The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • B6

THURSDAY B6 THE FRESNO BEE-SOUTHTHE FRESNO BEE SOUTH 6 B6 Logical Page is THE FRESNO 20:33 By Jim Steinberg The Fresno Bee Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, poet laureate of Tulare County, lay dying but began dictating a few weeks before she finally stopped breathing. was peach time August And we worked so gladly And the dim packing shed Was full of the fragrance Of thousands of ripe peaches We stood at the packing tables Gladly I say because time had not erased The Great Depression I felt a crick in my neck I tried to shake it away I felt a presence And there stood Our Lady In our Miss McDaniel, known as Cali- biscuits and gravy poet, died Friday at 88. She had suf- fered a serious stroke two years ago that sent her health into de- cline. She was born to sharecrop- pers in central Oklahoma. Her family moved in the 1930s to But- tonwillow in Kern County, part of the great migration west dur- ing the Dust Bowl.

She was raised Baptist but became Catho- lic. As a child, she already was writing about herself and other a term of derision that became a badge of pride. Miss McDaniel delivered a shoebox of poems to the late Tom Hennion, editor of the Tu- lare Advance-Register, in 1971. She went on to write more than 25 books of poetry and was fea- tured in the film an Old Road: The Poetic Life of Wilma Elizabeth The British Broadcasting Corp. and National Geographic featured her in a documentary and an article, respectively, about migration west.

Writer Trudy Wischemann on Tuesday recalled her good last days in a rehabilita- tion hospital: had the presence of lan- guage in a place like that. We pasted her poems on a wall. A nurse, Rachel, vowed that no one would die alone. Wilma was sleeping, then awakened, and we read the poems taped to the wall. Then we noticed she was not Wischemann said Miss McDaniel identified herself as a poet and us the real mean- ing of that: someone who can speak to the heart of the matter.

felt the humanity of poor people as well as the wealthy, but she cut the wealthy as much Miss McDaniel took only two trips back to Oklahoma, Wische- mann said, but to her vi- sion of truth, come hell or high water. She like me using that Miss McDaniel like to cook but loved good food. Days before her death, she told Wischemann she hankered for fried red onions and potatoes. gave her lines straight- Wischemann said. you got it, she Miss McDaniel wrote her poems in black, felt-tipped pen.

Red do. She wrote on brown paper bags, torn enve- lopes and cereal cartons. Gerald Haslam, an award-win- ning author of fiction and nonfic- tion, called Miss McDaniel a sig- nificant poet who represented the voices of people seldom heard. I first read her poems, I was he said. fake originality.

You have it, or you Miss McDaniel was 56 before she published her first book, he said. She was tough, bright and sweet. is one of two great bards of the Dust Bowl Haslam said, the other being Buck Owens, the late country singer. Owens saw Miss McDaniel sit- ting in the audience several years ago in Bakersfield night club, Haslam said. Owens told the audience one of Miss lines about him: that face on a woman, and run her out of Everyone, including Miss McDaniel, laughed.

Miss McDaniel once said of her poetry, third-genera- tion Oklahomans tell me I gave them their past. They know how we struggled just to Writer and editor Katherine Andes wrote down Miss last poems as she spoke them in the hospital. would also hand me per- fect chicken Andes said. never needed edit- ing. She had perfect word A rosary will be recited and the Mass celebrated at 10 a.m.

Friday in St. Catholic Church, 954 S. in Tulare, followed by a lunch reception in a place to be announced. The reporter can be reached at or (559) 441-6311. Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel Born: Dec.

22, 1918 Died: April 13 Occu- pation: poet IT 3Tributes Services Announcements Services FRANCES BRADFORD FRANCESBRADFORD Frances was born on September 4, 1932, and passed away on Monday, April 16, 2007, after a brief battle with cancer. She was devoted to her family who will forever miss her. She leaves behind Richard, her husband of 57 years; her three daughters and sons-in- law, Carolyn and Alan Newlove, Toni and Bob Keiser, and Terry and Warren Koch; and her four grandchildren, Brad and Lindsay Palmquist and Kameron and Clint Keiser. A Graveside Service will be held at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10.00 a.m. Services Today BEVERLY HARTMAN A Funeral Service will be at Whitehurst, Sullvian, Burns Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.

LEONARD WININGER "Woody" A Funeral Service will be held at Northpointe Community Church, at 4625 W. Palo Alto Fresno, CA 93722, at Herndon and Milburn on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. MAGGIE GILLIAM "Granny" A Funeral Service will be held at First Southern Baptist Church in Sanger on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. MOSES LINCOLN N. DIXON A Wake Service will be held at Whitehurst, Sulli- van, Burns Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, April 19, 2007, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Miscellaneous Services Sterling Smith Pick Up Pg B9 Sterling Smith Funeral Directors, Inc. Affordable Hablamos Su Guaranteed Lowest Cost in Fresno 266-9711 1484 Fresno St. Fresno FD Traditional Direct Cremation $799 Basic Burial Complete Funeral Service Including a ed, 20-gauge steel casket, removal, register book, casket, oral spray, service at location of your choice or any other local cemetery. A 44 04 1 Pay tribute to your Loved One With a paid tribute or announcement in The Fresno Bee you will receive the bene- fit of reaching readers in Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, Merced Mariposa counties. In addition, your notice will appear on the Legacy.comTM website.

To view these notices online go to www.legacy.com an and follow the easy direc- tions. You may also sign the Legacy.com Guest Book and leave a message to the family. The Fresno Bee Fax your notice to (559) 495-6825 or e-mail to For additional information call Wil Dunlap (559) 441-6228 0 2 2 4 7 0 0 7 0 3 Services LYDIA GOERTZEN LYDIAH.GOERTZEN Born in Henderson, Nebraska, Lydia was 93 years of age and lived in Fresno. Lydia was pre- deceased in death by her husband, John H. Goert- zen.

She is survived by her son, Dewayne L. Goert- zen and his wife Ellen of Fresno; daughter, Sharon Nord and her husband Lee of Kerman; grand- children, Cheryl and Lee Rosander, Doug and Kim Goertzen, and Jeff Goertzen, all of Fresno, Chelle Albrecht of Ker- man, Gayle and Rob Yraceburu of Bakersfield; ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Also surviving is a sister, Neva Hanke of Fresno. Visitation will be held at Yost Webb Funeral Home on Saturday, April 21, 2007, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Graveside Service will be held at Clovis Cemetery on Monday, April 23, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.

A Memorial Service will follow at Bethany Church, 9161 N. Maple Ave. and Shepherd. Remembrances may be made to Clovis Con- valescent Hospital, 111 Barstow, Clovis, Ca 93612. Services Today EDITH JULIA STARKWEATHER A Graveside Service will be held at Clovis Cemetery on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.

MABEL LOUISE DAVIS A Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul Chris- tian Methodist Episcopal Church on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. WILBUR J. CHAMBERLAIN "Tex" A Funeral Service will be held at Palm Memorial Chapel on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. WILLIAM F.

JURY "Bill" A Memorial Service will be held at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy, on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. ZABEL BASMAJIAN A Funeral Service will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Aposto ic Church on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Services Tomorrow ALICE MATOIAN GAVROIAN A Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul Arme- nian Church in Fresno on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon. DOROTHY ETHEL GREWELL A Graveside Service will be held at Boice Fu- neral Home in Clovis, Cal- ifornia, on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 2:00 p.m.

DUANE EDWIN HALL Friends and relatives are invited to attend the Memorial Service at the Darling Fischer Memorial Chapel at 231 E. Camp- bell in Campbell, Ca on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. ELEANOR GARCIA A Funeral Mass will be at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 5770 N. Maroa Fresno, Ca 93704, on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.

FRANCES BRADFORD A Graveside Service will be held at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Di- nuba on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. Services ROBERT J. WETNIGHT ROBERTJ.WETNIGHT Bob was born on December 12, 1947 and passed away on Sat- urday, April 14, 2007, after battling cancer. He was a good friend and loved by everyone. Bob was a college basketball star, that and golf were two of his passions.

He often could be found socializing at his favorite watering hole, "Club Habanos." Bob had a great sense of humor and is the inventor of the "one and one." His last two years were spent living at Pine Flat Lake. He said it was God's country. I guess now, he really knows. Bob you will be greatly missed. A Memorial Service will be held at Club Habanos on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.

Services Tomorrow FREDA HAGOPIAN A Memorial Service will be held at Chapel of the Light on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. FRIEDA SMITH A Funeral Service will be held at Whitehurst, Sul- livan, Burns Blair Funer- al Home on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. GEORGE C. HUBBARD, SR. A Funeral Service will be held at Christian Com- munity Baptist Church on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

JOHN WILLIAM RAJSKUP Recitation of the Holy Rosary and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Victo- ry Catholic Church on Fri- day, April 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. LOWELL EARL KICKENBECKER A Funeral Service will be held at Jay Chapel in Madera on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. ROBERT J. BULL "Bob" A Funeral Service will be held at Dopkins Funer- al Chapel in Dinuba on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. ROBERT J.

WETNIGHT A Memorial Service will be held at Club Habanos on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. VIRGINIA REICH JAMISON "Ginny" A Funeral Service for Virginia will be held at Stephens Bean Chapel on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. WALLACE LEIGH DONLEY A Memorial Service has been scheduled at St. Co- lumba Church in Fresno on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. WILLIAM FRANCIS KRIVOHLAVEK A Memorial Mass will be held at St.

Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Tulare County poet laureate kept writing until the end John Douglas Armstrong, 72, of Fresno Harry J. Aslanian, 85, of Fresno Darrel John Ciano, 52, of Fresno Ascencion L. Garcia, 81, of Fresno Jack Wayne Kruse, 77, of Fresno Ying Lowe, 77, of Kingsburg Prentiss Elmer Ming 64, of Fresno Gladys Patton, 97, of Porterville Lauretta Pierpoint, 90, of Three Rivers Guadalupe Medrano Pineda, 101, of San Diego, formerly of Fresno Rose Puga, 87, of Fresno William Lewis Putler, 82, of Clovis John W. Rajskup, 96, of Fresno Dennis R.

Roy, 51, of Fresno Gaynor Lea Slinkard Rozier, 77, of Fresno Helen Margurite Salgado, of Oakhurst Frieda Smith, 87, of Fresno ARMSTRONG, JOHN DOU- GLAS Memorial services for John Douglas Armstrong, 72, of Fresno will be at 2 p.m. Satur- day at First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Armstrong, owner and manager of Western Blue- print, died Sunday. Remem- brances may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 1540 Fresno, CA 93721; Evangel Home, 137 N.

Yosemite Fres- no, CA 93701; Fresno Philhar- monic, 2377 W. Shaw Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711; or North Fresno Exchange Club, 2305 W. Shaw Fresno, CA 93711. Ar- rangements are by Yost Webb Funeral Home. ASLANIAN, HARRY J.

Servic- es for Harry J. Aslanian, 85, of Fresno will be at 11 a.m. Satur- day at Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Mr. Aslanian, retired owner of Plumbing, died Tuesday.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Yost Webb Funeral Home. Remem- brances may be sent to ARC Fresno, 4567 N. Marty Fres- no, CA 93722; or Foundation of Central Califor- nia, 4411 N. Cedar Suite 102, Fresno, CA 93726.

CIANO, DARREL JOHN Cryptside services for Darrel John Ciano, 52, of Fresno will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Cemetery. Mr. Ciano, a fi- nancial adviser for 15 years, died Tuesday.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Lisle Funeral Home. GARCIA, ASCENCION L. Graveside services for Ascenci- on L.

Garcia, 81, of Fresno will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Belmont Memorial Park. Mr. Garcia, a farmworker, died April 11. Ar- rangements are by Abbey Funer- al Cremation Service.

KRUSE, JACK WAYNE Grave- side services for Jack Wayne Kruse, 77, of Fresno will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Fresno Memori- al Gardens. Mr. Kruse, a fire cap- tain for Fresno County for 32 years, died March 18. Visitation will be from 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Sun- day at Lisle Funeral Home. LOWE, YING Services for Ying Lowe, 77, of Kingsburg will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church. Mr.

Lowe, an owner and operator, died Tuesday. Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at Creighton Memorial Chapel. MING, PRENTISS ELMER SR. Memorial services for Prentiss Elmer Ming 64, of Fresno will be at 9 a.m.

May 12 at East Fresno Baptist Church. Mr. Ming, a truck driver, died Tues- day. Arrangements are by Cre- mation Society of Central Cali- fornia. PATTON, GLADYS Grave- side services for Gladys Patton, 97, of Porterville will be at 10 a.m.

Friday at Hillcrest Memori- al Park. Ms. Patton, a homemak- er, died Monday. Arrangements are by Myers Funeral Service Crematory. PIERPOINT, LAURETTA Graveside services for Lauretta Pierpoint, 90, of Three Rivers will be at 2 p.m.

Friday at Exeter Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Smith Family Chapel in Exeter. Mrs. Pierpoint, a medical secretary, died Saturday.

PINEDA, GUADALUPE MEDRA- NO A rosary for Guadalupe Medrano Pineda, 101, of San Diego, formerly of Fresno, will be recited at 5 p.m. Sunday at Miller Memorial Chapel in Visa- lia. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Catho- lic Church in Visalia.

Mrs. Pine- da died Monday. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the chapel. Remembrances may be sent to Poverello House, 412 Fresno, CA 93706.

PUGA, ROSE A rosary for Rose Puga, 87, of Fresno will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at Fare- well Funeral Service. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Satur- day at Belmont Memorial Park. Mrs.

Puga, a retired clerk for Harts Pharmacy, died Monday. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral service. PUTLER, WILLIAM LEWIS Services for William Lewis Put- ler, 82, of Clovis will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Boice Funeral Home.

Mr. Putler, a teacher for 33 years, died Tuesday. Remem- brances may be sent to Ameri- can Diabetes Association Memo- rial and Honor Program, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038. RAJSKUP, JOHN W.

A rosa- ry and Mass for John W. Rajsk- up, 96, of Fresno will be said at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Vic- tory Catholic Church. Mr. Raj- skup, a raisin farmer for 80 years, died Monday.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns Blair Funeral Home. Remem- brances may be sent to Saint Agnes Hospice, 1303 E. Herndon Fresno, CA 93720; or Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 2850 N. Crystal Fresno, CA 93705.

ROY, DENNIS R. Private ar- rangements for Dennis R. Roy, 51, of Fresno are by Neptune So- ciety of Central California. Mr. Roy died Monday.

ROZIER, GAYNOR LEA SLINKARD Services for Gaynor Lea Slinkard Rozier, 77, of Fresno will be at noon Mon- day at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5685 N. Cedar Ave. Mrs. Rozier, a homemaker, died Sunday. Visita- tion will be from 11 a.m.

to noon Monday at the church. Remem- brances may be sent to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Suite C-1, Fresno, CA 93711. Ar- rangements are by Farewell Fu- neral Service. SALGADO, HELEN MARGU- RITE Graveside services for Helen Margurite Salgado of Oakhurst will be at 11 a.m.

Fri- day at Atascadero Cemetery. Mrs. Salgado, a waitress, died Wednesday. Arrangements are by Palm Memorial Sierra Chap- el. SMITH, FRIEDA Services for Frieda Smith, 87, of Fresno will be at 10 a.m.

Friday at White- hurst, Sullivan, Burns Blair Funeral Home. Mrs. Smith, a homemaker, died Monday. Visi- tation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Re- membrances may be sent to Trinity Southern Baptist Church, 4890 E. Holland Fresno, CA 93726; or to the favorite charity. OBITUARIES page B6 the fresno bee OBITUARIES thursday, april 19, 2007 fresnobee.com.