Mavis Clair Proudfit Stouffer

MAVIS CLAIR PROUDFIT STOUFFER AUG 7, 1909 - OCT 25, 2008 Mavis Stouffer was born in Ripon, on River Road, to Ethel and Charles Proudfit, old time pioneers in this area. At 99 years she was the oldest person born, raised and living continuously in Ripon all her life. She saw the town grow and change from around 500 to 14,575. While in Modesto Junior College, she met Wes Stouffer in a Ripon community play. Later they married, and she became a full time, nurturing homemaker for her family and all the neighborhood children and youth. Mavis loved life: camping and fly fishing in the Sierras, dancing until the last dance, gardening, and traveling extensively. She taught 11 years, first at Burwood Elementary and then Ripon Elementary School. Mavis was a life long member of the First Congregational Church, Ripon, where she taught Sunday School and was active in the Ladies Aid Society, Dorcas Circle, and all other church events. In the community, she was an involved member of the Women's Improvement Club, which encouraged cultural and educational events in town. She served on the San Joaquin County Visiting Nurses Association Board for many years and was a member of a Manteca book club, of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational women's group, and of P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter NH, Stockton. The Stouffers gave the initial riverfront property to the City for a badly needed park, which was later named Mavis Stouffer Park. In 1995 the Ripon Soroptimist Club honored her with the Outstanding Woman's Award''. During the 1997 Almond Blossom Festival Mavis and Wes Stouffer were crowned Mr. and Mrs. Ripon'' and reigned with that title for several years. Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her children Mervyn (Joan) Stouffer of Camino and Gaynl (Irwin) Trotter of Ripon, three grand- children, Bret (Karen) Stouffer, Kristi (Bob Branscomb) Stouffer and Sheena (Pete) Trotter- Dennis. Her three great granddaughters are Juniper Branscomb, Sara Stouffer, and Katherine Dennis. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Services will be held Saturday, November 8, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ripon Congregational Church, Main Street and Acacia. In place of flowers, donations may be made to the Stouffer Charitable Fund, c/o Frank Jorgensen, Treasurer, P.O. Box 444, Ripon, CA 95366.www.modbee.com/obituaries