| Notes |
- John B. Laxague, Sr.
John B. Laxague, Sr., one of the most respected Supervisors in Modoc
County history, passed away May 12, 2001 at home in Wilton, Calif.
John B. was born on March 5, 1911 in Eagleville, Calif. to Jennie
Laxague, one-and-one-half months after his father John B. Laxague, Sr.
was killed at Little High Rock.
He graduated from Surprise Valley High School in 1929 where he was a
star athlete, honor student and student body president. He enrolled in
the University of Nevada at Reno, but later completed his college
education at Armstrong Business College in Sacramento. He married Janie
Espil on October 1, 1938. They devoted their lives to raising their
family and developing their ranching operation. For 30 years, Mr.
Laxague was a member of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, over 17
of them as its Chairman. In the first 25 years, he missed only one
meeting. Highlights included completing the zoning of the county,
construction of many county buildings, the nursing home in Alturas and,
the Surprise Valley Hospital. When asked why he became a Supervisor, he
said that because he was not able to serve in World War II, this was a
way to give back to the people of Modoc County, with another kind of
service.
When he retired from the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, letters
poured in from around the state. A special letter came from then
President Ronald Reagan who had tried to recruit him to be his Secretary
of Agriculture when he was Governor of California. None of that meant as
much to him as the warm retirement reception from the people of Surprise
Valley.
Mr. Laxague served as President of the Wool Growers Association.
Starting in 1940, he served on the Bureau of Land Management district,
state and federal advisory boards. He was named Cattleman of the Year
twice, both for his excellent ranch operation and for his public
service.
He was an avid sports fan of the San Francisco 49'ers, the San Francisco
Giants and more recently the Sacramento Kings, attending Kings' games
this past season.
His wife Janie passed away in 1986. In 1990, he and Connie Kingston of
Boise, Idaho were married in Reno, Nev.
He is survived by his daughter Lucie Fjeldstad of Bellevue, Wash.; his
son John B. Laxague, Jr. of Gardnerville, Calif.; and three grandsons;
his wife Connie of Cedarville and her three children Bryan, Kori and
Kyle and their families of the Sacramento area. He is also survived by a
brother Frank Arreche of Cedarville; sister Faye Harrington of Pine
Grove, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by many
people whom he has mentored and loved throughout their lives.
Mr. Laxague was a remarkable man who touched the lives of many people
and will be missed by all.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. James Catholic Church in
Cedarville on Wednesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. Interment followed at the
Cedarville Cemetery. Pall bearers were William Laxague, Sr., Bud
Laxague, Ron Laxague, Ron Henderson, Louis Arreche, Tom Espil, Steve
Hicks and Erik Nissen.
Remembrances in memory of John B. may be made to the Surprise
Valley Medical Center, P.O. Box 246, Cedarville, CA 96104.
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1911 - 2001 (90 years)
