Evelyn Mae (Herrick) Pemberton, long-time Sonoma resident, was taken peacefully to our Lord on Jan. 24. Her devoted family was by her side. Evelyn was born March 10, 1919 in San Francisco, and was the oldest daughter of four siblings born to Dee O’Herrick and Mary Mae Bianchi. Their family moved to Oakland in the children’s younger years. After Evelyn’s mother’s early passing, she lived on a ranch in Oakland with family and became interested in horses and taught herself to ride while doing the bendback and other gymnastic feats as the horse was in motion. Evelyn attended Frick Jr. High School and then spent her high school years at Castlemont High. She remembers walking long miles each day to and from school. A bundle of smiling energy, as Evelyn was known, she participated as a yell leader for her high school alma mater. After graduation, Evelyn was offered a dance scholarship to the prestigious Mills College in Oakland, which was something she was most proud of. Upon leaving Mills, Evelyn was selected to the highly sought-after position of usherette at the newly built elegant Paramount Theater.
Evelyn’s redheaded natural beauty was beginning to be noticed as she grew older, and by the early 1940s, she was crowned Miss Oakland. Evelyn was also the featured model of the famous painting “Red,” by artist Lionel Talbott. This edgy piece was entered into the 1939 Treasure Island Worlds Fair Arts Competition and won the coveted first prize! It then was purchased by and hung for many years at the Domino Club in San Francisco. It is now in her family’s art collection.
Evelyn was married twice, first to Fred Bostwick Nelson for four years. They had two children, Deborah and Barry. Then Evelyn met her second husband, World War II veteran Jack Pemberton, while working as a hat-check girl for the Villa De La Paix in Oakland. They were married for 58 years and had two children, Jackie and Jack Jr. There never was a doubt that Evelyn’s children were the most important part of her life. Evelyn’s other strengths included cooking, especially Italian, and her children can remember coming home on a rainy day and smelling the evening’s meal. She made sure that there was always enough food, even if unexpected guests would arrive. She also had a knack for decorating, albeit on a beer budget! Her home was like something out of House Beautiful. In the 1970s she became very involved in children’s school activities, achieving the position of Carl B. Munck’s PTA president, along with numerous other service awards. Because of her hard work and tenacity she was asked to be District Board President, which she served as for two years. She is remembered saying how nervous she was to speak to this elite group of volunteers, but when she did, the room was silent. Evelyn had the great ability to motivate, inspire and encourage everyone she touched, in particular her children.
As her children went off to college and other endeavors, Evelyn helped her husband Jack run his very successful aircraft sales business, Pemberton Air Craft Sales, in San Jose. Evelyn never seemed to lose her great shape and beauty, inside and out. At the age of 60, she competed in the “Beauties of America 60 and Older” and won the California title! Evelyn was a best friend to her children and will be terribly missed by all who loved her so much.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack, her parents Dee and Mary, and her brothers and sister, George, Robert and Lois Herrick.
Evelyn is survived by her sister-in-law Ann Herrick; her loving children, Deborah Emery and her husband Dr. John Emery; Jack A. Pemberton Jr.; Fred B. Nelson and his wife Josie, also with her daughter Jackie Imhoff and her husband Gary. Her loving grandchildren, John Edward Emery, Tami Mock and her husband Tim, Forest Spring and Allison Emery, Neal, Nathan, Nick and Natalie Nelson, Kristin and Brian Imhoff. Evelyn’s great-grand-children McKenzie and Maddison Mock, who so loved their Nanie, also survive her. Evelyn had many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews (20 in all) that she always kept in her heart. Evelyn will also be missed by her wonderful caregivers MaryAnn, Irene and Ruth who cared for her so beautifully.
Services were held at St. Leo’s Catholic Church on Thursday, Jan. 29. Because of her love for children, in lieu of flowers, contributions to Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, P.O. Box 218, El Verano, Calif., 95433 or Hospice By The Bay are requested.
Noreen B. Cotter, 85, died Jan. 21, 2009, at home in Sonoma. Devoted wife of the late William Cotter, adored mother of Eithne Nerio of El Salvador; Eileen Gillman of Sonoma; William Cotter of Sonoma; Thomas Cotter of Rohnert Park; Dermot M. Cotter M.D. of Santa Rosa; Barry Cotter of Rohnert Park; and Brendan Cotter, Kevin Cotter and Terri Cotter, all of Sonoma. Dear mother-in-law of Joe Nerio, Dan Gilman, Jennifer Cotter, Reina Cotter, Mary Cotter, Winona Cotter and Marcelo Hernandez. She was the idolized grandmother of 21 and great-grandmother of five. She was the loving sister of Eileen Attridge and Nancy Murphy and sister-in-law of Paddy Murphy, all of Cork, Ireland.
Noreen was born in Cork City, Ireland in 1923. A former Carmelite nun, she married Bill Cotter of Schull, Ireland in 1948 and immigrated with her husband and newborn daughter to San Francisco in 1949. She became a member of the Rebel Cork Lady’s Association and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. A talented musician, Noreen played both the fiddle and button key accordion at many Irish feis over the years. Noreen and her husband received invitations to play at fairs, cultural events and festivals throughout the Bay Area. Noreen and her songs were a popular fixture in the music scene at Murphy’s Irish Pub in Sonoma. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime member of St. Leo’s parish and enjoyed her role as a Eucharistic minister.
Friends and family attended a vigil and funeral services at St. Leo’s Catholic Church on Jan. 25 and 26.
Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Sonoma.
Betty Claire Guerne, longtime resident of Sonoma and beloved wife of the late Robert Guerne, passed away at the age of 79 on Jan. 17, 2009. She is survived by her daughters Vivian (David), Connie, Kay and Sharon (Ed), along with nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She lived her life joyously and was generous in sharing her love. All the many people who loved her right back are going to miss her so much.
A private memorial is planned for a later date. Donations may be made in her name to K.I.D.S. at 1333 W. Steele Lane, #329, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403 or to Hospice By the Bay, 190 W. Napa St., Sonoma, Calif. 95476. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Sonoma.
Leslie Eldon Wignant Jr., of Sonoma, beloved father, passed away on Jan. 19, 2009. Born Nov. 6, 1951 in Kewanee, Ill. Son of Leslie Wignant and Patricia Wetzel Wignant. He grew up in Geneseo, Ill. and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1969 and Southern Illinois University in 1971. After college he moved to Paonia, Colo. where he met Linda Simmel. They relocated to Sonoma and married in 1975 in Kenwood. He was employed by Sebastiani Winery since 1975, working in various positions, eventually ending up as a cellar foreman.
Survived by daughter Celeste Wignant, his parents Leslie and Patricia Wignant, brother Michael (Lois), brother Garry, brother Mark (Kim) and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his grandparents and one nephew.
