Laura Thomas Roberts

Laura Thomas Roberts, daughter of William and Edna Thomas, Yreka pioneers, was born in Yreka on April 5, 1920, and passed away on Jan. 10, 2016. She attended the one room Greenhorn School, walking back and forth each day. She participated in many recitals, plays and memorizations. After eighth grade, she attended Yreka High School still enjoying the performing arts with her beautiful singing voice, thus graduating in 1937. She married the love of her life, Emmit Roberts, a Scott Valley native, in Reno, Nevada, on Sept. 23, 1940. The first year of married life the couple lived in Montague, where Emmit was a butcher for the Lichens Packing House. She remembered distinctly delivering meat to the Japanese Internment Camp in Tulelake with Emmit during those years. She worked in the Siskiyou County Court House at that time. The couple moved back to Scott Valley and settled in the ranching business on Eastside Road. She enjoyed all aspects of ranch life; loving the seasons, sewing, gardening, canning, doctoring baby calves on the kitchen floor and cooking for the crews up in the mountain cabin when it was time to take the cattle to the mountains. She was famous for her homemade bread and generously shared with others in need. She was a caregiver for many years to relatives and loved ones. The couple retired to Bend, Oregon. After her husband’s death in 1986, she returned to her home in Yreka and lived contentedly until the last few months, when she moved to Salem, Oregon, to be close to her daughter, Marlene. Laura’s church and church school were very dear to her heart. She enjoyed reading to the youngsters on a weekly basis. She was a member of the Dorcas Society. She served food to the hungry at the Grange Hall for many years. Bible studies were a special part of her life, expressing her love of Jesus. Laura is survived by her two daughters and families: her daughter, Lynda Beverlin, and husband, Terry, and granddaughter, Darci Murphy, as well as Tim and Kathy Beverlin, and Brittany and Josh; daughter, Marlene Tucker, and husband, Brent, and grandsons, Andrew and Aaron. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Freeman and Willa Hudson; and sister in law, Julia Thomas; along with many nieces and nephews. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, William and Edna Thomas; her husband, Emmit Roberts; and her brother, Bill Thomas. A memorial graveside service will be held on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 12:30 PM at the Fort Jones Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:30 PM at the Yreka Seventh Day Adventist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yreka SDA Christian Church School or a hospice of one’s choice.

Laura Thomas Roberts

April 5, 1920 - January 10, 2016