Obituaries

Clarissa Ada (Stites) Pruitt was the eldest of 11 children born to Carol and Edna Stites on Dec. 30, 1925, in Pittsburg, Okla. She passed away peacefully, 82 years later, on May 25, 2008, in Sonoma. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 55 years, one brother and two sisters, a son and her little dog Jack. She leaves behind her daughter, Michele Thurman; daughter and son-in-law, Tonia and Everett Strohmeier; daughter, Connie Pruitt; and son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Bernice Pruitt; her two brothers, Marvin Stites and Tommy Stites; four sisters, Carol Taylor, Alma Reitan, Patricia Garcia, and Judy Cooper; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, a multitude of friends and a cat named Yoshi. She will be greatly missed by the many people who loved her.
Clarissa moved to California with her parents during the Depression. She graduated from Palo Verde High School in Blythe, Calif. at the age of 16. During World War II she worked for the phone company and a factory that made seats for airplanes. She married Lloyd Thomas Pruitt on March 16, 1945, and remained with him until his death on February 20, 2000. Clarissa gave birth to five children over the years, four of whom are still living. In 1965, the Pruitt family moved to Sonoma Valley, where both Lloyd and Clarissa would spend the remainder of their years.
After the age of 40 Clarissa returned to school and became a licensed vocational nurse. She worked at Sonoma Valley Hospital for 27 years before retiring. After retiring, Clarissa remained active in the community. She was involved in several capacities at her church, the First Congregational Church of Sonoma, helping on committees and working at the thrift store. She also volunteered with the Mentoring Alliance for several years. Home was not a place of rest either, as she kept herself busy with gardening, crocheting, writing and family. Never one to sit still, she traveled often, whether it was just to Wal-Mart or on a cruise to Alaska, but she loved home best. She loved many things, including Christmas, babies, hats and chocolate. She loved life.
A memorial service to celebrate the full life of Clarissa, who in her childhood was known as Clarissada, Kitty to her husband, Criss to her friends, Mom to her children and Grandma to many, will be held on Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m., Burlingame Hall, The First Congregational Church, 252 W. Spain St. Inquiries can be made to Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 West Napa Street, Sonoma.

James Norman Le May, 58, of Sonoma died May 31, 2008, at home in Sonoma. He was the loving husband of Elwanda N. Le May of Sonoma; the dear father of Yovanna Robinson and Amber Dawson, both of Sonoma; and father-in-law of James Robinson and James Dawson Jr. He was the grandfather of Kayla, Marisa, Arieanna and James Peter. He is survived by a very dear and close brother, Wilfred Le May, Jr. of Sonoma, and other siblings Thomas Le May and Dorothy Rovetti.
James was a very devoted family man and loved his family more than anything. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a welder for 30 years. James was a 56-year resident of Sonoma and a native of San Rafael. He was a lifetime member of the NRA.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at Duggan’s Mission Chapel on Friday, June 6. Private inurnment will be provided by Mission Cremation Service, 525 West Napa Street, Sonoma.
Donations to the American Diabetes Association are preferred by the family.