News

Leighton Miller: Founder of Leighton's Jewelers Dies at 86

Leighton Miller was born Oct. 3, 1925 in Cullman, Alabama and passed away, Monday, May 21, 2012 in Madera, CA. He was the youngest child of Columbus Jackson and Minnie Miller. He had an older brother, Rother and sister Doris. When he was 3 years old his family moved to Madera after his family decided they had experienced their last tornado.

Leighton started school at Alpha Elementary, wearing his favorite striped bib-overalls every day. When he transferred to Lincoln Elementary his classmates made fun of his overalls. He returned to school wearing long pants like everyone else.

Earl Miracle (70)

Earl Miracle, age 70, a native of Speedwell, TN and a resident of Madera, CA for 34 years passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at his Madera home. He was a real estate salesman in Madera for 30 years. Earl was a veteran in the U.S. Army serving in the Vietnam War and he enjoyed hunting, fishing and cooking.

Earl was preceded in death by his brothers: Bill & Wayland Miracle.

Former Fresno County DA Ed Hunt Passes Away

FRESNO - Former Fresno County District Attorney Edward Hunt passed away Sunday night at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fresno after suffering cardiac arrest early on the morning of April 13th. Ed waged a courageous fight, but it was something that he could not overcome.

His family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes and the many kind thoughts of Ed that were shared.

Charles "Val" Clute (85)

Charles "Val" Clute, age 85, passed away on April 22, 2012 after a short illness. Born February 14, 1927 in Jacksonville, Illinois, Val grew up in Bellrose, New York. After serving in the Army, Val attended Alfred University in Alfred, New York where he earned his BA degree in Industrial Ceramic Design in 1951. He met his wife Nancy while at Alfred.

After several years as a Container Designer at Thatcher Glass Co. in Elmira, New York, Val went back to Alfred University to serve as the Alumni Director at his alma mater for two years. Val and his family moved to California in 1973 where he became the Director of Container Design at Madera Glass Co. He retired in 1984.

Former Madera County Judge Eric Wyatt Dies at Age 45

MADERA - Former Madera County Judge Eric Wyatt passed away Saturday at the age of 45 after a three year battle with brain cancer. Judge Wyatt was born in Visalia and raised in Salinas with his younger brother Keith. He graduated from Salinas High School and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.

He earned his law degree from Santa Clara University and began his law practice in the early 1990’s with the firm of Mortimer and Oakley. He would later become a partner in that firm before leaving to begin his career with the Madera County District Attorney’s Office.

Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric C. Wyatt (45)

Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric C. Wyatt passed away on Saturday at the age of 45 after a 3 year battle with cancer.

Eric was born in Visalia and raised in Salinas, CA. He graduated from Salinas High School and obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California at Davis in 1988. He went on to earn his law degree from Santa Clara University and began working as an attorney in Madera in the early 1990s at the law office of Mortimer and Oakley where he became a partner.

Frank Gordon (78)

In the early morning of Saturday, March 31st, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Frank Gordon passed away at the age of 78. Only one week ago, all thanks to Frank/Poppoo, the family enjoyed a fun limo ride to San Francisco for his wife's surprise birthday lunch. As the family piled into the limousine, they were full of joy and laughter looking forward to spending a great day together; and a great day it was.

Frank valued spending time with his family including supporting his daughters Michelle as a high school lettergirl and Janie on the swim team; watching his granddaughters Ashley and Stephanie play softball, and Alyson and Cory participate in 4-H and FFA events.