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Richard Menefee Obituary
Richard Lloyd "Dick" Menefee passed away, with his children at his side, on Sunday March 2, 2025, at the age of 91 years old.
Born in Santa Cruz, CA on October 4, 1933 to Henry Lloyd Menefee (born in Oakland, CA) and Vivian Estelle (Paxson) Menefee (born in Pamona, CA). Dick was an only child. He spent his entire childhood living in Santa Cruz County where he attended Aptos Union Grammar School through 8th grade, followed by Santa Cruz High School, from which he graduated in 1951. While attending Santa Cruz High, Dick was a member of both "Lightweight" and Varsity Track, excelling in running low hurdles - taking many first-place awards. In addition to Track, Dick was also a member of the Boy's Glee Club, the A Cappella Choir (he sang bass), the Pep Club, the Office Practice Club, and the Letterman Society. In his senior year, he was Sports Editor of the Santa Cruz High School Trident and he was also named The Athletic Department's Honor Student of the year, and as such he spoke at the Senior Class Commencement Ceremony.
Dick married his high school sweetheart, Anabel Phylis Iverson, on November 8, 1953, once she graduated from Santa Cruz High School, two years after he did.
In 1956 Dick began his dream career as a State Park Ranger with the California Division of Beaches and Parks, which in the late 1960's became the California Department of Parks and Recreation. During his career, his posts included Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park (1956-58); Morro Bay State Park (1958-63); Fort Tejon State Historic Park (1963-65); Doheny State Beach (1965-70); Santa Cruz Mtns Area State Parks (1970-72); Sonoma Area State Historic Parks (1972-76); State Parks Headquarters in Sacramento (1976-78); Pajaro Coast Area State Beaches, in Santa Cruz County (1978-87). Dick retired on July 7, 1987 from his final post as Area Supervisor IV of Pajaro Coast Area State Beaches, after serving nearly 32 years for California Department of Parks and Recreation.
While working full time, and raising a family, Dick went back to school and earned his AA Degree from Monterey Peninsula College in 1959, and his BA from Saint Mary's College in 1979.
His entire life Dick loved fishing. Whether fishing off the wharfs in the Santa Cruz area as a child, fishing in Alaska while on vacation with Anabel, adventuring up to Flaming Gorge, Wyoming with family and friends, boating out of Bodega Bay or drifting on the Sacramento River, he absolutely loved and lived to fish!
In 1981 Dick and Anabel started a small business named Annie's Attic, and for many years they went to antique shows throughout California buying and selling discontinued Lenox China pieces. They truly enjoyed traveling and together toured the United States several times in their motorhome, both the lower 48 and Alaska. While touring he enjoyed National Parks, fall colors, exploring family history sites, and of course always fishing along the way! He and Anabel also enjoyed many cruises, including: Trans Atlantic, Panama Canal, Alaska, Norway, Australia, and Hawaii.
Having grown up in Santa Cruz, two of his passions were the ocean and the redwood forests. He was literally in tears on his death bed as he expressed to his children, Mike and Pam, that looking back, he could see as a child that he didn't fully appreciate how important these majestic wonders of nature were and how he felt he had completely taken them for granted as a kid. His very first camping trip as a young boy was to Big Basin, with his dad.
Dick is survived by his son Michael Menefee (Erin) of Sonoma, his daughter Pamela Reuter (Keith) of Napa; his grandchildren Thomas Lynch (Holley), Amanda Thompson (Ed), Sean Lynch, Jason Menefee, Kyndra Menefee, Jean-Paul Menefee and Cameron Menefee; and his great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Beckett, Bentley, Emmy, Ella, Jay, and step-great-grandchildren Max, Carson, Colter, and Cedar. He was predeceased by his parents, and by his wife Anabel.
Please join us in celebrating Dick's life on Sunday, April 6 at Sonoma United Methodist Church at 3pm, reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Dick's name to: California State Park Ranger's Association, Semperviren's Fund, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, or National Parks Conservation Association. Richard "Dick" Lloyd Menefee
Born in Santa Cruz, CA on October 4, 1933 to Henry Lloyd Menefee (born in Oakland, CA) and Vivian Estelle (Paxson) Menefee (born in Pamona, CA). Dick was an only child. He spent his entire childhood living in Santa Cruz County where he attended Aptos Union Grammar School through 8th grade, followed by Santa Cruz High School, from which he graduated in 1951. While attending Santa Cruz High, Dick was a member of both "Lightweight" and Varsity Track, excelling in running low hurdles - taking many first-place awards. In addition to Track, Dick was also a member of the Boy's Glee Club, the A Cappella Choir (he sang bass), the Pep Club, the Office Practice Club, and the Letterman Society. In his senior year, he was Sports Editor of the Santa Cruz High School Trident and he was also named The Athletic Department's Honor Student of the year, and as such he spoke at the Senior Class Commencement Ceremony.
Dick married his high school sweetheart, Anabel Phylis Iverson, on November 8, 1953, once she graduated from Santa Cruz High School, two years after he did.
In 1956 Dick began his dream career as a State Park Ranger with the California Division of Beaches and Parks, which in the late 1960's became the California Department of Parks and Recreation. During his career, his posts included Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park (1956-58); Morro Bay State Park (1958-63); Fort Tejon State Historic Park (1963-65); Doheny State Beach (1965-70); Santa Cruz Mtns Area State Parks (1970-72); Sonoma Area State Historic Parks (1972-76); State Parks Headquarters in Sacramento (1976-78); Pajaro Coast Area State Beaches, in Santa Cruz County (1978-87). Dick retired on July 7, 1987 from his final post as Area Supervisor IV of Pajaro Coast Area State Beaches, after serving nearly 32 years for California Department of Parks and Recreation.
While working full time, and raising a family, Dick went back to school and earned his AA Degree from Monterey Peninsula College in 1959, and his BA from Saint Mary's College in 1979.
His entire life Dick loved fishing. Whether fishing off the wharfs in the Santa Cruz area as a child, fishing in Alaska while on vacation with Anabel, adventuring up to Flaming Gorge, Wyoming with family and friends, boating out of Bodega Bay or drifting on the Sacramento River, he absolutely loved and lived to fish!
In 1981 Dick and Anabel started a small business named Annie's Attic, and for many years they went to antique shows throughout California buying and selling discontinued Lenox China pieces. They truly enjoyed traveling and together toured the United States several times in their motorhome, both the lower 48 and Alaska. While touring he enjoyed National Parks, fall colors, exploring family history sites, and of course always fishing along the way! He and Anabel also enjoyed many cruises, including: Trans Atlantic, Panama Canal, Alaska, Norway, Australia, and Hawaii.
Having grown up in Santa Cruz, two of his passions were the ocean and the redwood forests. He was literally in tears on his death bed as he expressed to his children, Mike and Pam, that looking back, he could see as a child that he didn't fully appreciate how important these majestic wonders of nature were and how he felt he had completely taken them for granted as a kid. His very first camping trip as a young boy was to Big Basin, with his dad.
Dick is survived by his son Michael Menefee (Erin) of Sonoma, his daughter Pamela Reuter (Keith) of Napa; his grandchildren Thomas Lynch (Holley), Amanda Thompson (Ed), Sean Lynch, Jason Menefee, Kyndra Menefee, Jean-Paul Menefee and Cameron Menefee; and his great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Beckett, Bentley, Emmy, Ella, Jay, and step-great-grandchildren Max, Carson, Colter, and Cedar. He was predeceased by his parents, and by his wife Anabel.
Please join us in celebrating Dick's life on Sunday, April 6 at Sonoma United Methodist Church at 3pm, reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Dick's name to: California State Park Ranger's Association, Semperviren's Fund, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, or National Parks Conservation Association. Richard "Dick" Lloyd Menefee
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Napa Valley Register from Mar. 27 to Mar. 28, 2025.
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