News

Bill Gene Chambers (79) was ushered into the presence of Jesus on July 31, 2020, in Madera, California. “Well done, good and faithful servant…” Matthew 25:21 He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Cathleen (Pekarek) Chambers. Bill was born in Dinuba, California, on June 29, 1941, the seventh and youngest child of Elmus and Effie Mae Chambers. Bill’s childhood in Dinuba was wrapped in the love of his mom and dad, sisters and brother.

After graduating Dinuba High School in 1959, Bill attended Reedley College and completed his Associate Degree in Business. In 1962, Bill began his life-long career with Pacific Gas & Electric. He married his bride Cathleen Pekarek on July 14, 1962. This union was blessed with three sons. The family resided in Dinuba and Corcoran in the early years. Then, in 1977, they relocated to Madera. After 31 years of service at PG&E, Bill was offered an early retirement in 1993. It was perfect timing to begin his “Grandpa” career.

Dale Stanley Evans (90) of Madera passed away on Sunday August 2, 2020 after a short illness. Born in Fairfax, Oklahoma on November 24, 1929, Dale was the son of William Corbett Evans and Beulah Faye Evans, and brother to five siblings, the late Lloyd Evans and Alogene Jester, surviving siblings Virginia Wilton, Marie Atkinson and Charles Evans. 

In 1935, William and Beulah loaded up the children and all their belongings left the farm in Oklahoma for California. The family settled in Madera and put down roots. After graduating from Madera High School in 1949, he began working at the Hill Top Dairy in Madera.

Richard Eugene Haupt (86) - On Monday, July 20, 2020, Richard “Dick” Haupt, Sr., a lifelong resident of Madera, started his final fishing trip at the age of 86. Dick was a first-generation American born on October 14, 1933, in Fresno, California. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Dixieland in Madera.

He spent his high school years in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and graduated from Madera High School in 1952. After graduation, Dick was drafted into the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for two years during the Korean War. Upon returning in 1954, Dick worked at Western Electric for the next two years and married his first wife, Betty Lou (Vieira) Haupt in 1959.

Philip Michael Molina (42) lovingly known as “Mike” passed away July 15, 2020 in Madera of a brief illness. He was born in Colusa, CA and at a young age moved with his family to Madera. Mike attended local schools and was a graduate of Madera High Class of 1996.

In 1997 Mike married the love of his life Kelly Chambers. Mike and Kelly have been working together, as they own and operate Perko’s Café on Cleveland Avenue in Madera, for many years. But their greatest achievement has been in raising their five boys to be great men.

Sue Catherine Bare (90), a long time resident of Madera, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020, following a period of declining health. Sue was born to Jim and Clara Tedford in Darnell Arkansas, later moving to Madera where she graduated from Madera Union High School with the Class of 1948.

In earlier years before retirement Sue was a cashier at Hal’s Market and at Madera Food Mart, and for a time worked at Howell’s Studio where she was a colorizer. An active person in the Madera Community Sue enjoyed being a volunteer at Madera Community Hospital.

Bobby Gene Bennett (86) passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020 after a twenty-year battle with Parkinson's Disease. Bob was surrounded by his wife of nearly sixty-five years, Jane, his children, Karen Prieto, Brad Bennett and Todd Bennett, and four of his eight grandchildren.

Bob was born on June 22, 1933 in Atwood, Oklahoma to James Arthur and Ella Mae Bennett. The family were victims of the Dust Bowl, and became migrant farm workers, moving between Oklahoma and California. Bob's work life began at the age of five, picking cotton. Growing up in poverty, and learning the value and necessity of hard work forged a man who later found great success in his chosen field of coaching and teaching.