Archived Obituaries

Born Gyorgyike Rozsa Kondor on December 18, 1912 in Balassagyarmat, Hungary and died in Monterey, California.

Anne Sugishita, 86, of Morgan Hill, CA entered into eternal rest May 18, 2009. She was born April 20, 1923, in San Jose, CA, the daughter of the late Goro and Mime Tabata. She was one of six children and wife of Thomas Sugishita for 53 years until his passing in 1995. Anne graduated from Hollister High School in 1941 and in 1942 was interned to camp during World War II in Poston, AZ and Heart Mountain, WY, during which time she married Thomas and had their first child. After they were married, Anne and Tom returned to the family ranch in Coyote, CA whereupon they raised their three children and grew Santa Clara County Fair and California State Fair award-winning fruits and vegetables for their Garden Farm Fruit Stand until retiring to Morgan Hill in 1983.

Long time Hollister resident Simon P. Ybarra passed away at his residence suddenly November 3rd at the age of 89 years. Mr. Ybarra graduated from Barber College in San Francisco in 1953, interned one year in Watsonville in 1954, before establishing himself in Hollister, where he cut hair for 53 years. Simon was a member of Sacred Heart Church, and the Hollister Lions Club. He loved to play golf at the Bolado Golf Course and was a former member of the Bolado Men's Club.

Bonnie L. Bates was born in Blue Earth, Minnesota. She passed in her Gilroy, CA home, surrounded by her loved ones, at the age of 84. She is preceded in death by her late husband Donald Bates. She is survived by her four children: Cheryl (Jay), Jimmy (Judy), Jeannine, David (Norma), her non biological sons: Jeff (Warsi), Dan (Fran), her devoted granddaughter Tammy, as well as grandchildren: Tracy (Terry) and Travis. She was preceded in death by her grandson Ken. She is survived by loved great-grandchildren: Maranda, Magen, Shaina, Hannah, Rebecca, and the apple of her eye, great-great-grandson Julius. Surviving four generations of children and extended family and friends will miss her dearly.

Elvia Garcia passed away in San Jose at the age of 42. Visitation: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. Old Mission San Juan Bautista. Mass: Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at the Mission. Interment: San Juan District Cemetery in San Juan Bautista.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, teacher and friend died peacefully at home after a brief illness. John was born in Santa Clara CA, to Anna and Frank Soares. He graduated from Santa Clara High School in 1938 and San Jose State in 1947. He served honorably as a Sergeant in the US Army during WWII, during which time he met and married his wife of 68 years, Madge Walske Soares. They settled in Morgan Hill in 1948 and raised a family of 5 children.John was a much loved and respected art teacher at Live Oak High School from 1948 until his retirement in 1982. He was very active in RCIA at his church, St. Catherine’s, and in the Morgan Hill Historical Society. He was an avid reader, a story teller, a gourmet, a lover of art and music and a wise and considerate man. His absence is keenly felt by all who knew, and loved him. Surviving him are his wife, Madge, his children Gina (Bill Jones) and Todd; son-in-law Daniel Sigler, his grandchildren Mak Knutson (Amy), Luke Knutson (Nowelle), Megan Jones-Curran (Terry), and Elizabeth Jones. Also 3 great-grandchildren: Aria, Blue, and Charlie Anna Knutson, and numerous nephews and nieces. He is rejoining his children Margo Sigler, John-Scott Soares, and Matthew Soares.

Carlos Barajas passed away at his residence surrounded by his family at the age of 64 years.

William Guy Harkness, 56, of San Carlos, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2007, in Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto. Bill was born in Wheeler Hospital in Gilroy and lived in Paradise Valley and Morgan Hill. His parents were Walt and Shar Harkness, his grandparents were Helen Kelley Harkness and Guy Harkness; pioneer families in Paradise Valley. He attended Machado School and was the third generation of his family to attend the two room school. His family moved to Davis, CA in 1959, where Bill attended Davis schools and U. C. Davis. The Harkness family has retained family property in Paradise Valley, and Bill was able to spend time there with family and friends. Bill loved the outdoors, hiking trips, playing baseball and golf. Bill had suffered from cancer for 19 years, but through the intervening years, he retained his positive outlook on life, natural curiosity and sense of humor. His optimism, compassion and kindness to friends, family and anyone fortunate to meet him will continue to be an inspiration for us all.