OBITUARIES

Valerie Jean Napier

1936 — 2023

Valerie Jean Napier, born on Feb. 21, 1936, transcended her earthly body on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 7:10 p.m. She took her last breath peacefully in her own home with her two daughters, granddaughter and son-in-law holding her hands and touching her heart and body, surrounded by the love her life had built.

While her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren were the light of her world, there were many people, both family and friends, who looked upon her as a great matriarch, and in some cases like a surrogate to their own missing mother figures. She was one of those rare people who created a feeling of safety and warmth under her loving energy and had a positive and lasting impact on nearly everyone she met.

She was born in Worland, Wyoming, to parents Casper and Agnes Mcdonald. She had one sister, Gail Yvonne. The family soon moved to Los Angeles, but her happiest childhood years were spent in Bakersfield, California, where she still has friends and family to this day and where she met her husband, Kenneth Lee Napier. Valerie and Ken moved to San Jose, California, in the late ’50s and then Los Gatos, California, in the ’60s. They spent nearly 40 years in Los Gatos before moving to Groveland, California, in 2004.

Valerie loved reading and had a great love for animals, especially her daughter Colleen’s golden retriever, Dakota. Her greatest goal in life was to be a good wife and mother. There can be no doubt she achieved that, and then some! After Kenny, the love of her life, passed away in 2012 after almost 60 years of marriage, she relocated to Carmel to be near her daughter Diane. She ended up living a full life there, making new friendships and creating eight years of happy memories. In 2018, she went on dialysis and through her positive attitude and the devotion and heroic efforts of her daughter Diane and son-in-law, Taum, as her primary caregivers, she managed to survive over five years. These years turned out to be some of the most vibrant and happy years of her life, allowing her to witness the birth of two new greatgrandchildren and create lasting memories with all her great-grandchildren who will now never forget her. This was one of her deepest wishes come true.

Valerie is survived by her two daughters, Diane and Colleen; her sonin-law Taum; her three grandchildren, Valerie (who was like a daughter to her), John, and Joe, and their respective spouses, Ed, Rosie, and Sammy. Her four great-grandchildren are Sydney, Jordyn, Alexander, and Lucia.

What we lost here we gained in an angel who is sure to be looking out for all of us as she always did. Rest in peace mom!

David Leslie White

1944 — 2023

David Leslie White, of Angels Camp, California, passed away on Aug. 30, 2023, at the age of 79. He died at home with family at his side after losing a short battle with cancer.

David retired in 2009. In his homeland of England, David worked as managing director of a large factory making parts for the engines that ran the Concorde airplane. Prior to his death, David worked as a bookkeeper in the medical field.

David and his wife of 30 years, Lorrie, lived and experienced life in many places including London, England, Honolulu, Maui, Seattle, Reno, and Tampa, Florida, before retiring to Angels Camp, California. In addition to his loving wife, Lorrie White, David leaves, three daughters, Jamie Hutchinson (Tom), of Angels Camp, Karen White, of Macclesfield, England, and Becky Maholland (Peter), of Atlanta; six grandchildren, granddaughter Sydney and grandson Joseph Hutchinson, of Angels Camp, granddaughters Bonnie and Daphne, of Macclesfield, England, and grandsons Donovan and Ethan in Atlanta, Georgia. He also leaves, in England, a sister, Molly, and a brother, Nigel (Gill). His younger brother, Terry, passed away only a few weeks prior. There are many nieces and nephews including John (Katherine) and Clive (Karrie) in England, and very good friends Dave and Joyce Camara from Lake Havasu, Arizona.

David was a 40+ year member of the Masonic Lodge, past master of Column and Compass Rose Lodges in England, and currently a member of Calaveras Lodge No. 8 in San Andreas; past potentate of Kerak Shriners in Reno, Nevada; past Royal Patron in Loyalty Court No. 38, Order of Amaranth, and currently treasurer of Mother Lode Chapter No. 123, Order of the Eastern Star.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial celebration of David’s life at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Murphys Masonic Center, 384 Church St., in Murphys.

In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s name can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.