Today's Obituaries and Guest Books

Douglas William Barnet
Jan 6, 1927 - May 21, 2013
A Resident of Santa Cruz
Douglas William Barnet, a Canadian and Santa Cruzan, passed away Tuesday morning after a long illness.
Doug was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan where he grew up on the family farm and graduated from Weyburn High. He received reservist training during World War II and proudly marched in the local victory parade on V-E Day. He attended Guelph Agricultural School in Ontario and also taught elementary school east of Toronto in a one-room schoolhouse.
He was involved in sales and management for the local Co-op and was the farm director of a popular radio station, his voice transmitted Canada-wide. After a road-trip to California in the 1950's, he was inspired by the weather and lifestyle to return with his wife and children to Santa Cruz and reside permanently. His dedication to agriculture and his love of living things benefitted him in territorial sales, management, and seed brokerage throughout central California, working from his desk or inspecting in the field. He remarried after the passing of his first wife and retired in 1988, free to follow his hobbies of golf, woodcraft, home improvement, and gardening. World travel took him to Europe, Asia, and Africa, though his favorite location was Hawaii, and often returned to visit his native Canada. Doug was a member of Lions Club International and a 3rd degree member of the Masonic Lodge in Canada and locally active in SIRS for many years.
Doug is survived by his second wife, Teresa; his son William (Bill) of Santa Cruz and daughter Luana of Ohio and grandchildren Daniel and Bridget. He is also survived by brother Jack of Manitoba and sister Isobel and brother Murray of Ontario. The "gentle gentleman" will be dearly missed by family and his many friends, here and across the U. S. and Canada.
A public service will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 11:00 am at the First Congregational Church on High Street followed by a private graveside ceremony. Instead of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to . If you would like to sent your condolences to Doug's family, share your memories, view or post photos or light a candle, please visit www.scmemorial.com

Larry Maxcy May 28, 1935 Dec. 22, 2012 Resident of Olympia, Wa Celebration of Life, Arboretum at UCSC, Horticulture Room, Tuesday, May 28, 11:30 a.m. Larry Maxcy was assistant dean of Natural Sciences at UCSC from 1969 to 1991. A public policy expert, he helped shape university programs and policies in the sciences with wisdom and good humor. He was also an enthusiastic gardener and life member of the Arboretum.

William Leo Newman Jr.
Feb.17, 1925 - Apr. 30, 2013
Resident of Capitola
Bill Newman, 88, passed away in his home overlooking Monterey Bay. His beloved wife Ann preceded him by 2 years and 4 days. He was survived by his 10 children, 23 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
Bill was born in San Francisco, raised in Glendale, CA, joined the Navy during WW II, and attended USF and Stanford. After many years teaching physics and math at Saratoga High School, he went on to lead workshops for Quality Control Circles.
Always a champion of the underdog, Bill was often seen in his cowboy hat and faded blue jeans campaigning for his favorite causes, or picking up trash on the beach. Late in life he became a tireless advocate for rent control and affordable housing in Capitola, particularly in the Surf and Sand Community. He was loved by many for his warm, welcoming spirit and dry sense of humor, and he was perhaps admired most for his willingness to question the status quo and stand up for what he believed was right.
A Memorial Service will be held at 12 Noon, June 2nd, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062, with a reception immediately following at the same location.
In lieu of flowers or contributions, please support one of Bill's favorite causes: St. Francis Soup Kitchen, 205 Mora St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, (831) 459-6712; or Sacred Heart Community Service, 1381 S. 1st St., San Jose, CA 95110, (408) 278-2160; or your favorite environmental group.

Betty Rhodes
A resident of La Selva Beach for fifty years
Passed away quietly in the predawn hours of May 19. Her family had been at her bedside since a stroke felled her one week earlier. She was 92 years old.
Betty was born on December 24, 1920 in Fresno, Ca, to Lola and Shirley Summers, their third and final child. Father Shirley, who worked for Shell Oil, soon moved the family to the East Bay town of Byron, where Betty would grow up and eventually graduate from high school in Brentwood in 1938.
Returning to Fresno to study at the State University, she was in the first class of women there to be trained in aeronautics drafting and design. During World War II she was employed by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego, becoming a valued member of the Engineering Department in making layouts. At the conclusion of the war, Betty found employment in the Radiation Lab at the University of California, Berkeley. She worked and socialized with two future Nobel Prize winning scientists, Glenn Seaborg and Luis Alvarez.
Betty had always been good at sports, particularly softball, bowling and golf. While visiting her parents (recently retired to Watsonville), she was out at the Pajaro Valley Golf Club when her threesome welcomed a single player (a very single Les Rhodes of Aptos) to join them.
Les and Betty were married on June 24, 1951. Continuing on with their golf, they would at times be members of Pajaro Valley, Pasatiempo, and Aptos Seascape. A medalist in many tournaments, Betty won the Watsonville City Championship in 1953.
In 1954 the Rhodeses started their family, and when their third child was born in 1960 they moved to La Selva Beach. Betty was an elementary school room mother and Cub Scout den mother, taught a cooking class for 4-H and Sunday School at La Selva Beach Community Church. She served as Deacon at the Church,was a member of the Women's Guild, and for many years worked at the polls on election day.
When her children were older she went back to the salt mines, working in Administrations and Records at Cabrillo College for seventeen years. Though no longer golfing much, she kept up her other great hobby of playing bridge. She was also an avid reader. As a teenager, she had read Gone With the Wind in one day when kept home from school (appropriately enough) because of Scarlet Fever. In later years she mostly read mysteries, and would frequently solve a TV whodunnit before the last commercial break.
She had given up her career for marriage and family, and that level of sacrifice was her constant nature. She never put a demand of her own before anyone else's desires. Her simple sweetness, her big brown eyes radiating warmth, and her genuine smile made her many quick and lasting friendships.
When Les suffered a stroke in 2000, Betty took care of him for his final three years. Two years later, when her older brother fell and could no longer live on his own, she took him in and looked after him. Finally, in 2010, suffering from heart arrhythmia and arthritic knees, Betty moved to Oak Tree Villa in Scotts Valley where she made new friends, many fortunately employed there as skilled caretakers.
Her husband Les passed away in 2003 and her brother Jack Summers succumbed in 2010. Her oldest brother, Shirley F. Summers, was killed in WWII. She is survived by daughter Barbara Rhodes of San Jose, son Ron Rhodes, daughter-in-law Elaine McGregor and grandchildren Kevin Rhodes and Lauren Rhodes of Sunnyvale, and son Jim Rhodes of Santa Cruz.
A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 at La Selva Beach Community Church.