Obituaries

Virginia Christiansen

1910-2007

Family services took place Nov. 3 at the Happy Homestead Cemetery in South Lake Tahoe, for Virginia Christiansen, 97, who died Oct. 16, 2007, in Gardnerville.

Mrs. Christiansen was born Aug. 21, 1910, in Salt Lake City, to George and Rhoda Ensign. She was one of 10 siblings. She married her husband Ralph and the couple lived in South Lake Tahoe for many years. She worked for the South Lake Tahoe Unified School District as a cook for Meyers Elementary School. After her husband's death, she moved to Gardnerville, where she lived for the rest of her life. She loved to go for long walks, play bingo and, in her younger years, she loved to dance. She was very proud of her family and loved them very much as well as her many friends.

Mrs. Christiansen is survived by her sister Ruth Everett of Escondido, Calif.; son Marvin K. Gerrard of South Lake Tahoe; grandsons and their wives, Marvin R. and Carolyn Gerrard of Carson City, Kenneth and Beverly Gerrard of South Lake Tahoe, Glen and Louise Gerrard of South Lake Tahoe; nephews Ron and Rick Price of Gardnerville, five great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their appreciation for all the thoughts and prayers. She will be missed by all who knew her but she will not be forgotten.

Kathleen 'Kathy' Marie Holton

1949-2007

A memorial service is 11 a.m. today at Carson Valley United Methodist Church for Kathleen "Kathy" Marie Holton, a 28-year Gardnerville resident who was killed Nov. 2, 2007, in a traffic accident. Pastor Pete Nelson will officiate. She was 58.

Mrs. Holton was born May 2, 1949, to George and Dorothy Morris.

She is preceded in death by her parents and nephew Christopher Ashley.

Mrs. Holton is survived by her husband, Steve; daughters Leanne Cannon and husband Jack, Jennifer Mall and husband Scott, Rachael Holton; son Eric Holton; grandchildren Ashley and Katie Keenan and Ayden Mall; brothers Robert Morris, Tom and wife Darla Morris; sister Patty and husband George Ashley; numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations in Mrs. Holton's memory may be made to Tahoe Rim Trail, DWR Community Non Profit Center, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451 or www.tahoerimtrail.org. FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home is caring for the arrangements.

George John Lever IV

1966-2007

A memorial service was Tuesday for George John Lever IV at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 891 Mahogany Drive in Minden

Mr. Lever was born Sept. 28, 1966, to Lynne and George Lever III, in Ukiah, Calif. He died on Nov. 1, 2007, at his home in Gardnerville. The Levers moved to Carson Valley in 1968, and Mr. Lever attended Douglas County schools, graduating from Douglas High School in 1985. He participated in FFA, VICA, ski club and the high school rodeo team as a bull rider.

After high school, Mr. Lever enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a B-52 and KC-135 aircraft mechanic in Minot, N.D., during his four-year military stint. Thereafter, he was trained and worked in the bio-tech pharmaceutical field as a technician in northern California for three years before returning to Gardnerville to live.

He recently lived in McCall, Idaho, for two years before returning to the Valley.

He was a journeyman plumber and worked for York Plumbing for years and was last employed by Kollar Plumbing. He also owned and operated a concrete coring business known as High Mountain Coring and Saw Cutting.

Mr. Lever was an active outdoorsman whose interests included motorcycles, snowmobiles, hunting, rock climbing, paintball, golf and NASCAR.

He enjoyed rock 'n roll music, tinkering with all things mechanical and hanging out with his close circle of friends and family.

He was best known for bringing a smile to everybody's face, no matter what the circumstance.

Mr. Lever is survived by his mother, Lynne Cauley, his son, Kyle Lever, father George Lever, stepfather Ron Cauley, brother Shane Cauley, grandmother Velma Heater, grandfather Bill Philips, uncle Mike Philips Sr., uncle Richard Lever, cousin Mike Philips Jr. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Martin 'Marty'

Frederick Powers

1926-2007

A remembrance gathering was Oct. 13 for Yerington native Martin "Marty" Frederick Powers, 81, who died on Sept. 26, 2007, at Evergreen Mountain View Care Center in Carson City.

Mr. Powers was born July 6, 1926, to Georgia Littell and James A. Powers, both descendants of Yerington pioneer families. Until two months ago, he lived in the house he was born in.

He was an outstanding athlete and graduated from Yerington High School in 1944. In 1978 he was inducted into the Yerington High School Football Hall of Fame. He served as an aerial gunner in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1947.

Most of Mr. Powers' career was spent in construction primarily as a steamfitter. He worked all over the country and was one of the top card-carrying members of Nevada's United Association, Local 350. He built and supervised crews on many of the Nevada power plants and casinos. When the construction season was slow, he worked as a bartender.

Mr. Powers was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gene Powers, daughter Michelle, cousins Georgia O'Connor Smith and Patricia O'Connor Dykes.

He is survived by daughters Rochelle (Thom) Ruth, grandsons Colby (Autumn) Ruth, Ryan (Crystal) Ruth, daughter Carole Lemos, sister-in-law Margie Powers, niece Donna Hoover, nephews Mike and Bill Powers. Additional special family members include his "cousin-brother" Anthony (Smitty) Smith and his children: Claudette Springmeyer, Twyla Seymour, Tony Smith, Jim Smith and Cheryl Morris and their families along with many other cherished family members and close friends.