News

MADERA - Local baseball legend Eddie Chapa passed away yesterday. The Chapa family said, "Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, and coach Eddie Chapa has reached home plate at the age of 88. He passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 surrounded by his loving family."

Eddie was born to Bertha and Teodoro Chapa on July 21, 1930 in Laredo, Texas. He came to Madera with his dad at an early age of 16 to look for work in May of 1947. They started working in the fields picking peaches, grapes and potatoes.

Carl Dover (92) passed away on September 7, 2018 in Madera, Ca. Carl was born in Tennessee to Edgar and Ila Dover on November 19, 1925. Carl was a WWII Veteran having served in the United States Navy. Carl was very thrilled to be a part of the Honor Flight in October, 2015. He talked about it all the time and tried to get other veterans to apply.

Carl was a resident of Madera for over 85 years, where he worked for over 30 years as a butcher at Safeway. Not only was Carl a master carpenter, he was an avid fisherman and hunter as well. Even though his body would not always allow him to be out hunting and fishing, his heart still carried a huge passion and desire for going.

Roger Poythress (62), a lifelong resident of Madera, CA, went home to be with the Lord on September 3, 2018. He was a third-generation farmer and business owner in the Howard district in partnership with his brother Robert, growing almonds and walnuts for 38 years. He loved the farm life and working outdoors, from tackling the challenges of daily operations, almost always with a smile, to the satisfaction of seeing the crop come in. Indispensable to him were “The Guys”, his dedicated, hard-working employees, who continued with him for many years.

Roger loved the Lord. Through the teaching of his grandmother Edna Poythress, Roger put his trust in Christ at the age of 14, and it set the course of his life to follow the Lord Jesus. This simple faith led to his involvement in many ministries including Awana, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Love INC., The Gideons. He was an active member of Grace Community Church, serving in many capacities. His greatest hope was for people, especially children, to know and love the Lord, and he always looked for an opportunity to share his faith with others.

Paula Jean Crabtree (94) of Madera, California passed from this life on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at home surrounded by her family. Paula was born in Sutherland, Nebraska to Edward Boldman and Emma Dobranz Boldman.

Following High School she later met and married Thalton R.C. “Pete” Crabtree in 1946. As a married couple they have lived in Colorado, and later the westside of the San Joaquin Valley of California in Mendota, Cantua Creek and Tranquillity, before ultimately settling in Madera in 1973 where Rev. Crabtree pastored the First Southern Baptist Church on Nebraska Avenue until his untimely death in 1985.

MADERA - Beloved husband, father, grandfather and coach, Gerald “Gerry” Sullivan, age 77, passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in Fresno, CA. He was a native of Newport, RI and a resident of Madera, CA for 46 years,

He was in the banking business for 40 years working for numerous banks in the Madera area as a loan officer, where he made many loans to farmers. Gerry was in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962 and was an ambassador for the Madera Chamber of Commerce. He coached Pop Warner Madera Youth Football from 1974 to 1982 and was a member of the Madera Breakfast Lions Club.

Gerry was preceded in death by his brothers Ray and Thomas Sullivan and granddaughter Lily Marisol Torrez.

John Nick Peters (87) a native of Scottsbluff, NE & a resident of Madera, CA for 46 years, passed away Thursday, July 12, 2018 in Madera, CA. In 1971, John moved his family to Madera & served the local community as the athletic director for Madera High School until 1989 when he retired. Following his passion for sports & youth, John continued to use his time serving Madera Unified School District on the Board of Trustees from 1998-2002.  

In his college years, John was a star football player for the University of Wyoming & was inducted into the Hall of Fame after the Gator Bowl championship in 1950. In 1984, John was the recipient of the Jim Echols Award for outstanding achievement in the field of athletics.