News

Samantha Lilly Martinez (20) from Madera California passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2019. She was the oldest daughter of Isaac and Victoria Martinez.

Samantha graduated from Madera South High School in 2017. She had an adventurous spirit and lived life to the fullest, creating laughter wherever she went. Sam will be greatly missed by all who came in contact with her.

Paul Thomas “Bud” Sanders (81), a former Madera City Council member and mayor of Madera, died Dec. 6, 2019, after having suffered from a lung illness of long duration. Mr. Sanders was born on May 10, 1938, in Blytheville, Arkansas. 

He married Pamela Gordon in October 1960, and they were married for 59 years. They had four children. Mr. Sanders was proud of his military service, having served in both the Army and Navy. Mr. Sanders moved with his family to Madera in December 1967 after being transferred with the California Highway Patrol (CHP).  He worked in the Madera CHP office for 19 years.

Edgar “Ed” Thomasson (89) passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno after a brief illness. Ed’s parents Joseph S. Thomasson and Lillie Belle Rowe married in 1915 in Hastings, Oklahoma and moved to California in 1916 where they farmed and owned a dairy. Ed was born on October 11, 1930, and grew up on the family farm along with his older brother Joe. Ed attended local schools and graduated from Madera High School in 1949. He was athletic and participated in track events.

Ed and Barbara (Simmons) met in Madera and were married on Feb 5, 1966. They loved U.S. and Civil War history and traveled frequently especially in the Southern and Eastern United States. His question was always “where are we going next?”. Special friends, Janet and Ken Seibert frequently traveled companions. We cherished sharing time together with them “on the road” and at home with their children Kyle, Mandy, and Shane.

Dr. Bill Dwayne Duke (89) passed away on November 9, 2019.  Bill was born in Colton, California, and was a practicing Dentist and Orthodontist for more than 40 years.  Bill was a 1948 graduate of  Colton High, then attended UCLA for undergraduate studies, before graduating the USC Dental School, and Loma Linda Graduate School

He served honorably in the US Air Force in the Philippines during the Korean War. Bill later served as a Trustee Colton Unified School Board.  He was also associated with Fresno County Coroners Office as their forensic orthodontist.

Barbara Jean Basila (89) died on Thursday, October 31, after a brief illness. She was born to Kathryn and Henry Damsen on August 6, 1930. Barbara attended Roosevelt High in Fresno. Upon graduation, she worked for a brief time at the phone company.

Barbara loved to dance and met her future husband Anthony Basila at the former Ross Ballroom in Fresno in 1948. They married on January 7, 1950. She lived on the farm and raised her children. After raising her family, she decided it was time to go back to work. She worked at World Savings for a time.

Josephine Elisisda Jimenez (16) was born on March 13, 2003, to Raymond and Maria Jimenez in Madera, California. Josephine attended Madera High School and was hopeful of joining the military to study in the medical field. She had blessed and touched the hearts of everyone who came across her radiant smile and beautiful, kind soul. She enjoyed sports, church, and time spent with her loved ones.

Josephine was preceded in death by her grandparents Ruth and Eddie Reyes, and her grandfather James Buss. She has gone from this earth leaving behind her parents Raymond and Maria Jimenez, her grandmother Lilia Buss, her grandparents Raymond and Vicky Jimenez, her siblings Christina, Alexus, Renee, Raymond, and Leticia, as well as many other family members and friends.