Grace Margaret Micke

Grace Margaret Riffel Micke, long-time Yreka resident, died peacefully at home Friday, January 10, 2014. Born in Blairsden, Plumas County, California on April 16, 1915 to Isidore Riffel and Henrietta Vann Riffel, she was 98 years of age. During her childhood, her family lived in Blairsden and Sacramento, settling in Los Molinos, Tehama County where she graduated from Los Molinos High School in 1933. After attending college for a year, she returned to Los Molinos, marrying William “Bill” Micke on May 1, 1935 in Red Bluff. Grace and Bill owned a farm in Tehama County, growing prunes, for several years where their first child was born. They moved to Yreka in 1945, joining the rest of Grace’s family, and had four more children. The five were raised in Yreka, all graduating from high school there. Grace and Bill, who had been unable to complete their own dreams of higher education, accomplished the difficult feat of putting all five children through college. They set high expectations for their children, and took pride in their accomplishments. Grace, a homemaker, put her family first, attending countless school and special events of her children and grandchildren, as well as an eager participant in all family reunions of her large extended family. Grace came from a pioneering California family, which helped fuel her lifelong interest in history. She joined her father, a founding member, in the Siskiyou County Historical Society, in which she was active for many years. Her younger children vividly recall the many Society tours all around the county on which she took them. Grace’s interest in history also led her to becoming a long-time active member of the Know Your Heirlooms group, the Genealogical Society of Siskiyou County, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Grace was a devout Catholic and an active member of the St. Joseph Altar Society/Guild her entire life in Yreka, until declining health over the past ten years slowed her down. She was an active long-time member of the Yreka Trail Riders and volunteered her time to others in countless ways. She made many good friends through all of these groups. Grace was always very active outdoors. She loved gardening, hiking, camping, horses, and the high mountain country. She also had lifelong passions for sewing, birds, antiques, genealogy, geology, and baseball, especially the San Francisco Giants. Grace kept up her interest in all of these plus keeping up with the busy lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until the last few months of her long life. Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bill, her oldest daughter, Elizabeth “Bette” Sarina, her brothers Rev. Claude Riffel OFM, Raymond Riffel, and Melvin Riffel, and her sister, Marietta Seney. She is survived by her son, Brian Micke (Yvonne) of Golden, Colorado and Australia, her daughters Lorraine Micke-Hayden (James Hayden) of Springfield, Oregon, Eileen Micke-Johnson (Douglas Johnson) of Medford, Oregon, and Anne Robertson (Loron) of Eugene, Oregon, and her son-in-law, Alfred Sarina of Modesto, California. She is also survived by her sisters, Agnes Sullivan of Clovis, California and Patricia Bray of Medford, Oregon, 9 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. The family extends grateful appreciation to Madrone Hospice for their wonderful support and to her caregiver, Pat Smith, for assistance in her care in recent months. Grace was an amazing lady – a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, an accomplished outdoorswoman, and cowgirl. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Grace’s name to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (314 Fourth St., Yreka, CA 96097), the Siskiyou County Historical Society, (910 S. Main, Yreka, CA 96097), or Madrone Hospice (255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097). A Rosary will be held Friday, January 17, at 7:00 pm at Girdner Funeral Chapel and the Mass of Christian Burial, followed by a reception in the parish hall, will be held Saturday, January 18, at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yreka, California. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Grace Margaret Micke

April 16, 1915 - January 10, 2014