Stanley Willis Loudon

On March 20, 2017, Stanley Willis Loudon joined the angels in Heaven when he passed peacefully from this earthly life, in his bed at home surrounded by his wife and family, after a short bout with cancer. Stan was born on August 28, 1929 in Santa Ana, CA to Lotus and Hazel Loudon. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanette May Griggs, in 1950 and began work in his father’s newspaper business, the “Anaheim Bulletin”. Shortly after their marriage, Stan was called to active military duty in the U.S. Navy, where he served two years aboard the USS El Dorado Flag Ship in Inchon, Korea during the Korean conflict. After serving his two years in the Navy, Stan returned home and located his growing family to Lindsay, CA where he began fulfilling his lifelong passion for agriculture. In Lindsay, Stan and Jeanette produced commercial oranges, olives and some stonefruit...and five children, Mike, Matt, Melinda, Mark and Melisa. Stan’s love of animal production supported a relocation of his family to Santa Ynez, CA in 1964, where he engaged in beef cattle stocker and cow/calf operations, as well as dryland hay and crop production. Stan also applied his extensive knowledge and contacts in agriculture during this time in his work for Sheets Field Seed Company, in consulting for farmers and ranchers in the development of successful pasture seed mixes and commercial farm seed sales. After graduating from Cal Poly, son Matt joined the family farming business where he and Stan expanded operations with large scale crops of alfalfa, sugar beets, beans, garbanzo beans, as well as dryland crops and cattle in Santa Barbara County. Stan acquired his California State Pest Control Applicator’s license in 1986 to further his professional capabilities as well as supply support services in daughter Melinda’s landscape business in Santa Barbara County. In 1989, Stan got an itch to seek out a new environment to call home, after identifying an ever-increasing “Los Angeles” presence in the Santa Ynez Valley. After months of searching throughout many areas of the western United States, Stan and Jeanette found their slice-of-heaven in Fort Jones, in the Scott Valley, California, and left many long-time friends in Santa Ynez, to make many more long-time friends in Siskiyou County and the Scott Valley. After moving, Stan began helping Bob Alexander in the management and operation of the Scott Valley Irrigation District water delivery system, and ultimately replaced Bob upon his retirement. Stan loved the commitment he had in the care, management and operation of the water system as well as all the ranch folks and friends he knew and worked alongside in the performance of his job. Stan worked diligently in this job until ‘retiring’ at an age near 85 years old. Stan also exercised his CA PCA license, along with the help of his wife, Jeanette, in his local weed and pest control business around the Scott Valley during this time. Stan was very active in church, community and political organizations throughout his life. In Santa Ynez, he was involved with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, College School District Board, Santa Barbara County Cattleman’s Assn. President, National Cattleman’s Assn. Director, the Chorro Camp of the Ranchero Visitadores, the Young Republicans and the Lion’s Club. In the Scott Valley, Stan served on the Council of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was active in the People of the USA, Protect Our Water, Siskiyou County Cattleman’s Assn., the Scott Valley Pleasure Park, and an avid supporter of school activities such as FFA and High School Rodeo. Stan was preceded in death by father Lotus, mother Hazel, brother Howard and sister Mildred. He leaves behind a strong legacy of his teachings, knowledge and his presence with his surviving wife of 67 years, Jeanette, sons - Mike, Matt (Ann) and Mark, daughters - Melinda (David, deceased) and Melisa (Bill). Stan has nine grandchildren - Sam, Kelsey, Clint, Shelby, Jayli, Zach, Kyle, Michelle and Connor, and was blessed to see eight great-grandchildren come into his family - David, Chelsea, Hayden, Avery, Quinn, Cole, Claire and Sydney. Stan had a wonderful, full and busy life of nearly 88 years. He was lucky to work outdoors and be active and healthy for all of those years, and to pass on to the Heavens in his home, his bed with the company of his wife and soulmate, Jeanette, and other family members around him. He will be sorely missed, and never replaced, but the Circle-of-Life continues, and his presence lives on. Thank you, God, for all that you have given us. Via con Dios, Papa Stan. Until we meet again. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Sacred Heart Church in Fort Jones. Interment will follow at Fort Jones Catholic Cemetery.

Stanley Willis Loudon

August 28, 1929 - March 20, 2017