Obituaries for Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Marion Irene Foat Shotliff
Marion Irene Foat Shotliff
August 20, 1944 – February 23, 2022
Marion Irene Foat Shotliff passed away on Feb. 23, 2022, on Kaua‘i, from dementia, at the age of 77. She was an excellent teacher, loving mother and wife, and a quiet leader who earned the respect of those who knew her.
She was born and raised in San Pedro, California, where she met the love of her life, Don Shotliff, at the public library. They married in 1964, and moved to Thousand Oaks, California. They had three daughters: Carin, Lori and Jeny.
In 1976, they moved to Moorpark, California, so that she could finally have her lifelong dream of living on a farm with animals. She became active in 4-H, and was leader of the Moorpark club until she decided to go back to school to become a teacher. She and Don later added two children to the household when they adopted Paul and Lisa.
She became a teacher 20 years after high school and taught second grade in the Moorpark District for 16 years. She was known as “The Animal Lady” because of all of the critters that resided in her classes. She was well loved and enjoyed teaching her kids and students her old Girl Scout songs.
After Marion and Don retired from teaching, they moved to Wrightwood, California, and enjoyed traveling around the United States, South America and Europe. She was also very involved in their church, St. John’s Episcopol Church, in Corona, California, and organized the Uganda Orphanage Project that made blankets for the children of that African nation. She and Don also joined the Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest, VANF, and led hikes and gave educational tours to children groups and adults. She was also known to appear as Smokey Bear at Grassy Hollow.
She fought dementia for over seven years, and moved to Kaua‘i with her husband and dog Lolli to live with their daughter Carin and her husband Paul and their youngest grandson Andrew. 2Timothy 4:7-8 KJV says “I have fought a good fight, finished my course. I have kept the faith.”
She is survived by husband of almost 58 years Don, sister Beverly Bailey, brother Richard (Joanne) Foat, daughters Carin, husband Paul Miranda, Lori, husband Stefan Lauxtermann, and Jeny, husband Kyle Borland, grandchildren, TJ, Michael, Tye, Tuf, Halee, Chiara, Trevor, Benjamin, Caio, Caidan, Carina and Andrew, and great-grandchildren Nathan, Kyle and Kali.
John Godfredo Gandeza
John Godfredo Gandeza, 75, of Lihu‘e, passed away on Jan. 17, 2022. He was born on Nov. 8, 1946, in Lihu‘e. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War. He was the owner of John Gandeza Photography and later retired from the County of Kauai Department of Public Works.
He was preceded in death by parents Ricardo Gandeza and Tarcila Soriano, brothers Nicasio Asuncion Sr. and Rudy Gandeza and sister Sylvia Camat.
He is survived by wife Callie Gandeza, son Christopher (Taryn “Maka”) Gandeza, daughter Tamra (Kalani) Addington, granddaughter Wailana Gandeza, grandsons Kailer Chow-Agor and Kade Gandeza, hanai son Roven Poai, stepmother Esther Gandeza, brothers James Gandeza, Joseph (Shelley) Gandeza and Jacob (Noreen) Gandeza, sisters Plebicita Jaquias, Edna (Julio) Bolante, Medina (Andy) Pawley, Jessica (Norvin) Olivas and Florence Gandeza Tavares, sisters-in-law Jackie Gandeza, Lorna Asuncion and Cynthia Johnson, brother-in-law Melvin Camat, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 5, at Smith’s Tropical Paradise, with visitation from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and service to follow.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Luciano Kealoha ‘Sam’ Bustillos
Luciano Kealoha “Sam” Bustillos passed away on Feb. 17, 2022, at the age of 63, in Waimea. He was born on May 8, 1958, in Lihu‘e. He was a tour guide at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and known as “Kahu Sam.”
He was preceded in death by father Marcelo Bustillos Sr., mother Loka Kaohelauli‘i, stepfather Valentine Kaohelauli‘i and brother Marcelo Bustillos Jr.
He is survived by wife Lotuvale Bustillos, sons Samuel (Erin) Bustillos of O‘ahu, Abraham (Krystina) Bustillos of Kaua‘i, Jonathan Bustillos of Kaua‘i and Paris Kaimina‘auao Decambra of Kona, daughter Veronica Seei of Washington, grandchildren Degan, Gabe, Jai, Maxson, Jacob, Lahikiola and Kiele, brothers Joe Ho‘okipalani Bustillos of Maui and Lambert (Brenda) Kaohelauli‘i of Maui, sisters Joann (Robert) Figaroa of Kaua‘i, Connie “Tano” (Kaimana) Castaneda of Kaua‘i, Harriet Hualani (Dave) Duncan of Kaua‘i, Grace (Harry) Kala of Kaua‘i and Ruth Kapua (Kama) Beniamina of Kaua‘i, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
His service is Saturday, March 5, at Garden Island Mortuary, with a walk-thru visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a service. Due to COVID-19, social distancing and masks are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Alejandra ‘Andring’ James Morden
Alejandra “Andring” James Morden, 85, of Puhi, passed away in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on Jan. 30, 2022. She was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on Feb. 27, 1936. She worked and retired as a custodian at Kaua‘i High School.
She was preceded in death by husband Glicerio Morden Sr. and son Felipe.
She is survived by children Gener (Carlina) Morden, Rina (Lawrence) Cheung, Gally (Catherine) Morden, Jun (Edna) Morden, Gaudencio (Debra) Morden and Alma (Edwin) Oliga, grandchildren Kate, Kyle, Carrie, Genee, Jomar, Casey Glycelle, Cody, Emily, Alexandra, Eyan and Aira, six great-grandchildren, sisters Remigia Baptista and Januaria Pasalo, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life is Thursday, March 10, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing form 9:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. Social distancing and masks are required.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert Allen Taylor Sr.
Robert Allen Taylor Sr., 75, of Hanapape and formerly of Lihu‘e, passed away at Wilcox Medical Center on Feb. 23, 2022. He was born on O‘ahu on May 1, 1946, and retired as a heavy equipment operator.
He was preceded in death by daughter Joddie Taylor.
He is survived by s daughter Shannon Buckner, son Brian Taylor, sister Carolyn Dabary, six grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private family services will be held.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Elizabeth (Betty) Camara
Elizabeth (Betty) Camara, 89, passed away on Jan. 11, 2022. She was born on Oct. 19, 1932 in Sterling, Colorado, and resided in Kalaheo. She was a homemaker and saleswoman.
She was preceded in death by son Richard M. Camara Jr. and parents Frank and Elizabeth Weingart.
She is survived by husband Richard M. Camara, daughters Deborah Camara, Sandra Camara, Cindy O’Connor and Mary (Christopher) Hare, son James (Anita) Camara, 13 granchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial visitation and service was held on Jan. 21, at Colonial Funeral home in McHenry, Illinois.
