Obituaries

John Louis Kelley

1945-2007

A funeral service is 10 a.m. Thursday, at Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home in Sonora , Calif., for John Louis Kelley, 62, who died Sept. 26, 2007, in Mariposa. He had lived in Coulterville for the last 10 years.

Mr. Kelley was born Sept. 15, 1945 in Sonora, Calif. He was a graduate of Sonora High School and attended Modesto Junior College.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam. He spent most of his career as a car salesman working for Kelley Motors in Sonora and other dealerships for many years, as well as Douglas County Assessor in the early 1980s.

Mr. Kelley belonged to the Coulterville Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sertoma, a service organization and the Pony Express Association.

Growing up he always enjoyed horses and being a cowboy working for several ranches enjoying the outdoors, fishing, camping, and horses.

He was preceded in death by his father, John E. Kelley. He is survived by his daughter Tamatha and her husband, Bill Woodard of El Dorado, Calif. and five grandchildren Nadira Kelley of Wheatland, Calif., Athena Hall of El Dorado and Zachariah, Alexandria, and Andrew Woodard also of El Dorado as well as his mother Audrey Kelley of Jamestown, Calif.

Arrangements are in the care of Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home in Sonora. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Coulterville Cemetery, Coulterville, Calif.

Dixie Olean

Westergard

1935-2007

Nevada author Dixie Olean Westergard died Sept. 21, 2007. She was 72.

Born June 4, 1935, in Rule, Texas, to Leon and Thelma Karr, she spent her early years in the Los Angeles and Bakersfield areas of California and her teen years in Elko and Lovelock.

Her peers elected her governor of Nevada Girls' State. Dixie graduated high school in Lovelock, where she met her future husband, Roland Westergard.

Mrs. Westergard graduated Phi Kappa Phi from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1956 with a degree in education. While at UNR, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

She married in December 1956 and spent the following two years in Germany while Roland served his tour of duty. The couple moved to Carson City in 1958.

She served as a vacation bible school teacher and Campfire leader. She was a substitute teacher at Carson Middle School.

Mrs. Westergard wrote biographies and children's books about Dr. Mary Fulstone, Dat-so-la-lee, the Washoe People and Lake Tahoe.

She was an active member of Nevada Women's History group and was inducted into the Nevada Women's History Roll of Honor in 2002.

Her loves included supporting her children and grandchildren's activities, enjoying holidays with family, following politics, traveling with her husband, attending UNR functions, reading/researching, writing, giving presentations on her works, and spending time at Lake Tahoe.

Mrs. Westergard is survived by her husband; children Laurie Gray (Paul) of Sparks, Tricia Wentz (Mike) of Minden, son Todd Westergard (Tammy) of Carson City, and daughter Wendy Nason (Dan) of Reno; mother Thelma Sturges; sister Bobbie Jeanne Aufdermaur; brother Charles "Butch" Sturges of San Diego; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death were Robert and Waylon Sturges.

A private family service was held with Pastor Thomas Chandler of the First Baptist Church, Carson City, presiding.

In honor of Dixie's strong ties to Nevada and her commitment to helping others, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to cancer research or the charity or cause of their choice.