by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Sep 3, 2026 | Uncategorized
January 14, 1938 – August 23, 2026
At the age of 88, Eggert “Rees” Jones passed away peacefully at home after more than a year battling numerous serious health issues. As he made his final journey home, he was surrounded by his loving family, and his faithful dog Bella at his side.
Rees was born in Woodland, California, to Della and William H. Jones. His family was among the early settlers of the Dixon/Davis, California area. He spent 74 years in Dixon before later making his home in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Rees’s early education began in a two-room schoolhouse in rural Dixon. He graduated from Dixon High School and attended UC Davis, where he played football, as he had in high school.
For more than 30 years, Rees was a business owner, running his own owner-operator trucking company — a testament to his hard work, independence, and determination.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed big game hunting with his son and other family members, fishing, and traveling the world to experience different cultures and wildlife in their natural habitat. He also loved the game of bridge.
Rees is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara; his son, Leland, and daughter-in-law, Suzie; his brothers, Bill (June) and Steve (Joan), and sister, Emma Rose Slivkoff; grandsons Logan and Lucas Jones, Evan and Greg Wiley (Molly); great-granddaughters Maddy and Ellie Wiley; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Della Jones; his daughter, Cynthia Jones Wiley; and his brothers, Jim and Ed Jones.
A celebration of life will be held September 12th at 2:00 PM at St. John’s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, 1776 US-50, Glenbrook, NV 89413, with a Zoom link available for those unable to attend in person. His final resting place will be Silveyville Cemetery in Dixon, California.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rees’s name to the church, in support of its Zoom program.
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Sep 3, 2026 | Uncategorized
November 10, 1949 – August 21, 2026
Ray Argyle Fernsten, 76, of South Lake Tahoe, passed away peacefully at his home on August 21, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Born November 10, 1949, in Oakland, California, to Argyle and Helen Fernsten, Ray made Tahoe his home for 50 years and shared the past 30 with his partner-in-life, Pamela Francis. Together, they built a life centered around family, friendship, hard work and the community they called home. Ray and Pamela loved traveling to their condo on Kauai and camping with family and friends.
As owner of Fernsten Construction, Ray spent 50 years building custom homes throughout the Tahoe Basin, earning a reputation for high standards and exceptional quality. Over his career he built nearly 200 homes, often for multiple generations of the same families, and brought that same excellence to commercial projects including the Black Bear Lodge and Meyers Station. Many clients and subcontractors became lifelong friends.
Throughout the ’80s and’ 90s, Ray coached Little League, Babe Ruth, multiple All-Star teams, and varsity baseball at South Tahoe High School. Fiercely competitive, outspoken, and highly knowledgeable about the game, he expected a lot from his players while teaching discipline, toughness and perseverance well beyond the field. Decades later, many still proudly remember him simply as “Coach.”
Ray loved a life outdoors, with years spent fishing, hunting, skiing, boating, and camping around Lake Tahoe and beyond. Baseball was a lifelong love, and he was a devoted Giants and Raiders fan. His favorite teams, though, were always the ones his grandchildren played on, and he rarely missed a chance to be there on the sidelines cheering them on.
Above all, Ray was a devoted father and grandfather. Steadfast, loyal, and tough as nails, he demonstrated his love by showing up, offering encouragement, fixing what needed fixing, and always having a story to tell. His grandchildren stole his heart, and he was happiest surrounded by his kids and grandkids, listening and making them laugh.
Ray leaves behind a legacy in the homes he built, the players he coached, the friendships he formed and, most importantly, the family he loved.
Ray is survived by his partner-in-life, Pamela Francis; his four daughters and their families: Amanda and Chuck Olmstead and their children, Kale, Cali, and Rylie; Jamie and Jason Hurley and their daughter, Jovanna; Mackenzie and Josh Martin and their children, Cole and Hunter; and Ashlee and Kenny Groen and their son, Jack. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Tahoe Paradise Park 1011 E. San Bernardio Ave, South Lake Tahoe. Family and friends are invited to gather, share stories, and celebrate the life and legend of Ray Fernsten.
