Michael Terrance Gannon, BHS 1965

Michael Terrance Gannon, BHS 1965
April 12, 1947 - March 28, 2020

Mike was a Sound Director in Hollywood and was nominated  for two Emmys, one in 1977 and another time in 1988. Michael was best friends with Michael Joseph Corrigan a JBHS grad KIA in Vietnam. This was posted by Mike Gannon about his friend: 

Michael really was my best and lasting friend for 1951 at St Finbar in Burbank at ages of 5 much older and me at 4 so much younger. I love and miss you, and counting till we meet again my dear and as it turned out my real best friend.

Sadly, Mike was in a car accident on March 26, 2020, and died 2 days later on March 28, 2020.

He was greatly loved and will be missed by all his family, fellow classmates and all who knew him.

Matthew Kristian Wilson Sr., BHS 2001

Matthew Kristian Wilson Sr., BHS 2001

April 22, 1983 – August 10, 2025

Matthew Wilson was born on April 22, 1983, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, California, to William Wilson and Miroslava Garza. From a young age, Matt was active and full of life. He enjoyed playing sports, studying Kyokushin karate, attending Bible study, camping, and cooking. He was passionate about music and could play many instruments. His happiest place was the gym, and he spent many years as a successful personal trainer before building a long career in entertainment lighting as a freelance stagehand.

Above all, Matthew loved being a father. He had a playful spirit and a big heart, making every moment with his children an adventure—whether it was playing video games, teaching them to ride bikes and hoverboards, having water balloon fights, or going on hikes. To his kids, he was both a parent and a playmate, truly a big kid at heart. He will be deeply missed by his children, Mattalyn (12), Matthew Jr. (11), Maclain (9), and Mayva (6), whom he shared with his longtime partner, Amanda. Matthew also cherished being a father to his daughters Leeah (16) and Lauren (21).

He is survived by his brother Jason (Maria) White of Los Angeles and their children Laela, Jade, Elias, Elise, and Jack; his sister Britney and niece June; and his parents William (Kathy) and Miroslava. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who loved him dearly. To know Matt was truly to love him.

A visitation for Matthew will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Valley Funeral Home, 2121 West Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506. A Mass will follow at St. Robert Bellarmine Church from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 143 N 5th St, Burbank, CA 91501. Committal services will take place from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Forest Lawn, 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

NOTE: According to a friend, Matthew died of a heart attack. According to the LA Co. ME It occurred at a restaurant. He was just 42 years old. Prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

Yurik Khodjasarian, BHS 1985

Yurik Khodjasarian, BHS 1985

August 13, 1967 — April 14, 2019

Yurik Khodjasarian, 51, of Shadow Hills, passed away on Sunday, April 14th after a long battle with cancer. Yurik was born on August 13, 1967 in Tehran, Iran. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Arsen and Eriknaz. His parents immigrated to Glendale from Iran in 1978. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1985 where he was a member of the varsity soccer team.

Yurik attended California State University Northridge followed by law school at Glendale College of Law. He worked at the Law Offices of Albert Abkarian for 16 wonderful years. His greatest accomplishment in life was the birth of his twins, Ian and Lucia, on July 2, 2003 whom he cherished dearly. He loved being a father, especially coaching their soccer teams and sharing his passion for the game.

Yurik met Leslie Russell in 1988 and they married on November 10, 1995 at Sheen Memorial Chapel in Mission Hills. Yurik was diagnosed with lymphoma in February 2014, and bravely fought the disease until his passing.

Yurik is survived by his wife Leslie and their children, Ian and Lucia; his parents Arsen and Eriknaz; brother, Heros and wife Karmen and their children Narine and Sarmen; sister Araz and her daughter Madelayne; sister Arpik and husband Vanik and their children Hamik and Edwin; brother Henrik and wife Helen and their children Thomas and Ani.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 22nd at 12:30pm at Forest Lawn ât Hollywood Hills, Church of the Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90068. Yurik Find A Grave Memorial

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to an education fund for Yurik's children to help defray the costs of college in the future.

https://www.gofundme.com/support-lucia-and-ian-through-college

Donations can also be made to the City of Hope. 

William Bruce Allan, BHS 1964

William "Bill" Bruce Allan, BHS 1964

May 20, 1946 ~ November 7, 2024 (age 78)

William Bruce Allan of Dike Texas passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2024, surrounded by his family and his beloved rescue dog Laydeigh. 

Bill is survived by his daughters, Susan Allan Croft and husband Thomas of Springtown, Sharon Allan Mayo of Ft Worth, and his son Travis Allan of Denton. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Cody and wife Haley, Carson Croft, Cooper Croft, Austin Allan, Kaci Allan, and Jordan Mayo; nieces Miera Nagy and Emily Adams; nephews, John Stone and Andy Stone

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Florence Allan of Burbank California, his son Trevor Allan of Sulphur Springs, his sister Betty Stone of Booneville, Arkansas, niece Jenni Stone Murillo, and his old roping horse Zip.

Bill was born in Montreal, Canada in 1946. He spent his early years in Canada but moved to California during his teen years where he graduated from Burbank High School and Cal Poly Technic State University. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1965 and was honorably discharged in 1967 following a motorcycle accident.

Among his first of many careers, he was a dairy farmer and Ag teacher in Newport, Vermont. After moving to Texas in 1974, he continued in the dairy business and began a career in Farm and Ranch Real Estate. He sold the dairy in the mid 90's and entered the realm of law enforcement as member of the Hopkins County Sheriff's posse, later entering the police academy and becoming a sheriff's deputy. He later took on the role of Hopkins County Constable and enjoyed eight years of service, making many friends (and a few enemies) along the way. His final career choice landed him as the court Bailiff for Hopkins County. He retired (officially) in 2020, but still enjoyed filling in at the court when needed.

Never one to meet a stranger, Bill enjoyed his church families at St James Catholic Church for many years and in recent years at Sulphur Spring First Baptist. He spent time singing and playing the guitar in each choir and kept his fellow Sunday School members laughing and smiling with his quick wit and silly jokes.

Bill loved to travel and see new things. He especially enjoyed his annual beach trips with his children and grandchildren where they spent every day on the beach and every evening as a family, watching movies or playing games on the deck. He had traveled to every state in America, with the exception of Alaska. Road trips with the grandkids were another of his favorite ways to see the sights and he spent many hours allowing them to choose the routes and the sights to see.

He will be remembered as a loving and proud father, grandfather, and a friend to everyone he met. He lived his motto of "be kind to people and they'll be kind to you."

Visitation will be Saturday, Nov 9th from 5:00-7:00pm at West Oaks Funeral Home with services Sunday Nov 10th at 2:00pm also at West Oaks. Burial will follow at Sulphur Bluff Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers please make donations to the Hopkins County Sheriff's Posse. 298 Rosemont, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482

Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com 

Services

Visitation

Saturday

November 9, 2024

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

West Oaks Funeral Home

500 S. Hillcrest Drive

Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

Funeral Service

Sunday

November 10, 2024

2:00 PM

West Oaks Funeral Home

500 S. Hillcrest Drive

Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

Interment following funeral service

Sunday

November 10, 2024

Sulphur Bluff Cemetery

FM 71 East

Sulphur Bluff, TX 75481

Obituary from West Oaks Funeral Home, Sulphur Springs, Texas

Robert Chung Wong, BHS 1971

Robert Chung Wong, BHS 1971

November 10, 1953 – October 13, 2016

IN THE CARE OF

Oakdale Mortuary & Memorial Park

Arrangements under the direction of Oakdale Mortuary, Glendora, California.

No other information at this time.

Chris Arthur Basso, BHS 1980/81

Chris Arthur Basso was born on September 8, 1962 to Art (BHS 1950) & Marcia Basso at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, California. Sadly, Chris passed away unexpectedly, on August 26, 2025, at his Stevenson Ranch home. 

Chris, like his Father and siblings, attended Washington Elementary (1974) Muir Jr. High (1977), and Burbank Sr. High school (1980/81). He played one year of football at BHS under the coaching of Lipera and Auzene.

Upon graduation Chris worked as an auto mechanic and smog check technician at Chuck Mercier’s Union 76 gas station on Burbank Blvd. and San Fernando Rd.

In the mid 1980’s Chris started working, first delivering scripts to stars such as Kurt Russel, Goldie Hawn, Charlie’s Angel’s, and Steven Segal. He then transitioned to a studio transportation, production van driver, retiring in 2024 with 119 movie and TV projects in his career.

When time permitted Chris also worked as a fly fishing guide for the Sierra Drifters Guide Service in Lake Crowley, CA with his personal 21 foot Champion Bay “Champ” boat; taking guests (and teaching them) on a day of “catch & release” fly fishing. 

Additionally, when a show would wrap Chris would make fishing lures that could be purchased online or at the SDGS store.

Like his Father, Chris maintained an exemplary work ethic pitching in anywhere he could as well as being kind and generous to all that crossed his path. This earned him notoriety in the entertainment industry prompting producers & directors to request him to be part of the “on location transportation team” on future movies & shows.

Chris is survived by his younger brother Teddy Basso (BHS 1985), older sister Patti (Basso) Maisner (BHS 1975), nieces & nephews: Mallory (BHS 2011) & Mack Maisner (BHS 2014), Paige & Presley Basso, and stepmother Viola Basso of Burbank, CA.

R.I.P. Chris, you will be missed

Alice Kennedy Ebblewhite Butler, BHS 1947

Alice Kennedy Ebblewhite Butler, BHS 1947

Nov. 28, 1929 — Feb. 2, 2025

Alice was born Alice Kennedy Ebblewhite to Marjorie and Harry Ebblewhite in E. St. Louis, Illinois, where her father, an electrical engineer from the state of Washington, was working on a project.

She grew up on the Riverside Ranchos area of Burbank, California, where she owned a three-gaited Saddlebred horse named Mignon. She showed Mignon in dressage classes and enjoyed giving neighbors tours in her surrey pulled by Mignon.

Graduating from Burbank High School in 1947, she attended Scripps College in Claremont, California, earning a B.A. degree in English literature in 1951. While there she met her future husband, Clifford Donald Butler after leaving the army from WWII. They married at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in June 1952. They moved to Shakespeare Drive in San Marino in 1964 with their two boys, Kenneth and Stephen, who went all through San Marino schools. Son Kenneth died of heart trouble just 20 months after his father in 2015. Son Stephen and his wife Maria now live in Temple City, California.

Alice continued her education at Occidental College receiving a teaching credential, an administrative credential, then an M.A. in Education and a state issued Certificate of proficiency in Spanish/English. She was the most proud of passing "that nasty test" at USC which conducted the exam for the Spanish/English certificate.

In 1959, she began a 30-year career in the Pasadena Unified School District as a teacher, principal and central office program director K-12. She retired early at age 59.

After retirement she busied herself with memberships in nonprofits. She served 17 years on the administrative board of the Pasadena Museum of History, and spent 10 years as a Library Hall docent at the Huntington Library. She was a 30-year member of the Caltech Associates and San Marino Chapter JV of PEO until disbanded a few years ago. Her last social gatherings were held at her home, they were in the form of a book club with 10 local widows as members whom she had known most of her life.

Alice leaves her son Stephen and his wife Maria, two married granddaughters Melissa Crenshaw and Michelle O'Malley, and five great-grandchildren: James, 18, Izabella, 15, Andrew, 12, Caitlyn, 11 and Evan, 10. A memorial service will be held in private. She is laid to rest in the Santa Barbara Cemetery beside her husband Don. She was 95 years old. 

Published in the San Mateo Tribune, San Mateo, California, February 6, 2025

Kenneth Charles Layne, BHS 1958

Kenneth Charles Layne, BHS 1958

Ken Layne March 16, 1940 – May 6, 2021

Santa Cruz -  Charles Kenneth (“Ken”) Layne, 81, passed away May 6 — relieved to have caught the opening races of one last NASCAR season.

Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 16, 1940, and came of age in Burbank, where he built hot rods, worked pit crews, and helped pen the lyrics to “Plastic Jesus” before graduating from USC and marrying Roseann Coonerty.

After a move to Los Altos in 1966, Ken cemented his career in the automotive engineering industry at Chek-Chart, Balco, Snap-On, and H.M. Gousha. He wrote several textbooks on automotive engine performance and rebuilt his beloved 1956 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck while raising two kids, playing in a bluegrass band called The Overcoat Charlies, and teaching night classes to young mechanics at De Anza College.

In retirement, Ken moved to Santa Cruz and migrated each winter to the Sinaloa village of El Quelite, where he wrote stories about life in rural Mexico and a book manuscript titled “It Was All Los Angeles Music.” Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Charles W. and Eleanor, and his wife, Roseann. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Geri Layne; his daughter and son-in-law, Anni and Jonathan Rodgers; and his two grandchildren, MacKinlay and Charlotte Rodgers; as well as the family and friends who will celebrate his life on October 10.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, California, October 2021

Joseph Luis (Joe) Gonzales, BHS 1987

Joseph Luiz Gonzales, Jr. BHS 1987

October 10, 1968 – November 11, 2013

----------------------------------------

IN THE CARE OF

Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park and Mortuary

"Joe" Gonzales, 45

Former Burbank resident Joseph Luis "Joe" Gonzales, 45, died Nov. 11, 2013, at Amberwood Nursing home, Highland Park.

Joe was born Oct. 10, 1968, in Glendale, California, to Joseph Luis Gonzales Sr. and Annabelle Snow Gonzales.

He graduated from Burbank High School and continued to reside in the Burbank area.

Joe was a Native American of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara nation)

Joe was known for his speed in running and his talent in Art.

His family wrote: "Joe lived his life with integrity and bravery."

He is survived by his sons, Jimmy Alexander Gonzales & Joseph Luis Gonzales; daughters, Annabelle Gonzales & Melissa Gonzales, ; granddaughter, Abigail Gonzales; father, Joseph Gonzales., step mother Soledad Montejano, sisters, Gloria Aguayo, Elizabeth Gonzales, Joann Mejia and Lillian Gonzales.

Joe was preceded in death by his Mother, Annabelle Snow Gonzales; and his brother, Joseph Gonzales.

A Viewing will be held 4:00pm Monday Nov 18, 2013 at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park.

Sally Jean Vick Ball, BHS 1967

Sally Jean Vick Ball, BHS 1967

Sally Jean was born on 17 Oct 1948 in San Diego County, California to William Elvis Vick and Doris Jean Wolf. Sometime in 1950 the family moved to Burbank, California. Sally graduated from Burbank High School in 1967. Sally was married a couple of times and had one son. According to a friend Sally loved the color Purple.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Sally's  mother Doris at one of the cities veterans events and she told me that Sally passed away on November 5, 2007 after losing her battle with breast cancer,  The family had her cremated and her ashes were returned to the family.

Sally is survived by her parents and her son, Morgan. She loved and missed by her family and friends and fellow classmates. Rest In Peace!