Obituaries

David L. “Pelon” Salazar Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, David L. Salazar was welcomed by our precious Lord on July 19, 2000.David was born June 20, 1937 in Santa Paula. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He retired as a sheet metal journeyman after 25 years.David enjoyed his many trips to Las Vegas, but most important were his grandchildren. He was the most devoted grandfather. Our joyous comfort is to know that David accepted the Lord and was reunited in heaven with his granddaughter, Kiana.He was preceded in death by his brother, Manuel Salazar, and his granddaughter, Kiana Irie. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Aurora; his children, Catherine Medina, Denise Irie and her husband Shawn Irie, and Judy Reynosa and her husband Al Reynosa; eight grandchildren, Manuel Medina, Vanessa Solano, Christina Garcia, Matthew Irie, Serena Salazar, Anna Reynosa, Sylvia Reynosa, and Sara Reynosa; one great-grandson, Joseph Solano; sisters, Alice Herrera, Belen Whittenberg of Missouri, Estella Arellano, Ida Mariscal, Bonnie Rivera, and Irma Lamey; and brothers, Joe Salazar, Leonard Salazar, Johnny Salazar, Frankie Salazar, and Junior Salazar.Funeral services were held July 24 at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church, with Pastor Jose Vindel officiating. Burial followed at Santa Paula Cemetery.Arrangements under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.Mary O’Day Buettner ElyMary O’Day Buettner Ely passed away July 20, 2000 at her home in Santa Paula.Mary was born August 12, 1908 in Scott County, Mississippi to Charlie O’Day and Claudia Pettigrew O’Day. When she was a small child the family moved to Texas, where they farmed.As a young woman Mary trained to be a nurse in a government tuberculosis sanitarium, where she met her husband, Harry Buettner. Mary and Harry moved to Altadena, California, where their daughter Carol Buettner Marley was born. The family moved to Santa Paula in the late 1940s and Carol attended school here, graduating from Santa Paula High School in 1960.A few years after Harry Buettner died, Mary dated and married her favorite bridge partner, Arnold Ely, a teacher at Santa Paula High School. They were married for over 31 years, and were able to travel extensively. Mary had been to Europe and Asia before marrying Arnold, but together they traveled in Europe and Mexico, with occasional cruises through the Panama Canal. They regularly visited with Carol where she lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and with Mary’s sisters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas.Mary was a “Pink Lady” at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital for over 30 years, and she was a member of both the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. She was seen around town selling poppies for a number of years. Mary also sat on the committee that chose girls to represent Santa Paula High School at Girls’ State in Sacramento each year. Before her health began to fail, both Mary and Arnold were annual participants in the C.R.O.P. Walk for Hunger.Mary enjoyed playing bridge, and played regularly with the retired faculty wives club, and was an avid crossword puzzle buff. She was active in the Santa Paula Presbyterian Church, and when she married Arnold Ely became active in the United Methodist Church until she became too ill to attend.Mary has been cared for night and day by Miriam Vargas, whom she loved, and who helped make her last months on earth much happier. Mary appreciated the cards, flowers and prayers from her family, friends and neighbors during the last years of her illness.Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Claudia O’Day, by her husband Harry Buettner, her sisters Claudia Roberts and Allee Burgess, both of Texas, and by her brother, Marion O’Day in Louisiana.She leaves behind her husband, Arnold Ely of Santa Paula; daughter Carol Marley and her husband Dr. Anthony Marley of Magill University, Montreal; and granddaughter Anna O’Day Marley, currently of Yosemite. Mary is also survived by her stepdaughter Margaret Davidson and her husband Steve; grandsons Matt and John Ely and their fiancees Sarah Kuder and Beth Rose; step-granddaughter Mia Davidson, and adopted nieces Jackie Coffman and Charmaine Whiting, of Ventura, Oxnard, and Santa Clarita. From her days as Mary Buettner, she leaves her stepson Kenneth B. Buettner and his wife Marilee of Santa Paula, who were also neighbors and good friends; their sons Donn, David and his wife Becky, and Kenneth H. Buettner, and great-grandchildren James, Sabrina and Carissa Buettner, of Santa Paula and Camarillo. Mary has one remaining sister, Cleo Henderson, and her sons and their families, all of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.