••• Emmerson Schoonhoven 1929-2022 Emmerson Schoonhoven, longtime resident of Leisure World, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 13, at his home surrounded by loved ones at the age of 92. Emmerson was born in Freeport, Illinois, on Oct. 14, 1929, to Henry and Elsie Schoonhoven. He graduated from Brown’s Business College. He worked several years as a sales manager for Fairbanks in Freeport before moving to Southern California to work at Westinghouse, where he received an Award of Merit, the highest award the company gave later from ABB. Emmerson’s life was marked by a passion for serving Christ. No job within the church was too great or too small for him. He led the youth group, served in children’s ministry with AWANA, taught Sunday school, led discipleship classes and served as a deacon in many churches. He also directed the choir and sang solos with his lovely tenor voice. He encouraged everyone he met with his kindness and willingness to serve. Well into retirement, he was actively looking for ways to serve his Lord. At age 92, he still directed missions and did bookkeeping for Leisure World Baptist Church before moving to Alabama to be closer to his family last year. Emmerson was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce; two sons, Steven and David; two brothers, Donald and Earl; and second wife, Marie. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth (David) Sevey, and son, William McIntosh; grandchildren Jeremy, Daniel, Norma, Dana (Tim) Humphrey, Nathan McIntosh, Andy McIntosh, and James Sevey; daughters-in-law Cristy (James) Scurlock and Fran (Glenn) Karstaedt; and a host of other family and friends. A memorial service was held at Daystar Church in Cullman, Alabama, on Jan. 17. The service was livestreamed for those who were unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made in memory of Emmerson Schoonhoven designated specifically for his cousin Linda Craft and her husband Jonathan of Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries. Donations can be made online under the Support a Field Worker tab or sent to P.O. Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ, 08099.

Deanna Booher 1948-2022 Deanna Booher (aka Dee, Queenie), formerly of Mutual 9, passed away Jan. 7 at a hospital in Anaheim. She was born on Aug. 6, 1948, in Torrance, California. Deanna was a wrestler, roller derby skater, actress, singer and pioneer in the women’s movement and sexual revolution. She was best known for starring as Matilda the Hun on the first two seasons of the ‘80s hit-television series “G.L.O.W.: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling,” which more recently inspired the 2017 Emmynom inated “GLOW” on Netflix, which ran for three seasons. She also made appearances on many TV shows like “Married...with Children” and “Mama’s Family” and movies like “Spaceballs.” She also published her autobiography, “Glamazon Queen: My Life of Glitter, Guts, and Glory.” In October 2018, she starred onstage in “Afterglow: The 80s Musical Experience.” She was nominated for a Best Actress award for her performance, and later, she and the cast won for Best Ensemble of the Decade in 2020. During her residency in Leisure World, she often relaxed in the pool and sang at socials in her mutual. She was close friends with many LW residents, including Carol Gregurek and Julliena Okah. Deanna was married for over 40 years to Ken Booher until his death in 2007. She is survived by her son, Dean; daughter-inlaw, Kathleen; grandsons, Jaden and Logan; sister, Anita; and niece, Lori.

Thelma Ahmid 1926-2021 Thelma Ahmid was born on Dec. 21, 1926, and died Dec. 8, 2021. She was born in Boone County, Missouri, and was one of five children. Thelma married Joe Ahmid in 1947 in Clay County, Arkansas, and honeymooned in the Ozarks. Several years after the birth of her daughter, Marcia, the family moved to Southern California. After 30 years of marriage, she and Joe divorced. Thelma lived and worked in Southern California until moving to the Oregon coast in 1987 with her new husband, Carl Forsbeck, and grandson Michael. Never afraid to do the hard work, she would buy a home and fix it up by painting and repairing it, then moving and starting over again. Thelma had a long career in the banking industry working in many capacities. In the 1990s, she returned to California and retired from banking. She eventually moved to Leisure World and lived there for over 20 years. Accustomed to not staying in one place too long, she lived in three different units there. She participated in many activities including sewing and crafting, plus many dance groups. She attended church all her life. She joined First Christian Church of Leisure World and served as a member of the church board. Thelma leaves a legacy of her many gifts and talents including quilts, needlepoint, knitting, crocheting and oil paintings that all have the look of a professional. She was always very modest about her abilities. Thelma is survived by her daughter, Marcia Brena; grandchildren, Michael and Lisa; great-granddaughters, Megan and Ivy; and devoted nephew David, who upon hearing of her passing happily commented, “Well, she and my mom are shopping together again.”

Joseph William Chavez 1938–2022 Joseph Chavez was the only son among five sisters born to Felicita Rafaela Iglesias and Joseph Nieva Chavez on Jan. 30, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York. When he went peacefully home to be with the Lord, he was surrounded by his family. Joseph spent his younger years living and working on the East Coast as an engineer for both ITT and the U.S. Postal Service. In September 2010, he decided to relocate to Leisure World, where “the women outnumbered the men 10-1.” Joseph met the love of his life, Shirlene Wallis, at karaoke in 2011. They started dating and were wed on the Sapphire Princess Nov. 19, 2012. During their nine years of marriage, they loved to cruise, entertain, sing and dance. They were lovers and best friends and loved holding hands just as they were when Joseph went to his heavenly home. Joseph enjoyed being with people and was a member of many clubs in Leisure World including the American Legion, Phil-AM Social Club, Theater Club, Good News Singers, Video Producers Club, ADHOC, Y Service Club and Let the Good Times Roll, for which Joseph and Shirlene did their famous rendition of “The Blues Brothers.” Joseph was proud to be an Army veteran, having served in Korea and Turkey. He loved wearing his veteran cap and always sang and stood tall when the National Anthem was played. He was proud to be an American. Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Shirlene; step-daughter, Debbie Casper (Wayne); grandchildren Harry (Sterling), Michael (Hannah) and Hannah Ward (Dean); great granddaughter Kinsley Grace; sisters Priscila, Gloria, Alice, Victoria and Eleanor; sister-inlaw Edna; niece Bess, nephew Winston; and his special angel Rosario, who has taken care of him for the past five years and is one of the family.

Albert Lievense 1927-2021 Albert Lievense, born on Dec. 12,1927, passed away on June 13, 2021 at the age of 93. Albert was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He survived his teenage years under German occupation. He was a veteran of the Dutch army, serving two years in Indonesia. After returning to the Netherlands, he became a firefighter and in 1950, he married Annie and had three children. After serving in the Amsterdam fire department until 1960, an opportunity arose to emigrate to the United States. The family of five with three kids under the age of 9 and not speaking English, settled in Gardena, California. Both Albert and Annie stayed active in the Dutch community and never regretted moving to the U.S. Albert served on the board of the Holland Soccer Club for many years. He loved camping and spent most vacations on family camping trips. They moved to Torrance in 1973, and after Albert retired as a finish carpenter in 1989, they moved to Leisure World. They spent a lot of time traveling the world, seeing friends and family. They loved going back to the Netherlands to visit family. They discovered cruising in 1990 and took many trips cruising the world. One of Albert’s hobbies was going to garage sales and looking for treasures. In Leisure World, he joined the woodworking club, the stamp club and the Touch of Dutch club. He lived in Leisure World for 31 years and was very lucky to have such great neighbors. His greatest passion the past six years, after Annie passed away from Alzheimer’s, was to keep in touch with old friends on Facebook. He still communicated with school friends from 85 years ago. He is survived by his three children, Pete and Lisa Lievense, Nico and Andrea Lievense, and Carla and Gerardo Rodriguez; his three granddaughters, Nicole ( Ben), Ashley (Alfredo), and Alexis (Ray); his two great grandsons, Kaleb and Luke. He was preceded in death by his grandson Brent.

Marion Evelyn Hutcheson Carvell 1924-2021 Marion Evelyn Hutcheson Carvell of Seal Beach, California, passed away on the evening of Dec. 29, 2021, at the age of 97. Named after her grandfather, Marion Walker Pritchett, Marion was born in Eureka, California, on Nov. 8, 1924, to William and Edith Hutcheson. Her mother was a member of the pioneer Pritchett family of Arcata, California. In 1942, Marion graduated from Eureka High School, where her nickname was “Hutch,” and soon got a job at the local USO. While working at the USO, she met Navy man James Carvell of Fargo, North Dakota. They were married in July 194 and spent 65 wonderful years together playing golf, dancing and traveling. Jim was school superintendent in Fountain Valley. After his retirement, they bought a home in Rancho Mirage and subsequently built a summer home in Willow Creek on the golf course. As Jim and Marion aged, they found the annual trip to Willow Creek difficult, and soon after sold the house and moved into Leisure World. Marion kept the Rancho Mirage home until 2018, when she moved full time to Seal Beach. She developed many new friends at Leisure World and enjoyed her time walking around the neighborhood or sitting out on her front porch, which faced a green in Mutual 1. She loved the sound of the big jets that flew by, especially those at the air show in October. Marion often said that she was “glad she lived in the era that she did.” Marion is survived by her daughter Cynthia Carvell of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A celebration of life is tentatively planned for the spring.

Teri Subia Teri Subia moved to Leisure World in August 2015 and became involved in the Sunshine Club and Senior Patriots for Peace, writing grants for mobility devices, authoring articles for the LW newspaper, and promoting the Golden Age Foundation annual fundraising drive, while also making stunning holiday baskets for GAF silent auctions. Teri was an active member of the Sunshine Club, attending weekly informational meetings and asking speakers the most nuanced and insightful questions with grace and diplomacy. She loved learning, and her enthusiasm easily influenced others to have fun while becoming educated and building community. Teri started working in finance and banking in 1964 and was vice president of a major bank at a time when Latina women were not usually invited into upper management. She was a founding member of Hispanics in Banking, was a role model for young women, socialized with senators, had lunches with high-ranking officers of banks, all while being recognized for her charming and gracious personality. After retiring from banking, she became an officer at a nonprofit organization, and under her leadership, hundreds of people receiving government aid were placed into full-time employment. Teri and her husband, Bob, traveled throughout the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico, and enjoyed dancing and baseball. They had a love for their culture. Bob predeceased Teri. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa, as well as siblings, nieces, nephews and extended family. Teresa says that no matter where she goes, she hears, “I just love your mom!” “She is such a great lady!” “I would do anything for her!”

Loraine B. James 1930-2021 Loraine James, aka “Beaver,” formally of Mutual 12, passed away Dec. 26 at her nursing home in Stanton. She was born on Jan. 24, 1930, in Dayton, Ohio. Loraine married the love of her life, David James, in 1953 and was his devoted wife until his death in 2010. In 2011, Loraine moved from Clearlake to Leisure World, Seal Beach. She was active in the Knitting Club and WaRite. She was on a first-name basis with anyone who crossed her path. Loraine loved reading, and during the height of the pandemic, she read 21 books in just one month. She never missed “Wheel of Fortune” or “Jeopardy” and was always working on a crossword puzzle. Loraine is survived by her daughter, Kathy Black of Mutual 14, and granddaughters Kelly Curtis and Tracy Black. She was a classy lady with a wonderful wit and will be greatly missed. Cheers, Beaver. A private service will be held in Clearlake in the spring. She and her husband’s ashes will be scattered together, in a place where they spent some of their best years.