Howard Trivelpiece

James Howard Trivelpiece, from a 4th generation pioneer family, died at Touch of Home in Scott Valley on January 3, 2014, at the age of 101. He was the son of William J. and Elsie B. Trivelpiece. He was born in Montague on June 24, 1912, and spent his entire life in the Montague and Yreka area. He was raised with three younger sisters, Wilda (Ley), Edna (Favero) and Fay (Cameron). His wife, Velva, preceded him in death on November 12, 2013, at the age of 98 after 76 years of marriage. He leaves his daughter, Judy Hensley of Redding, his son, Robert “Buzz” and daughter-in-law Shannon, of Eugene, OR, his granddaughter, Holly, her husband David, and their son Noah of Houston, TX, his sister, Wilda Ley, of Little Shasta and numerous nieces and nephews. He graduated from the Fiock-Shasta River one room school house and from Yreka High School. Upon graduation in 1931 he bought a ‘31 Ford Model “A” school bus and transported students from Hilt to Yreka. For the next 43 years his fleet expanded and he was the bus driver of choice for the Historical Society as well as the various school districts. He and Velva were married on July 4, 1937 and she took on the office duties for the bus business. After high school Howard played tenor saxophone with various musical groups including eight years with Archie Legg and his Royal Serenaders playing in Northern CA and Southern OR. He was a 50+ year member of the NRA, the Masonic Howard Lodge #37, Siskiyou Council #8, Cyrus Chapter #15, a Past Illustrious Master of Siskiyou Council #8, a past High Priest of Cyrus Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Inspector of Royal Arch Masons for several years. The numerous rock walls on the family property serve as a testament to his exceptional skills as a stone mason. He joined the California State Guard in 1943 and remained until it was disbanded on February 15, 1947. It was there that he got his first taste of competitive shooting. He then attended a registered NRA match and received his NRA classification and fired small bore weapons for the next several years. In the late sixties he helped organize a muzzle loading club, the Siskiyou Mountain Men, and shot and built muzzle loading rifles up into the 1990's. He was an avid antique gun collector and became well known at the local gun shows. He was a very dedicated and successful gardener with three entries in the Guinness Book of World Records. Because of this, in 1986, he and Velva flew to New York to take part in a Miracle Grow television commercial and ad campaign. Recently he would chuckle and share with others his disbelief that he was still receiving Actors Guild royalty checks after 25 years! In 1998 he received the Blue Ribbon Award from the State Fair Board of California for 70 years of continuous participation (1928-1998), and in 2003 he received an award from the Siskiyou County Fair Board for 75 years of participation (1928-2003). In 2008, after 80 years of continuous participation in the Fair, the Fair Board honored him by naming the Ag-Horticultural building after him. They also presented him with a Lifetime Fair Pass which gave him great amusement considering he was 95. He always won numerous blue ribbons for his entries, and was well known by all the other participants. In 2011, at the age of 98, Howard displayed his final garden entries for a total of 83 years of participation. After retirement Howard and Velva travelled extensively through the UK, Europe, China, and Mexico allowing Howard to use his great photographic skills. They were pen pals with many of the people they met from their travels. While traveling in Mexico Howard discovered his great liking for margaritas. He always said his afternoon margaritas “never shortened his life any” and maintained that” if this drink were any better, God would have kept it for himself!” Contributions to honor Howard can be made to Madrone Hospice, who lovingly cared for both Howard and Velva, or The United Scholarship Fund for Howard and Velva Trivelpiece. A Masonic service will be held at Girdner's Funeral Chapel on Friday, January 17th, at 11:00 followed by fellowship and sharing at the Elks Lodge in Yreka.

Howard Trivelpiece

June 24, 1912 - January 3, 2014