On Sunday February 10, surrounded by family, Wayne’s big ol’ heart finally stopped. He passed away peacefully at his home in Fieldbrook.

Wayne was the 10th child born to Pauline (Alberty) Baker and Homer Clyde Graham in Claremore, Oklahoma on their anniversary. At age five his family moved to California where Wayne attended school. After high school he moved to Arcata to work in various lumber and plywood mills. If you knew Wayne, you probably heard the story about how he quit three different jobs in the same day.

In 1954 his carefree personality and his kindhearted stubbornness attracted the attention of what would become the love of his life, Betty Burnett. Soon after in 1955 they were married and in 1957 they welcomed a baby girl, Paula. In 1958 they were blessed with a son, Ralph. Their faith in God and their love for each other was the foundation for supporting for each other and guiding their family through all of the challenges that life threw at them. Wayne and Betty would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on the 24th of February.

Wayne played hard but he worked even harder. In 1960 he started a 10-year career with Foremost Dairy as a commercial delivery route driver. After leaving Foremost Dairy Wayne went on to work for Reliable Hardware for several years, as a salesman from Fortuna to Oregon, making many lifelong friends as he had done while at Foremost Dairy. He then started his owner/operated business of commercial janitorial and carpet cleaning, which he ran successfully for many years. During this time both Betty and Paula helped with the business. It wasn’t uncommon to find Wayne buffing the floors with one of the grandkids sitting on top on the floor machine going for a ride while he polished away. He ended his career working at Humboldt State University until retirement.

While raising his family in Arcata Wayne was active with family, church and community. During those years he kept to his hobbies of fishing and basketball. He eventually became a basketball referee and coached little league and Babe Ruth for many years. All through the years he and Betty enjoyed family camping, fishing, and abalone diving. Lots of school, sports, cheerleading and scouting events with Ralph and Paula. Yearly vacations were educational road trips or horseback packing into wilderness areas.

Wayne’s greatest pleasure was his family and friends. He enjoyed sharing his love of gardening, woodworking, photoshop & smoking salmon. He became an excellent pie maker during retirement. Wayne was a member of North Fork Full Gospel Community Church for many years where he was baptized by pastor James Ray.

Wayne was a big man with an even bigger heart. He is dearly loved and will be greatly missed. He leaves us with the comforting words of Isiah 40:31.

Wayne is survived by his wife Betty; daughter Paula Watson & husband Kim, son Ralph Graham; grandchildren, Sara Smith & husband Arley, Katie Hooven & husband Dave, Kaleb Watson, David Watson & wife Corrie, Cassie Graham, Johanna Graham, Hunter Graham; great grandchildren, William Cooke, Olivia Smith, Lyla Smith, Mason Hooven, Cameron Hooven, Kaycee Watson, Codie Watson, Dillon Watson, Andrew Henderson, Shane Graham, Brentton Graham, Tucker Payton, Rayden Payton; great-great grandchildren, Arlo Smith, Malinda Russell; siblings, Ronnie Graham, Wanda Twillager.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Pauline and Homer; siblings, Bud, Homer, Ladema, Peggy, Eddna, Arna, Dick, Floyd, Marilyn.

Friends are invited to join the family as we honor Wayne at a graveside service Friday February 21, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata, with a reception to follow at North Fork Community Church, 2333 McKinleyville Avenue, McKinleyville.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Parkinsons Foundation in Wayne’s memory.

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

Robert Edward Seymour lived a full and colorful life. If you ever had the chance to be with him, he surely graced you with a story as his blue eyes lit up and laughter filled the room.

Bo’s greatest loves were his children, life partner Kay Moore, granddaughter Isla, his cat Kara, friends and family, and going fast.

Bo enjoyed sailboats, submarines, fast cars, but most of all motorcycles. Motorcycles made his whole heart happy! He was known to pass you on the freeway well over the limit, with the occasional wheelie in his younger years on his favorite tricolore Ducati Monster. You could find Bo in a parking lot wherever he would be chatting with anyone who pulled up in a motorcycle…unless it was a Harley.

The man had style. A perpetual “cool guy” to his core. It was easy to make his eyes pop, but he had a flare for fun shoes and silly socks. A moto jacket being a staple to pull any outfit together, he loved sharing his love of fashion with others through gifts. He sure had an eye for it!

He was born to Patricia and Edward Seymour in Tacoma, Washington a month early in 1950. His mom said “he could’t wait” and thus is eagerness for life began. His older siblings Linda Stratman and Michael Seymour enjoyed his humor and creativity from the get go.

Robert spent most of his childhood in Fairfield. He went to Armijo High School before enlisting in Submarine school with the US Navy. Bo road in two submarines in his Navy, the USS Trout and USS Carbonaro and there was no escaping a tale from the sea. His service put his great mind to use and built bonds he carried all the way through his life. There’s a story of a raccoon that was snuck aboard. Fact or fiction? Doesn’t matter, it made everyone laugh each time it was told.

His career as a civic servant in probation took him from Solano, Butte, Tehama and finally a Chief Probation Officer of Del Norte County. The capstone of his career was designing a new juvenile hall. An honor he cherished after years of hard work.

As a father Bo took pride in his children Elena and Andy by attending swim, dance, band and every sporting event he could. His support of interests for anyone in his life is something we all have cherished. Bo’s specialty was spaghetti and BBQ and could easily be talked into extra treats on trips to the store.

As soon as his path crossed with Kay Moore, he knew she was the one. From a couple of meet cutes, too dating for the last six years of his life. No one made him happier than her. She brought color into his life through her gardening on their property, sweet treats he enjoyed, and constant companionship that he always reported as “so in love”.

His happiness with his children’s spouses was never kept a secret. As stated Austin Morgan and Shonda Seymour were his true favorite children. Visits from his kids were always met with smiles and happiness, and lots of “I was just hoping you were coming by” statements from the heart.

Sundays were the highlight of Bo’s weeks, as his friends would gather for viewing Moto GP. An event filled with witty banter and quality time on his porch overlooking Blue Lake. Bo had a “come as you are” life outlook and always had a patient ear for anyone who needed a sounding board.

Robert Seymour leaves behind a legacy of humor and love held dearly by his family: son Andrew Seymour (Shonda Seymour), daughter Elena Morgan (Austin Morgan), and granddaughter Isla Morgan and partner Kay Moore. His sister Linda Straman and brother Michael Seymour, nieces Julie Ryan and Jeannie Tipton, and nephew John Griffith.

Bo passed peacefully on the morning of February 11 of natural causes. His request was a private family gathering, which we will be honoring.

If you see a veteran, always thank them. Bo never missed the opportunity.

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

Ella Myrtle Melendrez
August 21, 1929 – January 29, 2025

Our Mom will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was a vibrant, fascinating woman who loved her family, her friends and her church. She was born in northern Saskatchewan to Frank and Myrtle Kroeker on their family farm. She learned how to make butter, milk cows and walk miles to school in the snow and cold. In 1941, her father moved the family to Whittier, Calif. for the great weather and ample opportunities for employment. There Ella went to school and thrived, and was the first person in her family to go to college — Whittier college — a small but prestigious school.

She graduated with a liberal arts degree and became an elementary school teacher at New River School. Later she returned to the University of Pepperdine for her masters’ in reading and education. While in college she met her husband, Julian Melendrez. They married in 1953 and had four children. They had many adventures, including motorcycle racing in the hills of Orange County on his Harley, mini car races in the streets of Los Angeles to Laguna Beach, plus travel across the United States in a Jag they bought just for that purpose. They divorced in 1962.

She then met the love of her life, Bill Lopez, while teaching school, and they enjoyed companionship for the next 50+ years.

She loved to travel and saw most of the world with her best friend Nancy Kuno and her sister Ina DeHart. They went to China, all of Europe, Russia, Tanzania, Ireland, Australia plus a few cruises through the Panama Canal and on the river Danube.

She was pretty athletic, loved to golf, walk with her little dog Ginger, play bridge and read ferociously and was independent up until her last days. She could do anything, one time we found her standing on a ladder, on top of her dining room table painting the peak in her ceiling, she was 80 at the time. A little crazy but that was mom.

She is predeceased by her parents, Bill, her daughter Lori, son Fell, grandson Philip Timek and great granddaughter Elizabeth Timek. She is survived by her daughter Cindy (Gary)Timek, son David Melendrez (Amanda), grandchildren, Sara (Alan) Harris, Adam Timek, Cecelia (Sam) Martarano, Rachel (Kevin) Morrill, Aysha and Malia Melendrez. She is also survived by five great grandchildren: Ella and Griffin Harris, Adam Timek Jr., Donovan and Sophia Martarano.

A celebration of life is planned for the later this year. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the animal shelter of your choice.

Mary Louise (Sovereign) Ashmus, 80, passed away on January 29, 2025, in Grants Pass, Oregon. She was born on August 13, 1944, in Eureka to Helen Bigley and Guy Sovereign. She was known as Mary Lou most of her life and to those who knew her the longest.

Mary Lou had a deep love for life and an adventurous spirit that led her to explore many passions. In her younger years, she was an active member of a local sorority and found joy in antique dealing. Later on, she became a gemologist and pursued the art of jewelry making. Her enthusiasm for discovery extended to mining opals, metal detecting, and panning for gold. She also enjoyed friendly competition as a member of both a bowling and pool league. Mary Lou cherished time spent with friends, especially when it involved entertaining, dancing and laughter.

She cared deeply for her family and friends, always offering kindness and support to those around her. Mary Lou is survived by her previous husband, Herman Zwald, and their three children: Nicholas Zwald, Elizabeth Cooley, and Stephonie Zwald. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, her brother, Wayne Sovereign, and numerous other loving family members. She was predeceased by nine siblings.

A graveside service will be held on February 28, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park, 3975 Broadway, Eureka. In the event of inclement weather, the service may be moved indoors to Ocean View Cemetery. Following the service, a Celebration of Life will take place at the Moose Lodge, 4328 Compton Rd., Eureka, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees are welcome to bring a side dish or dessert as they gather to share stories about Mary Lou’s life and are welcome to join the family for either event or both.

Mary Lou’s warmth and generosity touched many lives. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her.

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

Happy Valentine’s Day, Humboldt! We hope you’re feeling the love. 

As for us, your Lost Coast Outpost found ourselves aimlessly wandering Old Town this afternoon — we must flee the fluorescent lights from time to time to make the voices stop. Suddenly and without warning, we were dragged into Lynnoleum, Eureka’s finest vintage block print magic shop, where we found ourselves confronted by a group of finely dressed teen musicians. What was this trap?

Turns out, they were members of the ArMack Orchestra on break from Valentunes duties. You see, each year young tunesmiths from Arcata and McKinleyville high schools gallivant around the county singing love songs for a small fee in the hopes of raising funds for instruments, uniforms and festival trips, etc.

Well, that sounded great to us. So we asked for a song to give to you, the romantically desperate LoCO reader. Collect your Valentune above and consider donating to the kids at this link here.

WE LOVE YOU, HUMBOLDT.

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Attorneys for the State of California and St. Joseph of Northern California went head to head for the first time this morning, making their initial oral arguments in a case that asks whether Catholic religious beliefs are a valid legal reason to limit emergency abortion access in the state. 

Today’s hearing, which took place in a standing-room-only courtroom at the Humboldt County Courthouse, concerned a demurrer, or request to dismiss the case, filed by attorneys for St. Joseph. One of them argued that, before this complicated issue comes before a judge, it should first be investigated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). He also argued that care providers at Catholic hospitals are protected in such cases by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office sued St. Joseph of Northern California (a subsidiary of Providence Health & Services) this past September, accusing Eureka’s St. Joseph Hospital of violating multiple state laws when it refused to provide emergency abortion care to people experiencing obstetric emergencies.

The case focuses largely, though not exclusively, on the experiences of Anna Nusslock, a local chiropractor who was allegedly turned away from St. Joseph Hospital last February while suffering a medical emergency. Fifteen weeks pregnant with twins, Nusslock was diagnosed onsite with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and told her twins wouldn’t survive. 

According to state prosecutors, St. Joseph’s medical staff then refused to treat her, citing a policy that prohibits staff from providing the necessary procedure when a fetus has a detectable heartbeat. Instead, the suit alleges, hospital staff sent Nusslock to Mad River Community Hospital with a bucket and towels, “in case something happens in the car.” 

The case alleges that other women have had their health similarly jeopardized by this policy, which is based on the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, a document issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

At today’s hearing, attorney Harvey Rochman, with the L.A.-based firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, argued on behalf of St. Joseph of Northern California. Appearing before Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning, he said the court should allow the “subject matter experts” at CDPH to investigate and determine whether there has been a violation of the state’s Emergency Services Law (ESL). 

That agency has “primary responsibility” to investigate and determine whether there have been such violations, Rochman said.

He also argued that Nusslock was transferred to Mad River Community Hospital for medical reasons, saying she “was unable to get a procedure that she wanted” at St. Joseph Hospital so she went to a hospital where she could obtain that procedure.

Transfers made for medical reasons are permitted under the ESL, and Rochman argued that Nusslock’s case was analogous to a patient being turned away because a hospital lacked the personnel and equipment to preform a procedure — like when a hospital’s only neurosurgeon is away on vacation.

Regarding the state’s allegation that St. Joseph Hospital violated the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act by discriminating against pregnant people,  Rochman said that can’t be true because the hospital treats “hundreds of pregnant patients all the time.”

What distinguishes the patient in this case, he said, is the need for a specific procedure, namely, an abortion when there’s a fetus with a heartbeat.

Rochman went on to outline defenses based on the U.S. Constitution, saying courts have recently shown a “significant conservative trend” in terms of how to evaluate claims under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. He said that forcing a Catholic hospital to perform abortions would be subject to “strict scrutiny,” a rigorous judicial standard for evaluating the constitutionality of any laws that limit free speech.

It would be inconsistent, he argued, to give a secular hospital a pass when it lacks the personnel and equipment necessary to perform a procedure while not giving a pass to religious hospitals unable to perform the procedure because it conflicts with their conscience and beliefs. 

When Rochman wrapped up, the arguments were turned over to the three deputy attorneys general seated at the opposite table: Martine D’Agostino, Katelyn Wallace and David Houska.

D’Agostino went first, and she sought to put the case into a larger context. “This is a case about emergency health care,” she said, and she alleged that the women of Humboldt County have been denied adequate care at St. Joseph Hospital, “at great risk to their lives.”

The “harrowing experiences” of women who’ve been turned away from the emergency department are the result of a longstanding policy to refuse emergency abortion care when a fetal heartbeat is present, D’Agostino said. 

Regarding the argument that the matter should be handled by CDPH, she said the Emergency Services Law contains an express provision preserving the Attorney General’s right to enforce the statute. Furthermore, even if CDPH did investigate Nusslock’s case, its findings would be specific to her situation, not the broader policy or the similar experiences of other patients, she argued.

D’Agostino said that handing this matter off to that agency first would delay a resolution, presenting “a grave risk to the very lives of the women of Humboldt County.”

Next up was Wallace, who tackled the reasoning behind Nusslock’s transfer to Mad River Community Hospital. She said that one argument put forward by St. Joe’s attorneys — that state law only prevents non-medical transfers when they’re done due to a patient’s inability to pay — would undermine the entire point of the statute.

She said that the staff at St. Joseph refused to serve Nusslock based on “an ideological line” that had “nothing to do with medical needs.” The state’s case contends that she was transferred for non-medical reasons.

Going third, Houska said that several California court cases offer relevant precedents on the issues at play here — namely, religious challenges to providing medical care. In all such cases the courts found that the laws are enforceable, he said.

He also pushed back on the defense attorney’s civil rights defense, saying it’s not enough for the hospital to say it treats hundreds of pregnant women; the point is that they must treat all pregnant women access to the privileges, facilities and services offered to everyone else. Most patients can expect that if their doctor recommends something, the hospital can provide it and the patient wants it, then they’ll receive that care.

“But for pregnant patients alone there’s a wrinkle,” Houska said. At St. Joseph Hospital, they see their care “micromanaged and potentially vetoed by hospital administrators.” He described this as a straightforward case of intentionally discriminating against one protected group — pregnant women.

Offered one last chance to argue his case for dismissal, Rochman said the case is not, in fact, about pregnant people. It’s about patients with “a very complex medical issue” that happens when there’s a fetal heartbeat. 

The rule in question is “procedure focused, not pregnancy focused,” he said.

Judge Canning said he’ll take both sides’ arguments under submission and issue his ruling on the demurrer some time in the next 90 days.

While we were working on this story, Providence issued a press release that says, in part, that there are circumstances “in which certain medical procedures that could result in fetal death may be allowed in a Catholic hospital.” And it says the organization recently “enhanced our training, education and escalation protocols to further ensure the best possible care.”

The release can be found at the bottom of this post from earlier today.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Attorney General Sues St. Joseph Hospital for Denying a Woman Emergency Abortion Care
• A Local Doctor Urged St. Joseph Hospital to Change Its Anti-Abortion Policies Long Before State Lawsuit, According to Court Declaration
• St. Joseph Hospital Denies Allegations in State Abortion Care Lawsuit But Agrees to Follow State Health Care Laws as the Case Proceeds
• Judge Signs Order Committing St. Joseph Hospital to Providing Emergency Abortions, At Least For the Duration of AG Lawsuit
• Citing Religious Freedom and Catholic Doctrine, St. Joseph Health Challenges State’s Emergency Abortion Care Lawsuit on a Variety of Grounds
• State Responds to St. Joseph Health’s Attempt to Get Emergency Abortion Lawsuit Dismissed
• ‘Providence Must Follow the Law’: At the Reproductive Health Care Rally Before the Latest California vs. St. Joseph Hospital Hearing

F Street starts (or ends, depending on where you’re looking) at the marina in Old Town Eureka. There’s a door, a little bit before the pavement meets the water, in the side of the Carson Block Building; innocuous, easy to walk by. The room it leads into is pale but cozy. Large windows show off a nice view of the street from the vantage point of a few beanbags posted in front of a TV decked out with games. Computers line the wall on the other side, complete with video editing software. Using any of the amenities is free — if you’re aged somewhere between 12 and 24.

Run by the Northern California Indian Development Council, the room is the flagship pull behind “The Nest,” a program focused mainly on Native youth, though anyone is welcome to come. It opened February 1, and is open from 1-6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

Besides the TV and the computers, the NCIDC also offers tutors and homework groups at the Nest, and plans to incorporate cultural workshops and some college preparatory resources in the future. 

NCIDC youth services director Bubba Riggins said the goal was to give Native kids a safe place to call their own in the middle of Eureka, a city pretty far from the cultural centers in Hoopa or Table Bluff. That distance can take a toll on some.

“A lot of Native folks that live in more urban communities tend to have a harder time,” Riggins said. “We’re hoping for a space to call home. That’s kind of the theory with [the name] ‘The Nest’; it’s a home space.”

Madison Flynn, the CEO of the NCIDC, said she wished she could have had something like The Nest when she was growing up.

“My grandma lived out on Table Bluff,” Flynn said, “Which is only 12 miles from here — but that 12 miles can be a hundred miles [without transportation]. If there were any type of community events out there, we couldn’t go out there. Having that cultural connection is important. We’ll provide that cultural connection here in Eureka…It’s huge for Native youth. They may not be able to get to Hoopa, to Klamath, to Table Bluff.”

Flynn and Riggins made a point of emphasizing that all of the services they’re offering at The Nest are free, which would have been a boon to Flynn when she was growing up and sometimes couldn’t scrape together a dime to buy an ice cream cone at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

“I think my teenage years wouldn’t have been as chaotic — more than they already were — if there was a place I could just go and hang out instead of ‘finding activities,’ as most teens do, of their own devices,” Flynn said. “When you grow up in a small town, there’s not a lot of safe activities for you to engage in. [People said] ‘Oh, go to the movies, go do this,’ but that costs money, and a lot of times there’s just a lack of resources.”

“There’s only so much of those things too,” Riggins agreed.

Besides the recreational aspects, much of what they want The Nest to be is educational. Riggins and Flynn hope that they’ll be able to connect kids with college advisors from CR or knowledgeable tradespeople. They know it might be a struggle to get people to come, but Riggins said anyone willing to make the journey would be rewarded.

“Just come down and check it out,” Riggins said. “You don’t have to stay for long…It’s a warm and welcoming place. There’s no commitment. We’re not going to force anyone to be here! Give it a try! Take a healthy risk.”