Friday Obituaries

12/9/05

FLORES, Ismael
IN LOVING MEMORY

Ismael was born on September 9th, 1980 and a graduate of Santa Barbara High School.

Ismael was a student at Santa Barbara City College and was looking forward to transferring to a four year University. He was a member of the United States Army Reserves.

He died December 4, 2005 and will be terribly missed by his family and his many friends. He was a very loving son, brother and cousin. He had an incredible zest for life and was known for his independence and fun loving nature. He was looked up to by all who met him and he was often admired for his trendsetting ways. He was very humble and kindhearted and was an avid Steelers and Lakers fan. He enjoyed spending his free time with his friends and the family dog Snowy.

He is survived by his parents Alfonso and Estela, his brother Damian and his grandmother Rodelinda Flores and the extended Flores family.

He will always be remembered and never forgotten.

A memorial fund has been arranged for Ismael Flores. If you wish to make a contribution you can visit any of the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust locations and ask to contribute to the Ismael Flores Memorial Fund.

KEHE, Roberta Jane (Young)

Roberta J. (Young) Kehe kissed her husband, Henry, farewell on December 6, 2005 to become the Children's Librarian in the sky. Born on April 27, 1911 in Crestline, OH, Roberta was the first of five children born to the Presbyterian minister Robert C. Young and his wife Nina Birdie (nee Wilhelm). At the age of four Roberta moved with her family to the Great Lakes (IL) Naval Training Station for Rev. Young to serve as a chaplain. Six years later (1921) Roberta and her family moved to Maywood, IL for Rev. Young to accept the call to be the pastor of Maywood Presbyterian Church. In Maywood Roberta finished grade and high schools, playing the cello in the Proviso High orchestra.

Roberta attended the College of Wooster, Wooster, OH-her parents' alma mater-for several years, then transferred to Western Reserve (now Case Western) University in Cleveland to earn a B.S. in Library Science, 1932. Upon receiving her degree and having specialized in children's literature she accepted employment with textbook publisher Scott Foresman Co., Chicago. In 1937 she moved to the Mishawaka, IN public library, and in 1944, to the Akron, OH public library, where she became the "Story Lady" and the producer of a children's radio hour. At the library she met widower Henry J. Kehe, married him on August 14, 1948, and adopted and helped rear his two very young children. When the children reached high school Roberta worked part-time as the "Library Lady" at Akron's Children's Hospital, and later became a librarian with Akron's public schools. She retired in 1972.

Roberta and Henry belonged to Akron's Westminster Presbyterian Church. Here Roberta was a member of the Board of Deacons and the Women's Society, whose wedding catering committee she headed. She also headed the Sunday School's Junior department and served on the Building Committee for the church's educational wing. Further, she led the Brownie and Girl Scout Troops that held their meetings at Westminster.

Roberta and Henry moved to Carpinteria, CA in October 1981, and joined the Carpinteria Community Church. As a deacon there, Roberta carried meals to shut-ins in Summerland and Carpinteria. She also had several roles in the Carpinteria-based Help organization, which provides transportation to Carpinterians. She aided in organizing the program and served as its secretary and one of its dispatchers. In November 1992 Roberta and Henry moved to Valle Verde Retirement Community in Santa Barbara. Here they attended St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, where Roberta became the "Flower Lady," as the maker of the simple yet attractive tissue paper flowers for visitors at Sunday services.

Roberta enjoyed flower arranging and water color painting. She was an excellent seamstress and taught her daughter the art at an early age. She taught both children to love books, nature, and cats-her favorite pet. She and Henry enjoyed travel, visiting Europe and Hawaii. They also enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and a cruise from Los Angeles to Puerto Rico via the Panama Canal, which especially fascinated Roberta.

Roberta is survived by Henry, her husband of 57 years; their daughter Margaret Currie, Louisville, CO; their son and daughter-in-law Colin and Theresa Kehe, Brooklyn Park, MN; and sisters Catherine Scheaffer, Mill Valley, CA and Betty Ann Buck, Bradenton, FL. Also surviving are sister-in-law Betty Jean Young, Borrego Springs, CA, brother-in-law Ed West, Montrose, CO, and many nieces and nephews. Roberta mourned the loss of her sister Maybelle West and brother William Young.

Memorial services are pending.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 2024 De la Vina Street; Braille Institute, 2031 De la Vina; or Valle Verde's Endowment Fund, 900 Calle de los Amigos, all of Santa Barbara, CA.

Arrangements by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary.

LaCELLE, Jerry Elmer

Jerry went home to be with his Lord on Monday, December 5, 2005 after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer's. Born to Jerry Ellsworth LaCelle and Eva Belle (Stowell) LaCelle February 22, 1916 in Orwell, New York, he married Mabel Louise Heimbach on August 15, 1949.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mabel. He leaves behind his children Jerry Elmer LaCelle, Jr. (Virginia), Keith (Blanche), Roger, Gareth (Helen), Dennis (Lorna), Doug (Charlene), Perry (Sandy), Chrys Chaparro (Steve, daughter Nicholle), Pam Crawford (David) and Allene Huntington. Also surviving him are his sister Rosemary Kendrick (Robert), half sister Janice Daugharty as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren throughout the country.

A celebration of Jerry's life will be held on Saturday Dec. 10 at 2:00 pm at the Church of the Nazarene in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Arrangements by English Funeral Chapel of Coeur d'Alene. (www.englishfuneralchapel.com)

McGEE, James Patrick

James P. McGee (Jimbo Mc Gee) of Santa Barbara and Merrillville, IN. Born August 31st, 1949, Jimbo passed peacefully with astonishing spiritual beauty and grace at Mercy Hospital, Chicago on November 16th, 2005, his lifelong love Jessica Cashman at his side. Jim was a kind and gentle soul, generous and dependable, who loved to help others and had a special gift with people and animals. He was skilled in all things physical and was eager to encourage others, as he had an innate understanding of human nature and loved to interact with his fellow man.

Jim spent 34 years of his life between Santa Barbara and Indiana where he was notorious for his dedication to the sport of handball, appreciating nature and partying with friends. Through his many years here he led an unconventional life connecting with those he loved and even saved a few lives with his genuine love and sincere understanding of human relationships. He learned the skill of carpentry and freely helped his friends figure out solutions to many complex projects. He had an amazing eye and appreciation for beauty in design. Jim had a genuine sense of proportion, balance and placement. He knew how and when to fix practically everything in a completely selfless way, asking nothing in return.

In 1987 he returned to his hometown in Indiana to financially help his sister raise her newborn daughter Victoria. He worked as a conductor on the E.J. & E. Railroad in Chicago moving U.S. Steel products. Although he enjoyed the work, the extreme weather conditions and long hours exposed him to many toxins and diesel fumes. In 1999 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. During this time he still came back and forth to Santa Barbara, coming out for a couple weeks to a month at a time.

Jim was a member of the U.S. Handball Association. One of his lifelong passions was handball, and he held the Indiana and Illinois State Title. When he returned to Santa Barbara, he was still physically strong and played rousing games of handball with all his handball buddies on a regular 3 times a week schedule at Goleta Athletic club, where he was known as "Mc Gee."

It was during July 2005 that he fell gravely ill and returned to the University of Chicago hospital, and luckily to Mercy hospice, where he was finally treated with love and respect. Two of Jim's favorite places on Earth were Rainbow Beach in Chicago, IL and Santa Barbara, CA.

James was preceded in death by his father, James P. McGee Sr. He is survived by his sister, Donna M. McGee of Merrillville; two half brothers: Timothy McGee of Merrillville and Michael (Carla) McGee of Hobart; half sister, Carol (William) Soltis of Crown Point; very special niece, Victoria McGee of Merrillville; lifelong friends: Robert (Delores) Tutlewski of Crown Point and Miles Paine of Santa Barbara, Jessica Cashman, Virginia Cashman and the whole Cashman family of Santa Barbara, Gina Comin and Taylor Charters of Santa Barbara, as well as his dearly beloved Chocolate Labrador Lucy Brown. He leaves infinite numbers of loving friends and admirers.

There will be a special memorial celebration for all Jimbo's friends in Santa Barbara on Saturday, December 10th at the former Mom's Italian Village, now home to Cominichi's, located at 421 E. Cota Street from 4-6 p.m.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR CHILDREN PAUL AND REBECCA SPECHT

Paul was born on October 28, 1974 and Rebecca was born on March 2, 1978, they were married May 1, 2004 in Los Osos, California.

Paul was a graduate of Santa Maria High School, in 1993, in Santa Maria, California and Rebecca was a graduate of Dos-Pueblos High School, in 1996, Goleta, California and Santa Barbara Business College, in Santa Maria, California IN 1999.

Paul was employed by Southern Desert Correctional Center as the Yard Officer and Rebecca worked for Prudential Americana as an accountant.

Both died December 2, 2005 along with their loving pet Snuggles.

They are survived by Paul's parents Vince and Linda Specht of Pahrump, NV., and one brother, Tim who lives in Santa Maria, CA., and Rebecca's mother Ginger and Stepfather Howard Dunn of Santa Maria, CA., along with grandparents (Vincent and Phyllis Specht and James and Mary Tolan), aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial Services will be in Pahrump at the Pahrump Family Mortuary on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 6:00 P.M. and Foster Road Church Of Christ in Santa Maria, California on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 1:00 P.M.

They will be remembered as a couple who loved each other, their families, friends and life.

Once met you were no longer a stranger to them, you were accepted and loved from the start.

In lieu of flowers the families request donations in Paul AND Rebecca's Name to go to the Humane Society or Animal Shelter.

TAPPER, Carl

born October 17, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri, passed away November 28, 2005 in Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. His parents were Carl Rueben Tapper and Ruth Houck Tapper. He grew up and attended schools in Kansas. His first job, at 10 years old, was as a paper boy during the Depression. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. When assigned to Lincoln, Nebraska he met Ruth Anne Steinkamp, a student nurse at Bryan Memorial Hospital. They were married November 21, 1943 in the Bryan Home. Carl was shortly sent overseas to England and Ruth Anne completed her nurse's training.

They were reunited in 1945 at his parents' home in Richmond, California. Carl received his discharge the same year. Three children were born before the family moved to Santa Barbara where Carl graduated from the Brooks Institute of Photography. He soon joined the Santa Barbara City Fire Department from which he retired on April 1, 1973.

Carl will always be remembered for his intelligence, his wry sense of humor, his unfailing integrity, his sparkling blue eyes and most importantly, his intense love of family. In his life he loved reading and word puzzles, a good meal and a good beer, tools, tools and more tools, his dogs and cats, motorcycle trips or playing golf with friends, poker and especially family gatherings. He enjoyed life and its many pleasures.

He leaves his beloved wife of 62 years, Ruth, his son Carl Jr./"Salty" (Kelly), daughter Billie Karen Olson, son Kent (Janice), his treasured grandchildren Troy Olson, Roxanne and Carl Ric Tapper, Ryan Williams, and his sister Marion Van Arnam. He was much loved and will be much missed.

Delayed graveside services will be in Weeping Water, Nebraska with the American Legion Post 237 officiating.

Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider.

VIDALI, Robert A.

To say that Bob was a free spirit only touches upon the soul of a man who was always loving, always living, and always present. He will be missed for his persistent and successful attempts to locate laughter, meaning, and consciousness in everyday life. Robert A. Vidali ("Bob," or "Art," or sometimes just "Vidali"), a longtime Santa Barbara resident, died in a fire in his Cambria home on November 28, 2005.

For "Uncle Bobby," giving his young nieces a ride "to school" meant spending the day driving into the mountains and flying kites among the thistle. A trip to see his brother might include existential conversation, plumbing advice, and champagne. An avid photographer and traveler, he shot his favorite subject, his friends, with love and a chuckle. "Wrangler" Bob often toured in his jeep, packed with his kayak and other toys, and he most enjoyed the springtime and took care to enjoy it: in the desert, wilderness, ocean, or at a lake. Bob was a loyal supporter of the arts, and whether at Live Oak, Sings Like Hell, Soho, or Strawberry, you could count on him to be as close to the front row as possible. Bob was also a gifted artist, particularly in ceramics, and received a B.A. degree in Fine Arts from UCSB. In what turned out to be his final months of life, Bob had retired from his work as a plumbing contractor, had resolved many health issues, and was actively reconnecting with those he loved, making phone calls and planning trips.

It is easy to joke about "Planet Bob," which comes complete with zany toys and Polaroid cameras. But underneath such playful comments lies a real envy of Bob's ability to be present in the moment - his ability to find inspiration in a simple turn of phrase and his dedication to consciously living and trusting passion. Bob was like an explanation point, showing up with a surprise gift or thoughtful gesture, and we will miss him not only because he asked the hard questions, but because he so lovingly helped us find the answers.

"Sky had turned a lot of shades of gray as they walked on,

and a gentle rain fell down on them.

They found faith in the ways things are and the ways things change,

and they said goodbye like two old friends.

Take me up to mountains high,

or a building top where the spirits fly.

Show me how to be like you."

- Neil Young

Bob, you left us so much to remember you by and so many ways to be like you. You touched our lives so deeply and we miss you already.

On Saturday, December 10th, there will be a private family gathering to remember Bob. A Bob Vidali memorial and celebration of his life is scheduled for March 18th, where friends, Bob stories, and memorabilia will abound. A website will be created to organize the spring event - please leave all inquires and contact information at bobvidali@msn.com.