It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Larry Robert Bollmann, 76, of Loleta and his wife Suzanne Louise Bollmann, 74, of Loleta. Larry passed away suddenly at home on Saturday, December 10, 2022, and Suzanne passed 21 days later on December 31, 2022. After 54 years of marriage, not even death could keep them apart.

Larry was the first-born child of Robert and Melba Bollmann, born on October 22, 1946, in Rhode Island. He had three younger sisters and four younger brothers. Larry grew up in Eureka and graduated from Eureka Senior High School in 1964. He then attended California State University Humboldt from Spring 1971 - Fall 1974 as an undergraduate, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology on December 13, 1974. He also attended as a graduate student from 1975 to 1976.

Born on November 23, 1948, in Eureka, Suzanne was the youngest child of Gregory Felt Pierce and Louise Isabelle Jones Pierce. Suzanne had an older brother, Larry Gregory Pierce. Suzanne also grew up in Eureka and attended Eureka Senior High School and graduated in 1966.

Larry and Suzanne were married at St. Bernard Catholic Church in 1968 in Eureka. They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in September of this year. They have two sons, Timothy Robert Bollmann and Joseph Gregory Bollmann.

Larry and Suzanne opened Bollmann’s Taxidermy in 1978 where it remained open until they retired in 2014. Larry also created and sold Bollmann Tanning Cream, a product used during the taxidermy process. Larry had the honor of contributing to the book The Breakthrough Mammal Taxidermy Manual written by Brent Housekeeper and Jim Hall. Suzanne did all the bookkeeping at the taxidermy office, as well as the bookkeeping for her family’s business, E.W. Pierce Company.

Larry and Suzanne were members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. They spent many years raising Thoroughbred horses and traveling all over the country for horse races. Larry spent many hours on the road with his horse trailer delivering mares to farms all over California. Larry & Suzanne were also co-owners of Oak Leaf Productions, which brought many country music concerts to the area in the mid-1990s.

Larry was preceded in death by his father Robert Bollmann, his mother Melba Bollmann, brother Mark Bollmann and sister Laura Bollmann. Suzanne was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her father Gregory Felt Pierce, mother Louise Isabelle Pierce and older brother Larry Gregory Pierce.

Larry and Suzanne were kind, genuine people who were well known and respected in their community. As parents, nothing brought them more pride than watching their sons succeed and accomplish their goals in life. Larry and Suzanne’s life together was a true partnership and their passion was working together on numerous projects, whether it was for the business, the horses, or their home.

Larry and Suzanne are survived by their oldest son, Tim (Amber) Bollmann of Redding, their youngest son, Joe (Kristina) Bollmann of Fortuna, Larry’s sisters Linda (Mike) Grundman of Eureka and Polly Fuller of Redding, and his brothers Rick (Jacque) Bollmann of Spaulding, Chris (Kate) Bollmann of Fairfield, and James (Anne) Bollmann of Texas. They are also survived by Suzanne’s two dear cousins Denise (Chuck) Worth of Chico and Kent (Alice) Pryor of Pleasanton. Because Suzanne didn’t have a very large family, her cousins were very special to her. Larry and Suzanne also have four grandsons, Lane Bollmann of Redding, Robert (Charis) Bollmann of McKinleyville, Jace Bollmann of Ontario, Oregon and Jackson Bollmann of Redding.

Larry and Suzanne were cremated by Humboldt Cremation & Funeral Services. A potluck celebration of life will be held at Larry and Suzanne’s home on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from noon to 3 p.m. 

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

On December 6, 2022, one day after her 77th birthday, Carmen Viramontes Golden passed away peacefully, surrounded by her daughter Hannah and her grandsons. Her last days involved visits with friends and family, her bed placed in the living room that overlooked the beautiful McKinleyville landscape from the same house that she had cherished for over 40 years.

Carmen Viramontes Golden was born on Dec. 5, 1945 to Antolina Gurrola, a single parent. Because Antolina, or “Toni” as she was known, worked full time as a seamstress for financial support and Carmen was raised with the help of her grandparents in East Los Angeles, a Mexican-American working-class community. Carmen attended Santa Teresita grammar school, becoming a parishioner at Dolores Mission Church. While studying at Sacred Heart High School she met Pamela Rueben and Alejandra Benavides and the three developed a close and steadfast friendship throughout the years from youth to maturity. It was attending Immaculate Heart College that landed Carmen in the Sixties counterculture, which influenced her activism for the rest of her life. Fully bilingual in Spanish and English, she threw herself into social services resisting inequality at every level, also participated in a number of demonstrations against the Vietnam war, racial and linguistic discrimination. She worked in for the Department of Children and Family Services for both Los Angeles and Humboldt County. It was during her early years as a social worker that she met her good friend Gloria Katona.

Carmen was iconoclastic by nature, a playful traveler, an adventurer who sought out ways of being within the political turbulence of the time and experimented with various dimensions of her personality. As a theatrical actress, for example, she performed in a satire on the Nixon presidency completely wired with twinkly lights on her mass of curly wild hair. As a volunteer with various activist collectives, she was always ready to bring her full corporeal attention. It was in one of these collectives that she met her former husband, Jack Golden. One of Carmen’s favorite stories of their early romance involved her tidying his bachelor apartment, throwing out a bag of dust along with the trash. Later, when Jack returned home, he discovered that Carmen had unknowingly thrown out the cremation ashes of his favorite cat!! They married on her birthday, December 5, 1980 and it was Jack who convinced Carmen to move to Humboldt County.

It was challenging to relocate hundreds of miles away from her beloved mother, cousins, and friends, and grandparents. In addition, when Carmen was thirteen, she reconnected with her father and discovered that she had nine half-siblings, one half-sister of which was only a month apart in age. A few years of awkwardness between her and her half-siblings ensued — as this was as much a surprise to her as to her half-siblings. Carmen’s artistic flairs and self-confidence were much admired, and everyone slowly grew to love one another with unwavering tenderness and deep affection. Being a single child, Carmen had said she felt ”thrilled” to discover she was part of a larger family while the female heavy Viramontes familia came to embrace another sister/hermana with wholehearted love.

The city of McKinleyville in Humboldt County offered an encouraging place to root a family. Jack and Carmen bought a house that had plenty of windows and open space. They also ran an Arcata deli called “Plaza Gourmet” from 1981 to 1989 even during the births of their two children. Once the deli was sold and the children were old enough, Carmen returned to social work in Humboldt. While working in the Child Welfare-Social Services, she became a mentor to younger social workers like Carol Smillie. Recognizing the incredible stress that such depressing work can evoke, Carmen’s self-depreciating humor taught Carol and others how laughter released the burdens of such responsibilities. It was her laughter and friendly demeanor, as well as her rebelliously curly hair that left lasting impressions with former Humboldt County co-workers like Jean LaPietra who developed deep friendships that lasted over 30 years.

Jack and Carmen separated in 1996, after 16 years of marriage. Sharing parenthood, they remained steadfast friends throughout and divorced amicably in 2008.

Carmen returned to East Los Angeles temporarily to care for her elderly mother and returned to part-time social working only to retire a few years later after Antolina’s death. Both Carmen’s son Josh and Jack also relocated to Southern California. Carmen continued to live in Antolina’s apartment, where Nancy Miramontes became not only her landlady but her devoted friend and helper. In the meantime, Carmen had become a grandmother and she plunged into the experience like all her other experiences with loving enthusiasm. She sought to spend as much time as she could with her grandchildren, flying across states and oceans for visits. When Hannah returned to McKinleyville permanently with Dash and Scout in tow, Carmen would move back to Humboldt and to her home.

Throughout most of her life, Carmen emanated a semblance of health and even in the glow of age, she carried herself with shimmering elegance. Several years ago, she had received the diagnosis of breast cancer with realism and determined patience, judged it as something else to have to deal in the long line of things needing dealing. Remission offered a renewal, another loving embrace for her world and her faith deepened. When she received her diagnosis of colon cancer last year, she was extremely sad, but her faith never wavered and somehow because of this deepened faith, she became less frightened at the prospect of death. After so many years of practicing empathy, she was able to do so with herself and uttered “I know I’ve done things I regret, but I also know I’ve done some good things I am proud of.” Thus was her legacy, no doubt feeling proud firstly of her children, secondly at being proud of her grandmotherly status, and thirdly at choosing ways of being in the world that were honest, radical, loving, creative, forthright, and foremost unforgettable. Although she would never visit Barcelona, nor see the great Niagara falls, she lay satisfied knowing of a life well lived is measured by the peacefulness of farewell. The world is dim without her, but faith in God reminds us that her light can be felt everywhere.

Carmen Viramontes Golden is predeceased by her mother, Antolina Gurrola, her father, Serafin Viramontes, her grandparents, half-sister Frances Viramontes, half-brother Serafin Viramontes Jr. She is survived by her son Joshua Golden, daughter Hannah Golden, two grandsons Scout and Dash Townsend, East Los Angeles Gurrola cousins, the Viramontes family, and lifelong friends both in northern and southern California.

Services are private, and in lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice.

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

Jimmy H. Brown
September 3, 1935 - January 17, 2023

Jimmy Harold Brown was born on September 3, 1935 in Coldwell Parish, Columbia, Louisiana. He was the fifth of seven children born to Virgil Terry Brown and Helen Marie (Chilton) Brown. He passed away on January 17, 2023 with his daughter Helen and granddaughter Laura by his side.

Jimmy was born at home on a rural cotton farm, and weighing only 3.0 pounds at birth, spent the first several weeks of his life in a box on the wood-fired oven door. He spent his early years working the farm and learned to tend crops, take care of livestock and fell and cut cypress trees for firewood (using a crosscut saw). His most memorial times were spent trapping, hunting and fishing the bayou to help feed his large family. His mother was a wonderful cook and Jimmy learned from her and became a wonderful cook as well. He often said that if he didn’t kill something for the pot with every shot fired, he was in big trouble when he got home.

Jimmy attended school in Columbia before traveling to Monroe, Louisiana to work on the new hospital. At the age of 18 he made the trip to Humboldt County, following in the footsteps of two uncles also from Coldwell Parish, Jack and Ramage Brown. Jack settled in Fort Bragg and Ramage in Rio Dell. Shortly after arriving in Rio Dell in 1957, Jimmy found employment at the Pacific Lumber Company in Scotia. He started in production, but was soon moved into maintenance as a millwright because of his natural talent for being able to fix things. He stayed with the company 43 years until his retirement in 2000.

Soon after moving to Rio Dell he met the love of his life, Billie Marie Griffith, whose family had been in Humboldt County for five generations. They were married on June 28, 1957 and shared 63 wonderful years together. They were blessed with three children; Marilyn Joyce (Brown) Summerfield, Helen Marie (Brown) Dinsmore and Jimmy Harold Brown Jr. (passed at birth).

Whenever possible, weekends and holidays were spent hunting, fishing and camping. Some part of Billie’s large family of fourteen brothers and sisters and their families were always included in these outdoor adventures, as were their best friends Ronnie and Pricilla Johnsgard. Fort Bragg for abalone, Shelter Cove for saltwater fishing, and crabbing in the bay and mouth of the river were always favorite get-a-ways. When the steelhead were in the river you could expect to see Jimmy and various family members drifting from High Rock to Scotia or Rio Dell, usually ending the day with a boatload of fish to smoke. Usually a couple bottles of brandy were kept onboard to combat the chill during those cold January and February mornings. Ruth Lake usually took a beating whenever Jimmy decided he needed a “mess” of crappie, brim, or bass to cook up for the crew on Saturday night. Although these were all highly anticipated outings, buck season was the time of year he most looked forward to. Scouting for bucks during grouse season and hunting for a wall hanger every weekend of the season while camping on Eight Mile or at the Race Track on South Fork. In later years he hunted from Uncle Dave’s lease lot above Ruth Lake. During the late season nothing beat Jimmy Brown’s squirrel and quail feeds. It was always funny to see how many members of other hunting camps would show up at dinner time.

Jimmy lost his son Jimmy Jr. at birth and his wife Billie to Alzheimer’s in 2021. He is survived by his daughter Marilyn (husband Richard Summerfield) and their children Chris (wife Amanda, daughter Ginger and stepson Gabe), Glen Summerfield and Richard J. Summerfield (daughter Jesyka and granddaughter Juno). He is also survived by his daughter Helen (husband Doug Dinsmore) and their children Laura Dinsmore (partner Carlos Comacho and son River Noah), and Robert Dinsmore (wife Kendra and their daughter Kara and son James). Jimmy is also survived by his sister Maudine (Brown) Douglas. He was preceded in death by his parents Virgil Terry Brown and Helen Marie (Chilton) Brown and two brothers, Virgil and John Brown and three sisters, Betty Jean James, Helen M. Oliveau, and Mary F. Melfatti.

Furthermore, Jimmy is survived by his brother in laws David Griffith and Tom Griffith (wife Barbara) and sister in law Vicky Aust (husband Alan).

A special thank you to Jimmy’s granddaughter Laura and partner Carlos for spending eight months living with and caring for “Poppa” during a most difficult time in his life.

There will be a celebration of life held at the Rio Dell Fire Hall on February 25 between 2 and 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send monetary donations to Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Court, Eureka, CA 95503.

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

Mary Magdalene (Nolen) Ray went to be with her Lord, that she had faithfully served for over 56 years, on January 31, 2023, at 80 years of age. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, James C. Ray, her sister Linda Joy Summers of Riverside, brother David Nolen of Elk City, Oklahoma and her two beloved sons, James and Jerry Ray. She had four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren whom she loved abundantly, along with so many cherished church family and friends who meant so much to her. She is preceded by her brother Rod Nolen, father Garvin Commodore Nolen and mother, Olivee Elizabeth (Carr) Nolen.

Mary met and married James C. Ray on May 14, 1960 at the Assemblies of God church in Dows Prairie. Mary was born in Delight, Arkansas on December 28, 1942. Her family moved to California at a young age. She attended grade school in Susanville and high school at Arcata High.

After her boys went into the military, Mary worked as a bookkeeper and later as a legal secretary. Mary would retire from Humboldt County Public Defender’s office, where she loved working and made life-long friends.

In 1993 James and Mary founded North Fork Full Gospel Community Church, where they have pastored for almost 30 years. Mary worked as the bookkeeper, piano player and Sunday school teacher. Over the years Mary used her God given musical talents to share the Good News by playing the accordion, piano and singing with her husband in such places as Pelican Bay State Prison, retirement homes and special meetings all over Northern California.

Those who knew Mary loved her quick wit and dry sense of humor. She loved to tease her husband and their banter was a source of hilarity for those around them. Mary exemplified the scripture Proverbs 18:22: Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. The family would like to thank the doctors at Open Door Clinic for their love and care for Mary as well as the Hospice nurses who were with us at the end.

Memorial Services will April 29 at 11 a.m. at North Fork Full Gospel Church in McKinleyville — 1675 Pickett Road. Potluck afterward at Azalea Park.

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

My loving wife Stephanie Casey passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Stephanie was born in Yuba City on November 1, 1956. She was raised in Olivehurst until she moved to Westhaven at the age of 13 with her parents, Raymond and Hazel Sarten. They later relocated to McKinleyville where she graduated from Mack High.

Stephanie worked early in life selling cars and financing at a couple of local car lots, which lead to a lifelong career in business and personal financing. She worked for a few different businesses until she landed her dream job with Coast Central Credit Union. Starting in collections, she worked her way up within the company to loan officer, doing personal, auto and home loans for many Humboldt County residents. After retiring with just shy of 20 years of service, she worked the last two years as a mortgage underwriter.

On June 26, 1993, Stephanie married longtime McKinleyville resident Craig Casey. They lived happily together in the new home they built in McKinleyville in 1995 until her death that sad night. During the years they made wonderful memories doing hobbies together, such as hunting and camping with family, bicycling, skiing, motorcycle touring; each riding their own 1800cc Honda Goldwing tour bikes. She was independent and wanted to ride her own bike and she did so while pulling a cargo trailer, taking trips as far away as Texas, Canada and Utah to see parks and many other sites. If a new hobby was started, Stephanie and Craig did it together. They were a team.

Being a hunter, Stephanie was lucky to draw a Humboldt County Bull Elk tag in 2018 and had a successful season, scoring a large 5X6 bull that netted 300 pounds of meat. Proud of her success, she had it mounted and enjoyed showing the bull to others and sharing the story of how it was taken.

Stephanie was a strong and proud supporter of our Second Amendment. This showed as she was an Endowment Life member of the NRA, life member of the California Rifle and Pistol Association, North Coast Pistol League, Long Prairie Gun and Archery Club, United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), Single Action Shooting Association (SASS).

She competed in SASS – Cowboy Action Competitions for over 15 years, winning many first-place trophies in her division using two single action revolvers, lever action rifles, and pump or side by side shotguns every time she stepped to the firing line. It’s a hoot, she said, most fun thing ever. Stephanie looked forward to each shoot. Every cowboy and cowgirl have an alias. Stephanie picked REDWOOD ROSE to be hers; a befitting name coming from Humboldt and having rosy, red cheeks. She will be laid to rest in a casket adorned with roses.

USPSA was another favorite shooting sport for Stephanie, which became tougher as she aged. A physical sport, Stephanie tried hard and pushed herself at the competitions and to everyone’s surprise still earned first place trophies shooting a 9mm carbine in a division called Pistol Caliber Carbine.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her mother Hazel. She is survived by her father Raymond (McKinleyville), and brother Randall Price (Eureka). Services will be held at Paul’s Chapel 1070 H St. Arcata on Friday, February 10, at 1 p.m.

Donations should be made to the charity of choice in Stephanie’s name. Love to all.

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

HUMBOLDT TODAY: The family of the missing mushroom hunter travels all the way from Korea to help search for their loved one, two people are dead after a domestic violence incident in McKinleyville, plus a former county sheriff has died. Those stories and more in today’s newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• State Treasurer Fiona Ma Visits County Supes, Talks CalKIDS, Cannabis, Affordable Housing and More
• Former Humboldt County Sheriff Gary Philp Has Died
• Search and Rescue Effort Locates Elderly Clam Beach Hiker
• One Arrested on Suspicion of Fentanyl Sales After Warrants Served in Eureka and Loleta
• Two Dead in McKinleyville After ‘Domestic Violence Incident,’ Says Sheriff’s Office
• Helping Homeowners: California Expands Mortgage Relief

Want to LISTEN to HUMBOLDT TODAY? Subscribe to the podcast version here.

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President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress tonight at 6 p.m., available on basically every channel.

Not feeling it? Well, Rep. Jared Huffman has packaged his own State of the Union address for residents of California’s Second District — i.e., you — and guess what? It’s much, much shorter, and it’s available now. Watch it above.

Following Biden’s longer state of the union, LeBron James will likely break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA scoring record in a home game against a scrappy and surprisingly likable Oklahoma City Thunder team. That’s at 7 p.m. on TNT.

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UPDATE, 9:44 p.m.:

Biden did in fact give the State of the Union Address, and it was in fact longer than 93 seconds.

And LeBron did in fact win the scoring title with 10 seconds left in the third, on a weird middy stepback near the free throw line after putting his shoulder into Kenrich Williams a couple of times.

LoCO called it.

The Lakers, of course, lost. What that says about our political climate, I have no idea.

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Himothee chalamet https://t.co/494BsZnf9O

— josh giddey (@joshgiddey) January 14, 2023