Thursday, April 30, 2020

Robert (Bob) J.M. Cross, BHS 1969

Robert "Bob" Cross

January 22, 1951 - October 11, 2012

Robert (Bob) J.M. Cross, 61, of Flagstaff, AZ died peacefully at home on October 11th, 2012 of a T Cell Lymphoma. He was born on January 22, 1951 in Los Angeles, CA to William Earnest Cross and Ethel Mae Cross. Bob was the 4th of 6 children. He grew up in the greater Los Angeles area. He was married in September 1973 to Jane Cross. 

The family moved to Flagstaff in 1977. He was employed by W.L. Gore for 22yrs and the last 13 was employed by Walgreens DC. Bob was an avid hiker & backpacker. One of his major accomplishments was hiking all of the 14k-ers in the San Juan Range, CO. There was also countless backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon. Reading American History was another love of his. Bob's commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ was the most important part of his life.

He is survived by wife Jane, daughter Heidi Kenney (Omar), granddaughters Kaya & Luna, son Steve (Leah), grandson Jezreel, granddaughter Zuriella, son Joshua (Mary), mother Ethel Cross, brother Bill Cross (Cindy), sister Barbara Vincent (Mike), sister Wanda Ratliff (Doug), and brother Frank Cross. He is preceded in death by his father William and his brother and best friend, George Cross.

A memorial service will take place Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 3pm at Christ Church of Flagstaff, 3475 East Soliere Ave. 86004. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Northland Hospice, as they took wonderful care of Bob and Jane though this process: Northland Hospic, PO Box 997, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002.

Norvel Owens Mortuary, Flagstaff, Arizona,



Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Anita Theresa Tautimes Joyner, BHS 1965

Anita Theresa Tautimes Joyner
July 2, 1947 – December 1, 2019

There is another angel in heaven… Anita Joyner (husband Steve Joyner) passed away December 1st, 2019. She was born July 2nd, 1947 to Isabel and Gene Tautimes in Burbank, CA. She is one of five children. She attended Burbank High School and then Glendale and Ventura colleges. She lived in Ventura for over 50 years. 

Anita became a stay at home mom for the first 11 years. She worked as an account at Chevron and Child Development Resources (CDR) then finally retiring in 2009. During retirement she was able to spend her time doing the things she loved including painting, ceramics, camping, traveling (Europe, Washington D. C. Yellowstone, Las Vegas, Oakhurst), spending time with her family especially the grandkids. It was always important for her to be present for her children and grandchildren’s school performances, dance & music recitals, sport events, and special events. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother in-law Henry Muro. Survived by husband Steve Joyner of 52 years, daughters Marie Nelsen (Alan), Christina Ramos (Adolf), and son Steve Joyner, Jr., grandchildren Eric, Sofia, Claire, Tyler, and Janelle. Her sisters Mary Jane Muro, Elizabeth Starr (Jim), Lydia Ruiz (Ronnie), Eugen Tautimes, sister in-law Marsha Reid (Will), and many loving and caring nieces and nephews.

Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory
3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, CA





Thursday, April 23, 2020

Michael Lane Shaw, BHS 1968

Michael Lane Shaw, 6/12/1950 - 12/12/2019

Michael "Mike" Lane Shaw died in Idaho Falls on Monday, December 16, 2019, He was born in Glendale, California June 12, 1950 and lived most of his life in Southern California. A golf course superintendent, he became an expert in pumps of all kinds. Mike changed jobs from golf courses to selling pumps for several large companies. His expertise in pumps and Spanish allowed him to serve customers in both North and South America. 

In 2011, Mike decided to move to Idaho Falls, the town his Mother, Verna Geneva Fullmer, was born in. He immediately fell in love with Idaho Falls and the surroundings. Many days were spent driving around the area just to experience its beauty. He loved to quietly fish the local rivers, but always catch and release. Although a Southern California boy, Mike came to enjoy all four seasons of Idaho. 

Mike is and will be missed by his son, Taylor, his siblings Lynn, Eva and Ray, his cousin Jody and his many friends. We are very sad to have Mike leave us, but buoyed by the cessation of his illness.


Monday, April 20, 2020

Patricia Ann Hutchison Gassett, BHS 1949

Patricia Ann Gassett
September 25, 1931 - March 7, 2020

Patricia Ann Gassett (Pat) of Wharton Texas, passed peacefully on to sing in one of God’s Heavenly Choirs on Saturday March 7, 2020 at 88 years old at home. Pat was born Sept. 25, 1931 in Beatrice, Nebraska, the last of 7 children (6 daughters and 1 son) of Harry Howland Hutchison and Regina Lily Nibbe Hutchison. Pat graduated Valedictorian of her Burbank High School graduation class in Burbank, California in 1949. She was granted a music scholarship to Chapman Christian College as part of a woman’s trio as well as her violin performances. After two and one half years at Chapman College, she married Dean Harold Turner and had four sons. When her sons were ages 7, 8, 11, and 14 she returned to her alma mater, Chapman College, as a single mom and received her BA degree in 1968. Having had polio at age 15 her heart's desire was to be a Speech Therapist for handicapped children. On February 23, 1968 she married L.D. Gassett and they combined her 4 sons with his 2 daughters and 1 son to raise a family of 7 children. The family has grown to include 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Although none of the grandchildren lived close, Pat (“grandma”) never missed sending birthday cookies and presents from wherever she and L.D. were living at the time.

As an Engineer and Project Manager, L.D.'s job moved them from California to Illinois to Canada to California to Texas to Canada then finally back to Texas where L.D. retired at age 65. With each move before L.D.‘s retirement Pat continued pursuit of her goal to qualify to teach Speech Therapy. She took courses at the University of Illinois, University of Alberta in Canada, and finished at Chapman University with her Speech credential. She even took 2 history classes as WCJC to qualify her to teach in
Texas. The last 3 years of her teaching experiences was as a part time Speech Therapist at East Bernard Elementary School with Robert Osborne as principal. God had fulfilled her dream! Pat always gave God the credit for her talents and accomplishments. Pat loved music and loved to sing. Wherever L.D. and she lived, she joined the church choir. She was an active and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Wharton Choir from the time she moved to Wharton in 1976. She had a special gift for writing witty, humorous birthday songs for her fellow FUMC choir members. She directed children’s choirs in churches everywhere she lived. When she taught and directed music at St. Thomas School in Wharton she composed the music, directed and made scenery for several musical play performances. Pat kept physically active into her 80’s, but had stopped playing tournament tennis with her beloved friend and tennis player, Wilma Goode, in her 60’s. She preferred to work or teach part-time because God, family, her husband L.D., children and home were of primary importance. She liked to bake and L.D. loved her apple pie and German chocolate cake. She enjoyed baking very LARGE and also very small “letter” sugar cookies that she gave for personal birthdays and for special family, friends, and church celebrations. For years she baked a variety of cookies at Christmas time to give to friends, along with a box of “turtles” candies. She was very creative with decorating her home and doing crafts and special artistic projects with the grandchildren when they came to visit Turtle Creek in the summertime. How she cherished those summer visits! She relied on the Bible for daily guidance and was a faithful daily devotion reader of the Upper Room and Our Daily Bread as well as various religious radio and TV broadcasts.

In the 1980’s she joined with her FUMC Wharton Mission Groups to help victims of Hurricane Andrew in Louisiana and victims of 2 Missouri floods. She was part of the Committee for DASH (Drug Abuse Stops Here) posting her red ribbon campaign all over Wharton. She also worked part time in the office for the Area County Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ACCADA). She had nearly enough classes and credits to qualify as a counselor for ACCADA but when L.D. was transferred to Canada she did not pursue that position when they returned to Texas.

Although most of her grown children did not live close by, her 4 sons, 2 step-daughters, 1 step-son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continued to be the joy of her life. She also shared her love with many other children through her teaching, therapy, and children’s choirs. Two of her sons, David and Wayne, were with her in Wharton, Texas helping care for her needs and taking care of the household until the end.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, and her husband of 45 years of marriage, L.D. Gassett. She is survived by her 4 sons: David Turner of Wharton, TX; Wayne Turner of Wharton, TX; Bruce Turner of Indian Harbour Beach, FL and Craig Turner of New Hartford, NY. Also her stepchildren: Barbara Browne of Dayton, ID, Betty Williams of Covina, CA and David Gassett of Redfield, AR. Her 14 grandchildren: Bethany George, Rebecca Gleason, Richard Turner, Robinson Turner, Isaac Turner, Bridgett Stuhlmiller, Tiffany Marquez, David Browne, Gary Browne, Ryan Williams, Christie Meyers, Peter Tschakowez, Anne Gassett and Phillip Gassett. She has 5 Hutchison related nieces and 5 Hutchison related nephews living in various states. Also 2 Gassett nieces in TX, 1 nephew in OK, and 1 Gassett niece.

 Her sons would like to thank Aretha and Danielle for their help in making Mom’s transition comfortable during her hospice at home.

In lieu of flowers, Pat would like donations to go to Victory in Jesus, Wharton and/or the First United Methodist Church of Wharton’s Music Dept. Celebration of Life will be at First United Methodist Church of Wharton at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday March 10, 2020 with interment at Evergreen Memorial Park, and then returning to FUMC-Wharton for a reception.

 Pallbearers: Ken Freese, Henry Baade, Gary Ward, John Williams, Byron Nelson, and Marc Sangali

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Veronica Danielle Ortiz, BHS 1993

Veronica Danielle Ortiz, BHS 1993

Posted on Facebook:

Class of 1993. With the most incredible will to live and after the most valiant fight against MS, we lost our beloved Veronica Ortiz on April 11, 2020. She had been diagnosed with MS when she was only 22. She fought for over two decades until she finally didn't have the strength to fight anymore. 

She was SO loved by her family, friends, spiritual leaders, medical team members and anyone else that came in contact with her. While we are extremely sad that she is gone, we are comforted that she is finally at rest in Heaven where she is whole, healthy and happy.

NOTE: Veronica is preceded in death by her mother, Dina Arias Ortiz, BHS 1964, who passed away in 2019.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Kenneth Coryell, BHS 1922

Published in the Burbank Daily Review, Monday, May 28, 1951

Kenneth Coryell Services Tuesday

Funeral services for Kenneth Coryell, 48, 523 North Lamer, a Burbank resident 41 years, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Fillbach Chapel. Interment will be at Grand View cemetery. Mr. Coryell, a native of Nebraska and an electrical engineer, died Saturday, May 26, 1951 in a local hospital following a lingering illness. 

He leaves his wife, Helen; three children, Mrs. Donna Goss, Allen Coryell, of the United States Navy, and William Coryell, of the United States Air Force; two brothers, Leo Coryell and Capt. Clyde Coryell and two grandchildren.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Kenneth Patrick Hairell, BHS 1967

Kenneth Patrick Hairell, BHS 1967

Los Angeles Times, Friday, November 15, 1991

Kenneth P. Hairell, 41, of Van Nuys, electrical supply store proprietor. Praiswater Funeral Home, Van Nuys. 

Note: Ken and his brothers ran the Hairell Electric Store in Van Nuys. It is still in operation. No other details at this time.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

John Adam Safian, BHS 1961

John Adam Safian, BHS 1961
January 13, 1943 - May 29, 1986

John Adam Safian is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood. His Find A Grave memorial bio simply reads: Drowned in Kern River after saving the life of a woman. His body was not recovered for six months. He drowned on May 29, 1986.

I found this in The Hanford Times, dated Monday, December 8, 1986.

Kern drowning victims found.

Bakersfield - The bodies of three drowning victims were recovered after the level of the Kern River was lowered, but two others believed to have died during the summer remain missing.

A sheriff's rescue team on Sunday recovered the bodies of James Lopez, 15, of McFarland, who drowned on August 3; John Safian of Sunland, missing since May 29; and Khanh Do, 30, of Gardena, who disappeared in the swift water August 31.

Searchers were unable to find the bodies of Billy Rothgeb, 22, of Bakersfield and Mark Lawrence, 20, of West Los Angeles.





Tuesday, April 7, 2020

David Lee Chartrand, BHS 1979

David Lee Chartrand, BHS 1979
January 2, 1961 - April 20, 1977

David would of graduated with the class of 1979, but passed away while still in high school. From the Los Angeles Times, Sunday, April 24, 1977:

David L. Chartrand, beloved son of Mr. Floyd Chartrand and Laura M. Chartrand; step-son of Mrs. Helen Chartrand; brother of Floyd Chartrand,Jr. and John E. Chartrand; grandson of Florence D. Chartrand; step-brother of Nik Budsey; nephew of Nanette Moors.

Memorial service 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the Little Church of the Flowers, Forest Lawn-Glendale. Forest Lawn Mortuary
----------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Times, Saturday, April 23, 1977

Body Found Under Bridge Indentified

The body of a young man found earlier this week under a footbridge spanning the Los Angeles River in the Los Feliz District was identified Friday as David Lee Chartrand, 16, of Los Angeles. 

Rampart division investigators said the youth either jumped or fell about 45 feet to his death. They quoted his father as saying the boy had been despondent.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Julie Christine Baxter, BHS 1996

Julie Christine Baxter
JUNE 14, 1977 – JANUARY 29, 2020

Julie was born to Patsy Almaraz Raymundi and Martin Baxter on June 14, 1977 in Sun Valley, California. Julie was a dedicated caregiver and nurturer as well as a passionate supporter and head coach with Special Olympics for over 20 years. Julie is survived by her parents, siblings, and two children along with the many family members and friends whose lives she left great impact on.

A viewing will be held on Monday, February 10 from 4 - 8 pm at Valley Funeral Home - 2121 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 11 at 9:30 am at Church of the Hills (White Chapel) Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills - 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

All are welcome to attend and share their memories as we celebrate Julie’s life.



Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Ellen Hannah Gelbard-Zell,BHS 1970

Ellen Hannah Gelbard Zell, BHS 1970
March 10, 1952 ~ July 23, 2016

Ellen Gelbard Zell passed away in 2016 at age 64. Ellen attended Thomas Jefferson 
Elementary, John Muir Junior High, and Burbank High, graduating in 1970. The family lived on Eton Dr. while Ellen was in school in Burbank. Her sister, Susan Gelbard, was BHS '66, brother, Marty Gelbard, was BHS ‘68, and sister, Nancy Gelbard, was BHS ‘71. Their father, Dr. David Gelbard, was an M.D. in Burbank, and Marty Gelbard was also a Burbank M.D. as a Urologist, now retired.

Ellen and her husband, Joe Zell, attended the BHS ‘70 45th reunion in June 2015, just over 
a year before she passed away. They had lived in West Los Angeles for many years. In previous years Ellen had been employed at Rand Corporation in Santa Monica. Ellen is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park on Forest Lawn Dr. near Burbank.

Ellen Gelbard is survived by her husband, Joseph Zell; daughters, Rachel Zell Macht and Monica Zell Adler; granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Macht, born just before Ellen passed away; sisters, Susan Gelbard Fishman and Nancy Gelbard Kalb; and brother, Dr. Martin Gelbard. Ellen's father, Dr. David Gelbard, passed away in 2009, and her mother, Corrine "Corky" Gelbard, passed away in 2010.

Alan Landros, BHS 1970,  March 4, 2020