News

Roger Belden (88) was born in Avenal, California to Irving and Mabel Belden.  Roger’s father worked for Standard Oil in the Kettleman Oil Fields. While Roger was their only child, his mother was from a large family and Roger grew up with many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Weis family.  Avenal was a small town, and Roger developed lasting friendships with his classmates and friends. 

When he graduated from high school, Roger went on to Loma Linda where he was studying medicine, but he decided the medical field was not for him, so he enlisted in the Army and stationed in Germany.  When he completed his service, he started college again at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in architecture, but just a few units from graduation; decided his real calling was farming.

Anthony Joseph Basila II (37) of Madera, California died on Saturday, March 5, 2022 after a brief illness with his sister at his side. He was born in Fresno, California on July 15, 1984 to Velta and Kenneth Basila of Fresno, California.

He attended St. Joachim’s School in Madera. As a youth athlete, he excelled in soccer and baseball. He graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School, class of 2003. He went on to study graphic design and digital media at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. Upon returning home, he devoted his life to the family farm working alongside his father and grandfather, and eventually making his home on a farm of his own.

Sue Lyon (90) went to heaven on January 24, 2022, with her family at her bedside. She was born in Tennessee on June 25, 1931 to Aubrey and Louise Bell. Sue graduated from Braggadocio High School and played on the women’s basketball team.

She moved to Caruthersville, MO in 1949 at which time she became an operator for the telephone company. She relocated to Madera in 1956. Sue worked as a bookkeeper for Tucker International and Roy Ben Lyon Construction Company at which time she met and married Roger Lyon. She was a devoted wife for 46 years. She worked alongside her husband, keeping the books for his business, Roger’s Cabinets.

Bobby Lee Cheatham, Jr. (57), a native and life resident of Madera, CA passed away on January 28, 2022. He was a graduate of Madera High School class of 1982. He worked as the Manager of McDonald's on Howard Road and was currently a supervisor at the IRS in Fresno.

Bobby is survived by his children: Vanessa Ramirez of Fresno, Janelle Flippo of Fresno, Maryrose Cheatham of Madera, and Erica Simmons of Madera, CA., as well as his siblings, James Cheatham of Chowchilla, CA, and Sonja Smith of Madera, CA.

Fred G. Nix (75), died January 24, 2022, from a sudden illness. Born November 17, 1946, he was the only son of the late Gordon and Ann “Walker,” Nix in Madera, California. He attended local schools including John Adams, St. Joachim’s, Brenda, and Madera Union High School with the Class of 1964.

On graduation night instead of going through commencement exercises with his classmates, he opted to attend a Rolling Stones concert in Fresno a move he never regrated. He attended Fresno State and Fresno City colleges. After college, he worked for the Madera County Road Department. In the 1970s he owned the local Radio Shack franchise.

MADERA - The owner of Madera's hardware store, General Builders Supply,  passed away Sunday at the age of 91. Mr. H.B. “Bud” Smith, Jr.,  a native of Bradford, Arkansas and a resident of Madera since 1947, was a member of the First Christian Church in Madera and served as a member of the California National Guard at the Merced Unit for 10 years.

In 1947 after he moved to Madera from Arkansas he was introduced to a lovely young woman, Betty Creamer, as a 16 year old she was young and beautiful, Bud was a wise 17 year old and made sure she was home by 10 pm or there would be no date the following Saturday. They were married on September 3, 1949 and have enjoyed 72 years of life together.