Obituaries
On December 7 Alex Tournour left us suddenly while doing what he loveworking outside on a project. Born Alessandro in Gravere, Italy on May 22, 1937 he came to the U.S. in 1956 with his family. He is predeceased by his wife Emma Jean Tournour. He leaves behind his brother Gil Tournour and wife Lorena, niece Sherise Tournour-bushby and husband Gordon Bushby and his family, nephew Gil A. Tournour and wife Sonja and their families. Cousins in Morgan Hill, George and Gene Guglielmo and their families. There are many from Emma’s side that refer to him as “Uncle Alex” but he will be especially missed by Emma’s daughter Shirley Alleman, granddaughter Tabitha Cuadra-sias and her family and great grandson Alex Sias and his children. One of Alex’s greatest pleasures was living in Redwood Valley and farming his two acres of zinfandel grapes. Every day was a new day to find work outside and then complete those tasks. Back in the “old country” he remembers working with livestock and hay in the mountains of Northern Italy, as well as tending to the family vineyard.
In the US, he worked for wineries his entire career and in the early 1960s he served in the U.S. Army. He has wonderful memories of working on the Army ski patrol in Germany and he enjoyed skiing the Sierra mountains after returning home. Alex appreciated spending time with family and friends and he greeted everyone with a smile. He had a huge heart and a strong voice – he would often surprise us at gatherings by standing up and singing Italian songs a cappella. He enters into final rest in the Veterans’ section of the Ukiah Cemetery with a graveside service at 1 pm on Monday December 14th. There will be a private family viewing the day before and a celebration of life at a future date. Eversole Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
passed away suddenly on the evening of December 6, 2020. He was born December 15, 1956 to Lorraine and Buhl Hoover in Ukiah California. He lived a majority of his life in Calpella. He graduated Ukiah High School in 1975, and spent a year at UC Davis learning about vineyards, however he then came home and begin working at local community businesses. He met Nancy Prior in August 1981, and they were married August 28, 1982. Together they raised three children Jacob, Megan, and Laura in the Calpella area. Randy worked at several places in the community and everywhere he went he made friends. In
January 1996 Randy and Nancy bought the Forks Ranch Market from Allen and Rae Prior. He worked at “The Store” from then on. He ran it like a well oiled machine, mostly, from ordering, to stocking shelves, to working the cash register, but more often than not you would find him behind the meat counter. He was always there to offer a smile and a joke. His kind demeanor and listening ear were always welcome when your day had been rough and you just needed to talk. He was a pillar in the community, he would help provide donations in any way he could, including providing meats to the first responders barbecue, the Willits Toy Run, local schools and many more.
He was heavily involved in Pop Warner football as a coach and also coached many local sports his children were involved in. In the last year he fulfilled his dream of becoming a vineyard owner, by buying a 26 acre parcel in Redwood Valley that
y was at one time owned by his great grandparents, the Gherlones. When his wife asked him why he would do this he said “It’s my retirement plan, I’m just going to be out on a tractor putting around the vineyard all day.” He was a devoted son, husband and father who loved his family and would do anything for. He was a loyal and loving friend who brought joy and smiles to anyone he was around. He is survived by his wife Nancy Hoover, his son Jake and his wife Holley, his daughters Megan and her fiancé Will and Laura and her fiancé James. He’s also survived by his father Buhl Hoover, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that he all loved. He is preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine Hoover and sister Sandy Pronsolino as well as many uncles, aunts and dear cousins. In Lieu of flowers Randy would love for donations to be made to any local charity of your choosing. Eversole Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.