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"She helped everybody, but her No. 1 priority was her animals and she took care of them," Villasenor said. Once when the sisters brought Tomasina some food and milk she imme- diately gave most of the milk to her dogs, Villase- nor said. "Her furry friends were her life," Martinez said. "She was just gentle and caring. She wanted to and did help a lot of people in the Hispanic community and guided people in the right direction. She helped tremendously, but at the same time made sure that people weren't abusing the system." Tomasina's faith was im- portant to her, as evidenced by the six sets of rosary beads woven around one of her favorite hats, Villase- nor said. Red Bluff resident Joanne Ehorn met Tomasina in the 1990s when she and her husband Ralph had a busi- ness and she would see her out with her dogs. "She lived above a store and she would walk her dogs past our store every day," Ehorn said. "I used to save cans for her and then one day she started talking about buying a camp trailer. We had an empty lot next to the store and she asked if she could park the trailer there." Tomasina lived next to the Ehorns for just a short time before relocating the trailer behind Bob's Tires, Ehorn said. The employees at Bob's kept an eye on her and be- came concerned when they didn't see her for a few days, Martinez said. Tomasina was a very proud woman and wouldn't take money from everyone, but she would take it if it was for the dogs, Ehorn said. "She didn't want char- ity, but tell her it was for the dogs and she'd take it," Ehorn said. "Her dogs were her life." Despite her limited in- come, Tomasina always gave to charities, including an orphanage, and would help the homeless people pay for veterinary care for their dogs, Ehorn said. "She was always doing for other people and she had all these charities that she sup- ported with $5 and $10 here and there," Ehorn said. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Sacred Heart Church, 515 Main St., with burial to follow at Oak Hill Cem- etery. A celebration of life re- ception will be held follow- ing the burial at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Par- ish Hall, 2355 Monroe Ave. Donations will be accepted to cover the cost of the cele- bration of life and attendees are welcome to bring food as well. Memorial FROMPAGE1 Elsewhere, rain was expected starting Tues- day afternoon through- out the San Francisco Bay Area. Winter storm ad- visories will go into ef- fect from 4 a.m. Wednes- day until 4 a.m. Thurs- day, said Bob Benjamin, a National Weather Service forecaster. Avalanche alerts were issued for high elevations and flooding was possible in the foothills. A second, stronger sys- tem was expected to hit the region over the week- end, bringing the possibil- ity of as much as five addi- tional feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada. "It looks like it's going to be wet all week, and possi- bly into next week," Benja- min said. Southern California, which has remained rela- tively dry in recent months, was expected to see light showers this week, fore- casters said. At the height of the drought in 2015, snowpack surveyors stood on a dirt patch for the April 1 mea- surement at Phillips Sta- tion, finding the least snow since records had been taken in 1950. Gov. Jerry Brown re- sponded by ordering res- idents statewide to use 25 percent less water, let- ting lawns turn brown — or tearing them out — and flushing toilets less often. The drought eased last year and so did regula- tions. In February, the state water board will again consider the conditions and decide whether the state needs to take a stronger stand on con- servation. "If the skies dry up, we'll be looking at something different," board chair Fe- licia Marcus said. "We're playing this one moment to moment." This winter started strong. More rain fell in October than in the same month over the past three decades, rais- ing the state's major res- ervoirs in Northern Cal- ifornia along with hopes that the drought would soon end. Doug Carlson, a spokes- man for the state's Depart- ment of Water Resources, said it is too early to pre- dict if the wet weather will end the drought. "It could change imme- diately and stop snowing and raining," he said. Snowpack FROM PAGE 1 CONTRIBUTED One of the pictures drawn and brought to the hospital for well-known Red Bluff resident Tomasina Moreno-Rivera who died Dec. 20. dents, said Chairwoman Cathy Tobin. Auction items this year include gift baskets with tickets to the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale and the Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo, four tickets to an Oakland A's game including parking, a two-person full-day Sac- ramento River fishing trip guided by Adam Andreini, 40 pounds of premium An- gus beef and a home-made walnut table. The Cattlemen and Cat- tleWomen associations re- ceived cash donations from sponsors to add to their scholarship fund as well as door prize donations from local banks. ", and the Cattlemen will announce their Man of the Year, after we enjoy wine tasting from Burnsini Vine- yard and Cline Cellars, plus olive oil tasting by Corning Olive Oil and Lucero Olive Oil," said Jean Barton. Tickets for the prime rib dinner, auction and wine tasting are available in ad- vance for $25 and for $30 at the door. Tickets will be sold in Red Bluff at Hawes, The Loft, Animal Health Inter- national, Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale, Farm Credit and Crossroads. Tickets will be sold at Rabobank in Red Bluff and Corning and Shasta Farm and Equip- ment in Cottonwood. Dinner FROM PAGE 1 Frank Gehrke, right, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program for the Department of Water Resources, checks the snowpack weight on a scale held by John Paasche, of DWR, during the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station Tuesday. PHOTOS BY RICH PEDRONCELLI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program for the Departmenwt of Water Resources, crosses a snow covered meadow as he conducts the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station Tuesday near Echo Summit. COOK Keep yOur family safer frOm fOOd pOisOning Check your steps at foodsafety.gov dO yOu want that safe Or medium-safe? use a fOOd thermOmeter tO maKe sure yOu COOK raw meat and pOultry tO a BaCteria-Killing temperature. dO yOu want that safe Or medium-safe? Keep yOur family safer frOm fOOd pOisOning Check your steps at foodsafety.gov BILLIERUTHKOFFORD Billie Ruth Kofford, a longtime resident of Shasta and Tehama counties, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 with family at her bedside on Wednesday, December 21st at Redding Mercy Medical Center after a short and coura- geous battle with cancer. Her memory will be cherished as the quintessential lov- ing and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and treasured lifelong friend to many. She will be re- membered as a talented crafter, seamstress and quilter in the lasting form of countless works of art enjoyed by so many. She was a gracious host in her home, an amazing cook, and a fun loving friend, game player and prankster with a terrific sense of humor. Billie is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ron Kofford, her 4 children, Mitch (Tami) Kofford of Vina, CA, Cindy (Terry) Cleland of Chico, CA, Shellie (Bub) Ragan of Red Bluff, CA and Tom (Denise) Kofford of Longmont, CO, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, her sister Margie Wehrer of San Rafael, CA and many nieces, neph- ews, cousins and extended family. Graveside services for family will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 6th at Lawncrest Cemetery in Redding. A memorial service will follow at 1:30 PM at the Elks Lodge in Red Bluff. VIRGINIA RUTH MILER April 13, 1933 ~ December 26, 2016 On December 26th, 2016 at 6:15 p.m. Virginia Ruth Mill- er took her last breath and died. She died peacefully with her loved ones, with her till the end. She suffers no more. Virginia was born on April 13th, 1933 in Gena, Louisia- na. She spent her first five years there and always re- membered it and her friends and family fondly. As a young girl her family moved west to a quaint com- pany town called Westwood. Here she spent her forma- tive years acquiring a great love for the town and the many friends she grew up and went to school with. Virginia graduated from Westwood High in 1952 and has attended class reunions with her classmates that she cherished for 60 years and still kept in touch via Christ- mas cards and letters with those still with us. Shortly after graduating high school she met her future husband, Frank Edward Miller. She thought he looked like a "John", so he spent the rest of his life being called John or Johnny! Between them they had three children whom Virginia cherished. I know, I was one of them. Virginia experienced some heartache in her life. In Au- gust 1981, she lost her beloved "Johnny." This was a dev- astating blow that never was set right. Then in 1991 she lost her youngest son, Mike, who had suffered a long ill- ness. This, of course, about killed her. Another tragedy struck in 2003 when her only daughter, Judy, was struck by a car and killed. This again was a crushing blow, but somehow she survived. In the last 1 to 2 years Virginia has been in a lot of physical pain and terrible discomfort herself, suffering all day, every day. Although I'll miss my mother immensely, I'm so happy that she doesn't feel hurt by the loss of her family and that she'll never suffer anymore. I love you mom, Justin. Virginia is survived by her son, ten grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. A gathering to celebrate Virginia's life will be set at a lat- er date. MANYA LEE EDWARDS October 1, 1942 ~ December 29, 2016 Manya Lee Edwards, 74 passed away peacefully Decem- ber 29, 2016. She was born to Stefan Wiowacki and Alice Beale in Detriot, MI. Manya married William F. Edwards in 1972, in Paynes Creek, CA. She lived in Sacramento where she met Bill and then moved to Paynes Creek in 1971. Educational accomplishments, degrees: High School Di- ploma. Work history: 1965-1970 - Legal Secretary. 1970-1992 - Various jobs including Tupperware and Avon Sales. 1993- 2010 - Mail carrier / Postmaster in Manton, CA. Chuch membership, organizations: She loved her church family in Manton. She felt the true meaning of Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Christ, and she used to have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus each Christmas. Civic, fraternal and club memberships: She was a mem- ber of the Emblem Club and also served for many years on the Plum Valley School Board. Hobbies: She loved to travel, she loved following her fa- vorite sports teams and watching T.V. She was on a bowl- ing team with the Emblem Club and on pool teams. Manya is survived by her son, Rick Edwards and wife Shelly, daughter Stefani Roehrich and fiance Frank (Huey) Corder, daughter Bonnie Dunlap and husband Dave, daughter Libby Reynolds, son George Edwards, brother Gary Wiowacki, brother Albert Pocoroba, sister Barbara Miller, grandchildren Teresa Wilbur, William Roehrich, Shelbi Roehrich, Sara Edwards, Matthew Edwards, Rona Edwards, Sandy Edwards, Andy Thornton, Tiffany Leamer, great granddaughters Gabriella Roehrich and Gracie Edwards, and many nieces, nephews and more grandchildren. Beneath her ornery exterior, Manya truly loved all of her family and friends alike. She will be missed very much. We love you Mom, Granny, G.G., M.E., Manya. There will be a viewing Friday, January 6, 2017 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm at the Chapel of the Flowers, 816 Wal- nut Street in Red Bluff. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Obituaries ToplaceanobituaryintheRedBluffDailyNews please call (530) 737-5046 ThePassingParadeisbroughttoyoubyMinchPropertyManagement, 760 Main Street specializing in commercial leasing and sales. 530 527-5514 THEPASSINGPARADE EarlylastSaturdayevening,themissustapped danced through the living room and asked provocatively if I would be her dinner date at the Vet's Hall's New Year's Eve Ball. I replied, "You betcha!" There probably was no such ball held there last week- end, but we are out of the social loop these days regarding such matters, and prefer a night by the fire with music on the Bose and our bow wow by our side. "Boring" you young whippersnappers proclaim? Wait a few years and see. By "The Vet's Hall" I don't mean the present one. In our day, on the same site, was the original Veterans Hall…and it was the place to be for dancers in Red Bluff on many Saturday nights. Some might prefer The Idyllwild in Los Molinos, the 4 Mile House north of town, The Blue Rib- bon Bar on Main or The Spot in Proberta, …but primarily, for the New Year's Eve Ball, you could not beat The Vet's Hall for it usually had the best dance band which was early on Bob Garrett's "Troubadours"…and then Glen Perrine's. The dance on New Year's Eve has always been termed "a Ball" (often The Fireman's Ball) but I don't k now why. Per- haps the term adds importance to the event. After all, it is held at the end of one year and the beginning of another… and "hope springs eternal" is the theme. The original Veteran's Hall faced Moore's Blacksmith across the street, and the steps going into the hall led to the cloak room and then a left turn into the immense hall with a dance floor which might feature the likes of H.K. Kyler, Gene Penne and their statuesque blond companions demonstrating the latest steps. Jack Burgess, just out of the Army, might be dancing expertly with our classmate Diana Bosse (destined to one day becoming his wife) and expertly doing the splits at the end of an up- tempo num- ber without harm to his partner or fellow dancers! Another couple, present at most dances, was of a dark Italian extraction… and he and his wife would dance in a precise manner in which he held her very tightly, and would take quick short steps, turn and repeat as they would glide across the floor. They were fascinating to watch in later years from my perch behind the drums on the stage as a member of Glen's aforementioned "Trouba- dours". Along about 11:30 pm, the bandleader would announce "the dinner dance" and dancer would match up for same. The bandstand was at the far south end of the hall with stairs on either side leading to the basement kitchen where food was served. This repast had greater meaning than just refueling, as it held a social significance as well. The dances would usually last until 2: am unless a collection was taken up by the dancers, after which the band would continue to play until the wee hours of the morning! Those were the days! 804MainStreet•RedBluff CA LIC #0455992 TodDolling 3rd Generation Travis Dolling 4th Generation Established1902 (530) 527-1616 Established 1922 "YourProfessionalBusiness& Personal Insurance Firm" 44ChestnutAve.,RedBluff (530) 527-1313 • FAX (530) 527-1395 BLUNKALL & NAPIER InsuranceBrokers We're With You Trust our experience, financial strength and proven commitment to our policy holders for the quality coverage and the peace of mind you deserve. SeHablaEspañol Ca Lic #0553249 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 5 A