Obituaries
Richard Wayne Gold, retired Maintenance worker
Note: The following obituary appeared in the Ledger Dispatch (Amador and Calaveras counties).
On Jan. 4, retired Maintenance worker Richard Wayne Gold passed away peacefully at the age of 81 at his home in Ione.
Rich was born on Sept. 9, 1944, in Manteca, California to Thomas Jefferson and Lottie Agnes Gold. Growing up in the Acampo area, he held a deep respect for his father and a soft spot for his mother. He also enjoyed playing marbles with his brothers and always lent a helping hand to his sister, especially when it came to washing out the oatmeal pot.
After 3 years at Lodi High, difficult circumstances required his family to relocate. Rich was justifiably reluctant about this change. The family landed in the Camanche area, only to be uprooted soon after due to the reservoir being filled. A short move to the Jackson Valley soon turned Rich’s reluctancy into a fondness of the Ione area, where he became a proud graduate of Ione High School in 1962.
Little did he know that the move they made to the Ione area would become the foundation where their future generations would grow, take root and become deeply woven in the community.
Rich quietly, yet deeply loved his faith, family and his country, and proudly served overseas in the Army for two years. Rich met his future wife of 51 years, Judith Maple, at Ione Homecoming and the couple eventually married on Sept. 14, 1974.
Rich got started helping with “The Picnic” early on, clearing and burning brush at Howard Park in the area where Evalynn Bishop Hall would later sit. He donated his time by painting benches and more recently hauling bark, rock and water. Rich ran the frog jump for many years, helped with the sheep dog trials and served as President of the Ione Picnic Association in 1997.
He also coached Little League and enjoyed watching the traditional Friday night homecoming games. In 2014, Rich was proudly named Grand Marshal of Ione Homecoming. This year will be the first Homecoming in 58 years that Rich will not be in attendance.
Calling Rich Gold a hard worker would be a severe understatement. He knew what it felt like to go without and never wanted anyone around him to struggle. From picking peaches by the box as a kid to hauling hay by the bale as a teen, Rich eventually ended up in the sand pits of Ione operating open cab scrapers by the load.
Operating Engineers provided steady work for various earth-moving contractors through the years for Rich where he honed his craft on multiple pieces of heavy equipment. He also worked for Caltrans for several years, where he plowed snow and won multiple belt buckles at the district and state levels for his skill and finesse on heavy equipment.
His work ethic shows through not only on his extremely weathered hands, but also through those around him trying to continue his legacy of hard work. Rich eventually “retired” only to start his own dump truck service which became Gold and Sons Trucking. Rich never slowed down and worked another 25-plus years until the day he passed.
Hunting, fishing and camping was more than just a hobby for Rich, it was a way to spend time with his family and friends while enjoying the outdoors. Whether he was camping at Dillon Beach, fishing the delta, dove hunting in Ione, or chasing mule deer out of state, everyone looked forward to one of Rich’s famous camp breakfasts.
Rich also had a passion for old GM cars and trucks, taking pride in owning and knowing the history behind them. Rich always had multiple “projects” that he drove and could be seen making his daily stops at the Chevron.
He was known for his gentle nature and a perfectly timed one-liner joke. Rich rarely missed a sporting event of his grandchildren, where he often refereed from the sidelines. Many looked to Rich as a pillar of steady strength to lean on. All who met him felt the love he had for his family. He will truly be missed.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents; brother Theadore Gold; and sister Dorris Jean. He is survived by his wife Judy; his four children, Richard (Christine), Reggie (Katie), Ryan (Britten), Lindsey (Jared) D’Agostini; his grandchildren Jordan (Dakota) Steinkamp, Eric (Alyssa), Shane, Aubrie, Rocky, Colton, Bodie, Sydney, Ainsley, Range, Hallie, Arlo, Rowdy; great-granddaughter Jolene; his siblings Linda Souza, Tom and Troy Gold; and many nieces and nephews.
Judy Eileen McCullough, retired civil engineer
Note: The following obituary appeared in the Union Democrat (Sonora).
Retired civil engineer Judy Eileen McCullough, 63, died late last year. She was born to Dearl and Edith McCullough in Lewiston Idaho on Jan. 9, 1962.
The family moved frequently between Rocky Mountain states during her early childhood. They stayed in Macdoel, California, from 1968 until settling for good in Sonora, California, in 1974. Judy finished elementary school and high school in Sonora. Judy took classes at Columbia Junior College, Modesto Junior College and Fresno State before settling at San Jose State, where she completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering.
Judy followed in her mother's footsteps by completing an advanced degree. Judy worked for California Department of Forestry (Now CalFire) in Columbia for three summers. Judy also worked as an EMT.
Judy had a few jobs before landing her dream job at Caltrans, where she worked for 25 years as a civil engineer until she retired.
She attended St. Thomas Catholic Church in Oroville and raised her daughter, Rachel, in the Catholic faith.
Judy was very athletic and adventurous. She was a finisher in 11 marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice. She also completed a few triathlons. Judy enjoyed snow skiing. She loved the outdoors. She enjoyed scuba diving and free diving for abalone.
She loved her horses and riding them. She also enjoyed camping, hiking and trap shooting. She enjoyed making wine. Judy loved to travel, and learn about other cultures. She loved spending quality time with family and was always willing to help out a friend in need.
Judy is survived by her daughter, Rachel McCullough, of Oroville; her father, Dearl McCullough, of Sonora; two older sisters, Sue McCullough, of Oakland, California, and Ester McCullough, of Meeker, Colorado; and younger brother Dan McCullough, of Grey, Georgia.
Judy passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Nov. 6, 2025, after a nearly year-long battle with cancer.
Lloyd “Skeeter” Aubrey McMurry, retired engineer
Note: The following obituary appeared in The Press-Enterprise (Riverside).
Retired Caltrans engineer Lloyd “Skeeter” Aubrey McMurry finally decided to rest on Dec. 13, 2025, at the age of 83 – something he spent a lifetime avoiding.
Born on Sept. 3, 1942, in Bishop, California, he was affectionately known as “Skeeter,” a nickname that perfectly captured his boundless energy, untamable nature, and mischievous attitude, all of which evolved into an adventurous spirit deeply rooted in the outdoors.
Skeeter earned a degree in civil engineering before continuing his education at Western State College of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctorate. He dedicated 44 years of service to Caltrans in San Bernardino, working in the Division of Construction Safety and concluding his career overseeing the Legal Department.
Throughout his tenure, he was widely respected for his intelligence, integrity, and unwavering commitment to keeping others safe.
After retiring from Caltrans, Skeeter was far from slowing down. He went on to start a construction company with his wife and son and ultimately served as director of safety for Leading Edge Scaffold in Las Vegas. He was deeply involved in the day-to-day operations and played a major role in establishing Leading Edge Scaffold as one of the most respected scaffold companies on the West Coast.
In his personal life, however, he preferred a far more independent interpretation of safety rules, where warning labels were optional and personal safety was, at best, selectively applied.
Age was just a number to Skeeter and one he treated like a speed limit, completely optional. He outworked, outpaced, and out-stubborned people half his age, earning a reputation as the hardest-working man around. There was always something that needed to be done and he was usually already doing it. The younger crowd tried to keep up, but Skeeter never slowed down, because to him, rest was optional and quitting simply didn’t exist.
Outside of work, Skeeter found joy in fishing, trap shooting, remodeling houses, and tackling challenges of any kind. Racing Motocross wasn’t just a hobby, it was a personality trait … full throttle, airtime mandatory, and gravity more of a suggestion than a rule.
He was happiest when working with his hands, being outdoors, and spending time with family. Skeeter was known for his sharp intelligence, quick wit, and endless supply of stories he loved to tell, retell, and retell again, just in case you missed a detail the first three times. If you weren’t enjoying yourself, he would fix that, living by his favorite saying: “It’s your responsibility to have fun.”
Skeeter is survived by his loving wife, Ronda McMurry; his children, Mike McMurry, Heather Allen, Audrey Greeley, Kelly Cretti, and Matthew McMurry; his grandchildren, Kalei Greeley, Karson Greeley, Kade Greeley, Sean Allen, Kyle Greeley, Kyra Allen, Tristan McMurry, Averie McMurry, Ainsley Cretti, Mikylla McMurry, Declan Cretti, Brayden McMurry, Mitchel McMurry, and Devynn McMurry; and his great-grandchildren, Makaio Greeley and Nalukai Greeley.
Skeeter leaves behind a legacy of laughter, hard work, adventure, and a reminder to enjoy the ride, and always exaggerate your stories … just a little.