Obituaries
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March 2, 1945 – Feb. 14, 2014
Longtime Resident of Alameda
Roberta Meno passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 14, 2014 at the age of 68, a couple of weeks before her 69th birthday. She was a native of North Carolina and a longtime resident of Alameda. Roberta was an active and devoted member of the Alameda Baptist Church. She served her beloved church through her God given talent of hospitality. Roberta loved to share with others and cook for church events. A church pot-luck favorite was Roberta’s banana pudding. Roberta devoted her professional life to providing exceptional child care for infants and children. Her child care provider career included working for Alameda’s Rising Star Montessori School. Roberta completed the State of California’s family child care provider license requirements and started her own family child care home. Roberta’s Licensed Family Child Care Home served families and their children for over 20 years and operated until her unexpected death. She was a faithful member of the Alameda Professional Child Care Association. Roberta’s friends and colleagues at the Association loved her dearly and respected her gifts in working with children.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, George, daughter Melissa, and a brother. She is survived by her son, Dwayne and sisters in North Carolina and a sister in Colorado. Besides Roberta’s love for cooking and sharing with others, family and friends will remember her gardening skills. She took great pride in her front yard’s beautiful rose bushes. They were enjoyed especially by her child care home’s children and their parents. Roberta’s heartfelt approach to life touched many people’s lives. Her loving and caring ways will be missed greatly. A memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and a reception immediately after the service, will be held at Alameda Baptist Church, 3100 Central Ave., Alameda. For questions about the service, contact Pastor Wallace Whatley, Alameda Baptist Church at (707) 297-6260.
Feb. 26, 1931 – Feb. 21, 2014
Jewel passed away Feb. 21, five days before her 83rd birthday. She was born in Atkins, Ark. to the late Wilbur and Okla Jones, the oldest of 15 kids. As a child growing up during the Great Depression, she worked in the cotton fields after school and helped look after her many brothers and sisters. She finished high school in Marysville, Calif. where she met her future husband, Richard Wood, who was stationed at Beale Air Force Base. They were married in Reno in 1960, then moved to Alameda to start a family. She and Richard had three strong sons, who admired her for her grace, guidance and caring touch when they were struggling in school, at work, or sick. Jewel truly personified the feminine ideal of the “Greatest Generation.”
She was a loyal American, loving mother, grandmother and friend. She had an amazing work ethic, cultivated at an early age, and worked many jobs, including nurse’s aide at Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, as a sales assistant at Montgomery Wards, and for 17 years as an LVN at Lake Park Retirement Home in Oakland. Jewel loved gardening, dancing, watching baseball, and spending time with family. She had an amazing garden and array of plants, which always thrived under her care. In retirement, she learned to dance. She loved to square dance and do the Cha Cha. Her favorite team was the Oakland Athletics, and Mark McGwire was her favorite player.
She loved holidays and birthdays, and never missed a chance to send a card or word of encouragement to family or friends to brighten up their days. She is lovingly remembered by her three sons, Steven of Alameda; David of Albany, Calif.; Carl of Reno; her dear companion and dance partner, James Massey; Richard, the boys’ father, her seven grandchildren, as well as extended family members and friends. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, at 3 p.m. at Faith to Life Christian Church, 601 Spokane St., Reno. Call the Neptune Society: (755) 582-8575 for more information.
Feb. 2, 1955 – Feb. 19, 2014
Jean Brown Schooley, 59, died in her sleep at her home in Alameda after a valiant nine-month battle with malignant, metastatic melanoma. Jean Brown lived with her older sister, Betsy Schooley, since moving to Alameda in May 2012. She was born and raised in Champaign- Urbana, Ill. JB spent her adult life in Soldotna and Kenai, Alaska, where she taught school, home-schooled her children and helped manage the family’s surveying business.
A true Alaskan in spirit and constitution, Jean Brown spent many hours carrying rebar and other heavy equipment long distances and standing in the Alaskan wilderness while surveying land for the company. Jean Brown’s parents were Frank and Eleanor Schooley, (deceased) long-time Champaign civic leaders.
She is survived by her three children, Caleb of Eugene, Ore.; Gavin of Tucson; and Sinead of Kenai, Alaska. Jean Brown is also survived by her older five siblings, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. On Jean’s behalf, Betsy wishes to thank her wonderful caregivers, Jessie Thompson, Verna Smith, and Pathways Hospice, as well as caring neighbors Teresa Perata, Lindy Morgan, Lou Salerno, and Sandie Manzo for sharing their love with Jean Brown. Jean Brown donated her body to science. There will be no services.
