Obituaries

Hollister native Holly Ruiz Davis passed away suddenly at the age of 44 years. Holly was a graduate of San Benito High School where she was very active in high school sports. Holly loved being a Mom; loved the out of doors-gardening, fishing, and taking long walks, writing poetry, and baking in her kitchen at home. Holly was a 28 year employee of the Hollister A & W Restaurant where she was known for her wonderful smile and her big blue eyes. Most recently she worked as a tile setter and was recognized for her attention to details. Her family said Holly "was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and a friend to those she met. She never met a person she didn't have compassion for or that she was not willing to help if help was needed," said her family. Holly is the daughter of Donna Wharton Starritt and the late Bob Starritt. She is survived by her children Royce Ruiz (Deanna) of So. Carolina, Julie N. Ruiz and Ryan N. Ruiz of Hollister; her step grandchildren Mark, Ruby, Tony, Natalie, and Destiny; her sisters Kathy Starritt of Texas, Sandy Green (John) of Los Osos, and Stacee Hilliard (Kevin) of Modesto; her brother Robert Starritt II (Nilia) of Washington, numerous other family members, and former spouses Ray Ruiz and Joe Davis. A celebration of Holly's life with a "pot luck" to follow will be held Friday, Sept. 26th at 11:00 A.M. at the Family Park 4000 San Felipe Rd., Hollister. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to the Ruiz Childrens Trust Fund c/o Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister 95023 Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.

Cathy McCarthy Carli died September 19, 2008. Cathy, the loving wife of Alessio and devoted mother of twins Alessia and Catia, was a woman of talent and a tower of strength. She was an award winning graphic designer and an advocate for children with special needs, especially those with Down Sydrome. Cathy, born in San Francisco and the daughter of Chris and Rose McCarthy (deceased), both natives of Ireland, was proud of her Irish heritage, but she was even more proud of her Italian-born husband and her Irish-Italian-American daughters. For every life Cathy touched, a soul was nurtured and made that much the better for knowing her. Her sisters, Marian (McCarthy) Shaffner and Maggie (McCarthy) Bell, will miss her dearly, as will her sister-in-law, Anna Carli, her mother-in-law, Tina Carli, and her father-in-law Elpidio Carli, all of Sienna, Italy. Her brothers-in-law, Dave Shaffner and Kurt Bell, and her nephews, Stephen Shaffner and Brendan and Kevin Bell, will never forget the joy that was our Cathy. She will be remembered by all who knew her, especially by her loving cousins in America and in Ireland, her dear friends from Presentation High School, her friends from San Francisco, Paris, Sonoma and Hollister, the artists she worked and painted with and by anyone who was able to work, play, paint, or share a glass of wine with her. In lieu of flowers, a trust fund is being set up for Alessia and Catia. Friends are invited to a memorial Mass and a celebration of Cathy's life on Friday Sept. 26th at 1:30 P.M. at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista 2nd & Mariposa Streets, San Juan Bautista. Memorials may be addressed to Carli Children Trust Fund c/o Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister or left with the mortuary staff at the service. Visit: www.grunnagle.com for service information and condolences.

Anne Ward passed away at home in Morgan Hill at the age of 85. Her husband of 61 years, Paul Ward, and sons Ronald and Robert miss a loving mother and wife. During her final days, Anne received cards and visits from many to whom we express our gratitude for the support they provided to her and the family.

Floy Stockton Ebaugh was entered into rest on September 12, 2008 in Campbell River, British Columbia. She was born in Bakersfield to Irving and Gladys Stockton. Floy graduated from Bakersfield High School and attended U.C.L.A. In 1946 she married Dr. James Ebaugh. They moved to Gilroy in 1948. She then went on to graduate from San Jose State University and worked as an elementary teacher in Gilroy for twenty years. Following her retirement, Floy traveled extensively throughout the world and spent her summers on Quadra Island in British Columbia. She was an enthusiastic member of the American Association of University Women and a 110 year old Gilroy organization known as F.R.F.G.

Gabino T. Flores, Sr. passed away at Stanford Medical Center at the age of 85. He was born in San Juan, Texas and lived in Hollister for over 60 years. He and his wife, Hortencia were married in 1954 in San Juan, TX and moved to Hollister in 1955. He worked in the agriculture business for many years, served in the U.S. Army during WWII and he liked to fill his time with scratching lottery tickets, feeding the birds, watching boxing, taking walks, playing with his grandchildren, cooking every now and then and finally, politics.