, even from far away.

The family would like to thank Fortuna Rehabilitation for their care and kindness to Helen.

A private memorial was held at her home on Christmas Day.

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

Patsy Davis (affectionately known to many, related to her or not, as Granny or Granny Patsy) fell asleep in death, a little after 10 p.m. on October 12, 2024 in Eureka at the age of 88.

She was born Patricia Claudette Skelton in Kennedy, Oklahoma (she said it might have actually been Watonga, which was the neighboring town) on January 20, 1936 to Frank Melvin Skelton & Elsie Letitia Skelton (née Godwin). The youngest of seven children, she had five sisters and a brother. They were (in descending order of birth): Mildred Olive (or Micky, the oldest), Floyd Melvin, Charlotte Joan, and the triplets — Lela May, Lila Merle, & Lona Joan.

At the time of her birth, the Great Depression had been in full swing for seven years, and her family lived close to the edge of the Dust Bowl. Less than a year before she was born, on April 14, 1935, the Black Sunday Storm (probably the worst dust storm in American history) swept East from the Oklahoma Panhandle and over the Skelton family homestead, blotting out the sun and displacing an estimated 300,000 tons of topsoil, some of which reached the East Coast.

Singer-songwriter (and native Oklahoman) Woody Guthrie described that day in his song The Great Dust Storm (AKA Dust Storm Disaster):

On the 14th day of April of 1935,
There struck the worst of dust storms that ever filled the sky.
You could see that dust storm comin’, the cloud looked deathlike black,
And through our mighty nation, it left a dreadful track.
From Oklahoma City to the Arizona line,
Dakota and Nebraska to the lazy Rio Grande,
It fell across our city like a curtain of black rolled down,
We thought it was our judgement, we thought it was our doom.”

Suffice it to say, times were extremely tough for a family with seven children. Sometime before 1940 (probably not long after Patsy’s birth), they packed up and made their way West- headed to California (they were in Tulare, CA for the 1940 census) and surviving, as so many Dust Bowl refugees did, as “Okie” migrant farm workers.

Patsy told us how her father Frank had seen (and possibly talked to) author John Steinbeck, who spent some time at the FSA migrant camp she and her family were living in. Steinbeck was doing research for his classic book The Grapes of Wrath. She was told that many in the camp thought he was strange. His days were spent ambling through the camp and talking with all whom he met. After a while, he would stop and find a nice spot to sit- spending hours just watching the hustle and bustle of the camp, pausing only to jot things down in his notebook.

It is wonderful to think of a young Patsy listening intently as her father or sisters told her about the times the great author had visited their camp. Perhaps those tales were the spark that ignited her lifelong love of reading, writing, and storytelling. It would make for a good story, if so.

In 1942, when Patsy was just six, her mother Elsie tragically passed away at the age of 41. Even in her later years, Patsy would talk about how much she missed her mother.

Fast forward to Santa Maria, Calif. in the early 1950s where she, a bright student at Santa Maria High School, met a young Texan (and recent Korean War veteran) named Mack Davis. Mack was honorably discharged from the Army on May 1, 1952, and, with a “Why wait?” attitude that would persist throughout successive generations of the Davis family, they were married just two weeks later, on May 15, 1952.

Over the next three years, their sons Richard Mack (1953 in Santa Maria) and Gary Dean (1955 in Arcata) were born. As you may have noticed by Gary’s birthplace (in good old Arcata), the young family moved from Santa Maria up to Humboldt County around 1954-55.

Through the rest of the 50s and on into the 60s, life happened for Patsy and her family, as it does for us all. Mack started a business, while Patsy took care of the house and the boys. Rick (Richard) and Gary became rowdy teenagers — by all accounts, quite a bit rowdier than most teenagers.

Starting in 1968, there was a 10-year stretch where a lot of big events happened in Patsy’s life — both good and bad. Her sister Lela (one of the triplets) died in a car accident that year. Not long after, Lela’s daughter Cathy (Catherine) came to stay with her Aunt Patsy and family. Rick and Gary treated her like a sister (fighting and all), which is why their kids still think of her as their Aunt Cathy.

A year after her sister died, a vitally important life event occurred for Patsy. On April 8, 1969 she was baptized, dedicating her life to her God, Jehovah. This decision would have a positive effect on the remainder of her life. Her strong faith in His promises, including the promise of the resurrection found in Acts 24:15 & Job 14:14,15, carried her through many dark times and caused her to possess an unshakable hope for a wonderful future — a future where she would be able to once again see all of the family and friends that she lost in death over her almost nine decades of life.

In due time, that dedication would also take that little “Okie” girl to places she had probably never dreamt she’d see. More on that a little later.

The 1970s brought with them not only the rise of disco, but also more of those previously mentioned good things in Patsy’s life. In December of 1972, her eldest son Rick (Richard) and his wife Rita (née Garcia) had their first child, Ericka Lynn. Suddenly, at the age of 36, she was a grandma. Ericka was the first to call her “Granny” and it was a title she carried with pride until the end of her life. Rick and Rita have been married for over 50 years, thus making Rita one of the longest-tenured members of the Davis family.

During their brief time together, her younger son Gary and his first wife Julie (née Hamilton) had two sons. Their first, Gary Joshua Mark, was born in 1974. He was followed by his brother, Mark Anthony, in 1976. In the early 1990s, Gary met his future wife, Beverly. They were married in 1995. This made Patsy happy because, in Beverly, Gary had found someone that she approved of. Next year, Beverly and Gary will celebrate their 30th anniversary.

To complete the round-up of the grandchildren, we’re going to skip ahead in the timeline a little. In 1981, Rick and Rita welcomed their daughter Terra Jo Rachael, giving Ericka a baby sister and Patsy her fourth and final grandchild. She fiercely loved all of her grandchildren, and they have plenty of pictures and memories to prove it. If they ever needed anything, Patsy was always there to provide whatever help she could- no matter what. Whether that support was moral, emotional, financial, or other, she was determined to help as much as possible. As a friend said recently, on learning that she had passed away: “She was the Granny everyone deserved.”

In 1978, after 26 years of marriage, Patsy and Mack divorced. At first, she had great difficulty dealing with her new circumstances. She was 42 years old and truly alone for the first time in her life. Eventually, though, she adapted to the situation and thrived.

Around that time, she started working for the California Employment Development Department’s Eureka office, eventually transferring to the Redding office. She made it her career and it was work that she genuinely loved doing. It allowed her to use her sharp thinking ability in a variety of ways. In claims dispute interviews, she was able to read people and weed out those who were obviously filing fraudulently. She got to study the facts of each case and, like a great detective, was able to get to the truth of what was happening. If an appeal ended up in court, she argued the State’s position like a lawyer. The judges all respected her. One of them even told her that she should have gone to law school because her skills in court were better than many of the lawyers he saw on a daily basis.

She worked for EDD until her retirement. After she retired, she was a great resource to her family and friends when it came to unemployment benefits. She always started the conversation the same way: “Ok. Tell me what they said when they denied your benefits.” After hearing that, she’d dig into the details and figure out what the person who was filing had done wrong on their unemployment form (they’d always done something wrong). The people who followed her advice had a 100% success rate in getting their benefits approved.

Her years in Redding were the best time of her life. She had her career, yes, but more importantly she had the people she surrounded herself with. The immense network of friends and close acquaintances that she built over her many years there, led the family to half-jokingly tell people that “Patsy has that town completely wired” and that “she knows everyone in Redding.”

No matter where she took us when we visited (to much of the family who lived away from Redding, “visiting Granny” was one of the best vacations available), she was warmly greeted by smiling people who knew her by name. She always remembered who they were and the details of their lives- it was one of her talents.

Over her years in Redding, she often had folks living with her in either of her two houses — her first house on Dusty Lane or, later, the newly constructed Country Oaks house. Her roommates were family or friends who needed somewhere to stay, for whatever reason, short or long term. She was always ready to help those who needed it. By the time she moved into her second-floor apartment, with a deck overlooking the tranquil Sacramento River (this was probably her favorite residence in Redding), she had taken on yet another roommate who needed her help- a long-tailed, multi-colored kitten she named Chica. They were both strong-willed and they fought some, but they loved each other.

The biggest thing by far for Patsy during her years in Redding though, was her spiritual life and her service to God. Once she retired from EDD, she was able to work even more diligently in her ministry. She spent countless hours preaching to people and teaching them about God’s Kingdom and all of the wonderful things that it promises for the future.

Her retirement gave her time and financial freedom, but her focus on spiritual things opened up to her the privilege of travelling all over the world, most often with her sister Lila, as delegates attending various International Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some of the many countries she visited (not counting ones she only passed through) were: Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Greece, England, South Korea, China, and New Zealand- always making sure to bring back exotic gifts (and coins) for her family & friends. Things like carved wooden flutes from Greece or authentic nesting dolls from Ukraine. She even brought back a Chinese ketchup packet for her ketchup-obsessed grandson Gary Joshua.

The other constant for her in all of those amazing locations? She continued talking to and genuinely listening to everyone she encountered. Because of that, no matter where she went in the world, she made more friends. We used to say that she knew everyone in Redding, but her globetrotting ways forced us to alter the saying a little. We would just say: “Granny Patsy knows everyone.”

This saying was proven true in spectacular fashion when she and Lila went to Rome. They were walking around on the Sunday before they left, taking in the sights, and Patsy told Lila that they had to see Michelangelo’s famous frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel. Lila agreed, so they walked into Vatican City, bought their tickets, and went inside. After wandering around silently for a while, sometimes pointing out various beautiful or famous aspects of the artwork to each other, Lila turned to tell her younger sister that they should find someplace to eat lunch pretty soon.

Patsy was gone.

Lila looked around but didn’t see her anywhere nearby. She walked through the building searching for her, with no success. This wasn’t their first trip together, though. Lila knew that Patsy had a habit of seeing something interesting and, forgetting all else, wandering off to investigate. Suspecting this would likely occur at some point during the morning, Lila had told her that they should meet by the Obelisk in St. Peter’s Square by 11:30 AM if they got separated.

Trusting in their prior arrangement, Lila walked to the meeting spot. She checked her watch when she got to the Obelisk. It was 11:15. Knowing Patsy, she’d show up ten minutes late with a story about all of the fantastic things she’d seen or the interesting people she’d met.

By 11:55, though, she still wasn’t there, and Lila was starting to get worried. It was less than a 10-minute walk from the Sistine Chapel to the spot where Lila was waiting. Maybe something was wrong. She couldn’t leave that spot to look for her missing sister, though. The second she did, Patsy was sure to show up and wonder where she was. Plus, the square had been steadily filling with people, for some reason, and it wouldn’t be easy to find anyone in such a large crowd.

Finally, on the off-chance Patsy had already passed by, Lila decided she’d just start asking people standing near the Obelisk if they’d seen a woman who looked a bit like her in the area- they were sisters, after all, and looked somewhat alike. She spotted a man who seemed to be an American (he was wearing cargo shorts and a baseball cap) and walked up to him. The man looked at her but, right as she started to ask him if he’d seen Patsy, an excited gasp ran through the gathered crowd and drew his attention away. She stopped and turned towards the commotion. Everyone was looking up at a building across the square, so she craned her neck to try and see what all the fuss was about.

There, on a balcony located above the columned face of an extremely ornate building, stood Patsy. She was looking in Lila’s direction and waving.

Lila told us in that moment she thought, “Oh no, Patsy! What have you done now?” She waved back and then started frantically gesturing for her sister to get down from there. Patsy seemed to understand Lila’s impromptu semaphore and turned to go inside. In that moment, though, a man wearing what looked to be a fancy embroidered robe and a tall white hat stepped out onto the balcony next to her. He seemed surprised to find a little gray-haired woman already standing there.

It looked to Lila like Patsy was talking to him. She kept pointing towards the square and Lila’s position by the Obelisk. The man’s hat appeared to be moving slightly forward and back, as if he were nodding. Lila hoped that was what was occurring because, at minimum, Patsy had been caught trespassing in a heavily guarded sovereign territory.

Lila said she’d never thought faster in her life, as she tried to figure out what her options to save Patsy were. Should she try contacting the tour company for help? This seemed like a situation that was way above their paygrade. Was it serious enough that she needed to contact the U.S. Embassy? Leave it to Patsy to take a trip to another country and turn it into an international incident!

The (most-likely) American man, whom she’d completely forgotten was standing next to her, tapped her gently on the shoulder and pointed up towards the balcony.

“What’s she done now?” Lila said, under her breath, as she refocused her attention back on Patsy. Nothing seemed to have changed. She turned back towards the man, with the intention of telling him that the woman causing all of the fuss was just her youngest sister. Before she could, though, he leaned towards her, a big smile on his face. With wide excited eyes he said, “Hey! Who’s that guy in the crazy hat talking to Patsy?!?”

(pause for laughter)

That was Patsy’s favorite story to tell or hear told- especially when it was delivered to people who didn’t know what was coming. She once told it to a group and added at least five levels of prominent people she knew, in ascending order of fame, before the punchline on the balcony. Even very near the end of her life, when she couldn’t speak much louder than a whisper, a good telling of that joke to some unsuspecting visitors caused her eyes to twinkle and made her silently shake with laughter.

In the early 2000s Patsy packed up her things, grabbed her baby kitty Chica, and left her life in sunny Redding behind. She wanted to be closer to the family and a lot of the family lived over on the coast in Humboldt County. Often, she would tell us how much she missed the hot weather, the sunshine, and all of her friends. When she was still able to drive, she visited over there as much as she could. Many of her friends from Redding would also make the trek to the coast, to stay with her and visit.

She adapted to her new life in Eureka (though never completely to the weather) and soon had many dear friends and go-to spots for coffee or walks or whatever. Her close proximity to much of the family allowed her to spend a lot more time with them and, for that reason, she was ultimately happy she moved here. Whether it was working in the ministry with her spiritual brothers and sisters, taking her great-grandchildren to swimming lessons, BBQs with the family, or Arts Alive! with her friends, she was always on the go.

As the years passed, Patsy began to slow down a bit but still managed to stay very active. She continued to have many adventures and experience lots of good things, but time and the harsh realities of this life were starting to catch up with her. In 2016, her beloved baby kitty Chica died. She missed her terribly and vowed never to get another cat. It was a vow she kept.

In 2017, her grandson Gary’s wife, Kelly, died. It was a devastating loss for the family, and one that hit her extremely hard. The close relationship that she already had with Gary grew even closer from that day forward. She would say to him, “Remember, kid: I’m your ace in the hole. If you ever need help, I’m here for you.” And she always was. He did his best to fill that role for her, as well. They supported each other in any way they could, as best they could, all the way until her last day of life.

Patsy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, with possible Lewy Body Dementia, and yet she didn’t complain too much. Just a little bit. She’d get angry when her body wouldn’t do what she wanted it to (“I’m telling my foot to move but it won’t listen!”), but she was more likely to make a joke about her issues than adopt an “Oh, woe is me” attitude.

As her dementia progressed, she started hallucinating. During one of their customary Family Fun Friday dinners (a decades-long, nearly every Friday occurrence that often included other family members and/or friends) Patsy told her grandson Gary that she had been at her upstairs window the night before and watched two men down in the yard washing an elephant. When he told her that she didn’t have an upstairs window because she lived in a one-story apartment, she said, “Oh, that’s right. I guess I didn’t see an elephant after all.” She sounded disappointed, so he told her that seeing an imaginary elephant was probably, all things considered, much cooler than seeing an actual elephant. She thought about that for a moment, nodded and said, “You may be right.”

She sometimes worried aloud about forgetting our names. To reassure us (and likely herself), she would always say, “Even if I don’t remember your name, I know who you are, and I still love you.” Very near the end of her life, she was still in there- buried deep, but the essential “Granny Patsy” would sometimes come to the surface. You could talk to her, and the sharpness of her intelligence and humor would shine in her eyes, for just a moment. She would smile, just a tiny flicker of her lips, a hint of the mischievous little grin she got when she said something funny or, as she would have said “something wicked.”

In all honesty, this obituary has been difficult to write. How do you sum up nearly 89 years of a life well lived? All of Patsy’s happiness and pain, her triumphs and tragedies? She wasn’t perfect, none of us are, but she pulled herself up from extremely humble beginnings, she overcame things that would have destroyed a weaker person and, at the end of it all, she made an amazing life for herself, her family, and all of those she helped along the way.

Most importantly to Patsy, she lived up to the dedication she made when she was baptized over 55 years ago. When she fell asleep in death, she did so as a faithful servant of her God, Jehovah. She sleeps now in His memory, waiting for the call to wake. It will not be late.

We love and miss you, Granny Patsy.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents Frank & Elsie Skelton, her siblings: Lela Clark, Floyd Skelton, Lila Symms, Charlotte Hall, Lona Walters, & Micky Bowles, her nephew by marriage, Ron Roth (wife Catherine), her granddaughter by marriage Kelly Blu Davis (née VanKeuren- husband Gary Joshua), and her great-grandson Tevin Anthony Davis (parents Mark & Nina).

Patsy is survived by her sons and their spouses: Rick & Rita Davis and Gary & Beverly Davis.

She is also survived by her grandchildren (and their spouses):

From Rick: Ericka Clements (Ira) and Terra Sandoval (Ezequiel).

From Gary: Gary J. M. Davis and Mark Davis (Nina).

Her great-grandchildren from Ericka (Ira): Bryant, Janiqua, & Gabriel. Her great-grandchild from Mark (Nina): Jalen. Her great-grandchildren from Terra (Ezequiel): Diego, Dominic, Donovan, & Delilah.

We would also like to make special mention of her niece Catherine Roth and great-niece Monika Hagler (husband Murray), both of whom talked to her often and were very close to her, even though they live far away, up through her final days.

She is also survived by her extended family, her spiritual family, and far too many longtime friends to mention here. Patsy cared deeply for you all.

We would like to extend a special thanks to the following people: To Patsy’s granddaughter Ericka who took care of her for years when she was still at home. To Melva Hurn who assisted Ericka with Patsy’s care & Camellia Armstrong who stayed with Patsy and cared for her when no one else was able to. To her daughter-in-law Beverly who worried about her, visited her often, and did many things to make her room and surrounding spaces at the care facility as homey as possible.

To the great folks at Especially You Assisted Living who took care of her during the last year and a half or so of her life, and also the fine people from Hospice of Humboldt who helped her (and us) so much during her final weeks.

Last but not least, to Patsy’s former daughter-in-law Julie Reyes. In December of 2019 (right before the pandemic), she took Patsy and Gary Joshua on a trip to the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses located in Warwick, New York. It would turn out to be the last big adventure of Patsy’s life and, in her final years, she spoke of it often and fondly.

We would also like to thank Ayers Family Cremation for taking care of her final arrangements after she passed away.

Per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered over Mt. Shasta, which was one of her favorite places in the world. She made her granddaughter Terra’s husband, Ezequiel (who is a pilot), promise to scatter her ashes over the mountain. Her granddaughter Ericka has taken on the responsibility of being there to help complete her Granny Patsy’s final request. The family would like to thank both of them in advance for doing this.

There was a packed memorial service for Patsy that was held Saturday, November 30 at 2 p.m.at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 1580 Betty Ct. in McKinleyville. Many family members and friends who were unable to be there in person were able to attend remotely via Zoom. The family would like to thank everyone who was able to attend for the love and support they showed.

In lieu of flowers: Patsy loved thrift shops, and she loved animals, so Tailwaggers was always one of her favorite places to look for clothes- it supports the Sequoia Humane Society’s no-kill animal shelter.

Please consider donating to Tailwaggers Thrift Shop (2737 F St. Eureka, CA- Phone #: 707- 445-5837) in her name.

A personal note from Patsy’s grandson Gary:

There’s one final item for me to take care of.

From my earliest memories of my Granny it was a bedrock fact in my mind that she had a passion for reading and writing. Her current book (she read them at a steady pace) could usually be found on the table next to her bed, her Betty Boop bookmark sticking out of it. Every place she lived over the years had shelves filled with all of the books she’d collected during the course of her life.

When my brother Mark and I were young, she would read to us from books like Aesop’s Fables or My Book of Bible Stories, tell us bedtime stories she’d made up (our favorite was her funny sci-fi story: The Little Boy Who Looked Just Like Harvey), teach us songs she’d written when we were bored during car rides, and tell us about (or simply give us) books to read that she knew we’d like.

Because I loved reading and writing from an early age, she would always encourage me in those spaces, whether it was by recommending more challenging books for me to read or by supporting my early writing efforts. When we lived with her during my 4th grade year, she helped me with my writing assignments, matter-of-factly suggesting ways that I could improve them.

As I got older, she started asking me for book recommendations. It was always an amazing feeling when she would call and excitedly tell me how fantastic the book I’d loaned her was. She’d recount her favorite parts and then tell me that the next time we got together we were going to talk all about it.

Granny had a great love for science fiction books (I remember finding the collected works of H.G. Wells in her bookcase when I was 9 years old- I read it from cover to cover, and my mind was justifiably blown), but she had a particular fondness for poetry- her favorite poem was The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. She didn’t just read and appreciate poetry, though- she also wrote it and had a talent for the art form. In her later years, we would spend time taking turns reading poems to each other. Sometimes they would be poems we had read and enjoyed, and sometimes they would be poems we had written and wanted to share.

On a seemingly unrelated note, Granny Patsy often told us that she wanted the epitaph on her headstone to be a particular phrase that she loved. She was quite insistent on the matter. Since she later requested her remains be cremated and her ashes scattered over Mt. Shasta, there will be no headstone to write her epitaph on. Instead, I’ve decided to fulfill her request by writing a poem in her memory- one similar in style to some of her poems, which uses her chosen epitaph as its inspiration and title. This poem will have to serve in place of her headstone. I believe my Granny Patsy would have approved:

“Wake Me When the War is Over”

My Granny Patsy said to me
“If I should die before I wake
There’s no more pain, I’m just asleep
Don’t cry for me, for goodness’ sake

“Be with our friends and family
Go drink a beer and grill a steak
Tell tales about your times with me
And all we’ll do when I awake.”

So we endure and we await
That time as it draws ever closer
She knew His Day would not be late
He’d wake her when the War was over

And what a welcome she’ll receive!
With those who love her gathered ‘round
All joyful faces, none who grieve
Our Patsy, who was lost, is found!

We’ll eat good food and conversate
She’ll sing a song (or maybe two)
Then after all have cleaned their plates
Blackberry pie… and ice cream too!

So for today, we will not cry
Nor mourn beneath night’s silv’ry moon
For we’ve no need to say, “Goodbye.”
But rather say, “We’ll see you soon.”

Barbara Keehn (née Aubuchon) of Bonne Terre, Missouri, died December 20, 2024 at the age of 83 in Eureka. The second oldest of four siblings, Barbara moved with her family to California at the age of 12 and moved to the Eureka area in 1974 with her children JimmyJoe, Thomas, and Darcy.

Barbara was a devout Christian and member of Calvary Chapel for 50 years. She spent many years evangelizing and spreading the teachings of Christ. She brought many people to Jesus. Through the church, Barbara met and married Dennis Keehn in 1990. The two were happily married up until Dennis’ death in 2011.

During her lifetime, Barbara was a medical assistant and spent 20 years as a nurse at Eureka Pediatrics until she retired to raise her grandchildren, Storm and Waylan. Known as “Grandma Barbie” to many, her home was open to anyone looking for warmth and compassion. She was Grandma to anyone who needed it.

Barbara was a voracious reader and could always be found reading in her favorite recliner with a grandchild on her lap and a dog at her feet. In addition, Barbara spent her time crocheting and tending her backyard garden.

She was preceded in death by her mother Una, father Norman, husband Dennis, son JimmyJoe, brother Joe, and sister Carol. She is survived by her children Andrew Peabody (Patty), Thomas Ryder, and Darcy Gray (Andy), along with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Per Barbara’s request, no funeral services will be held.

Barbara’s family would like to thank the Hospice of Humboldt for their amazing care.

Jesse Micah VandenPlas was born at home on August 22, 1978, in Arcata. He passed away on December 2, 2024 in Redding.

He was the beloved son of Kim and Saundra Vanden Plas and grew up alongside his older brother Jed and younger sister Angie. He was also loved by his long-time fiancé Lacy Creveling. Jesse was a father to his son Micah and daughter Athena. He was preceded in death by his son Jedidiah and daughter Izzabell, as well as his grandparents Leslie and Bob VandenPlas and Helen and James Buehler. Jesse was also cherished by his nephews Cole, Brent, Bryson, Broden, and Alex, and his niece Tylee.

An adventurous spirit from a young age, Jesse embraced life with passion and skill. He was an exceptional timber faller, a talented mechanic, a skilled snowboarder, a gifted guitarist and artist, and an avid fisherman. Those who knew him will remember his huge heart, radiant smile and unwavering willingness to help anyone in need. Jesse’s warmth and generosity left an indelible mark on everyone he encountered. His presence will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

A celebration of Jesse’s life will be held on January 18th at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Arcata. The service will be followed by a gathering with food to share stories and honor his memory. In liu of flowers please make charitable donations to Mountain of Mercy Rehab P.O. Box 55 Honeydew, CA 95545 or Visions of the Cross Rehab, 3617 Ricardo Ave., Redding, CA, 96002 in honor of Jesse.

May Jesse’s adventurous spirit and kind heart continue to inspire those who loved him.

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