News

MADERA - William Dario “Bill” Jones fell asleep in Christ on February 11, 2019 Fresno, CA. He was born in Ft. Huachuca, AZ on December 19, 1936 to William McKinley Jones and Juanita Rubio, and baptized in Christ on April 3, 1937.

Bill enlisted in the US Navy in 1954 until an honorable discharge in 1961. He then proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. During his service he flew over 684 Combat Missions and earned: numerous medals, awards, citations and commendations. Thank you for your service.

Rose Marie Austin (84) passed away Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in Mariposa, CA.  Born on her grandmother’s ranch in Livingston, she was a 5th generation Central California resident, and a, 57 year Madera County resident.  Graduating from Merced High School in 1953, RoseMarie began her 45, year career as a legal secretary with W. Treadwell, Esq. in Merced and assisted Judge Corcoran of Mariposa with the 1954 Courthouse Centennial.

She worked for Judge D. Scott of Firebaugh, J. Telles, Esq. of Dos Palos, and retired after over 30 years as private secretary to Thomas Caswell of Caswell, Bell and Sullivan, Fresno. She was co-founder/owner and financial officer of Ag and Industrial Supply and Firebaugh Ag Supply.  RoseMarie was a member of Madera American Legion Post 11, Tin Can Sailors and USS Saint Paul Association. She was proud of her Azorean and California pioneer heritage and enjoyed camping, square dancing, sewing and reading.

Monsignor Walter F. Minhoto completed his earthly mission on earth on February 18, 2019, after faithfully serving nearly 55 years as a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Fresno. Walter Francis Minhoto was born September 5, 1938 in Watsonville, California. He was the only son of the late Frank Minhoto and Mary Fontes. His early years were spent in San Juan Bautista where he attended Olympia Elementary School.

After graduating from Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California, he began his seminary studies at St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California. He completed his seminary formation at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fresno on April 30, 1964. He would later go on to do post-graduate studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

Meri Elizabeth Batty (47) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Meri was born on December 20, 1971 in Fresno, CA to Sidney (Sid) and Carole Huntley. Meri attended and graduated from Madera High School and worked for over 20 years for Madera Superior Court.

Meri found great joy and passion in her family and friends, Pismo Beach, camping, concerts, and traveling. She made the most out of every day and lived life to the fullest. Meri and her husband Darin’s relationship began 30 years ago when Meri was a bank teller and Darin was an ‘unsuspecting’ customer trying to woo her. Through his pursuit, she finally gave in and she always called it the best decision of her life. Her proudest accomplishments were her children, Luke and McKayla.

Craig Nash (97) a Madera resident since 1941 passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Craig was born in Desha Arkansas to George Nash and Mamie Brock Nash. He settled in Madera and later served in World War II in the U.S. Army in the Asiatic –Pacific Theater where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart and one bronze star.

Following his military service he returned to Madera where he had various jobs eventually retiring from the Madera Irrigation District where he was employed for 17 years. Craig loved to Dance, he enjoyed the penny machine at Table Mountain Casino and his daily shopping trips with his wife Rose.

MADERA - Hermine Reiring, a 58-year resident of Madera, passed away quietly at 104 years old on January 28, 2019. Born Hermine Carolyn Sporcich on August 4, 1914 in Chicago to Mirko and Katherine Sporcich, recent immigrants from Croatia. Hermine was raised in Hammond, Indiana, outside of Chicago. Growing up in an immigrant community, Hermine began her schooling without being able to speak or understand English, but language came quickly to a 5-year-old.

Hermine graduated from Hammond High School in 1931. She attended business school and then a “wanderlust” took over. She traveled around the country by herself by train visiting and staying with relatives along the way. Her wanderlust eventually brought her to Southern California where she met her future husband, Leonard Reiring. Apparently, it was not “love at first sight” because soon after that, with war breaking out, Hermine chose to serve her country and enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE.