Clara Fore

November 28, 1943 - March 16, 2025

VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 10:00am - 11:00am on Friday, April 11th, 2025 at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, April 11th, 2025 at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Fore family.

Iris Samuel

March 9, 1933 - March 14, 2025

Iris Samuel born on March 9, 1933, passed away on March 14, 2025. 

Born Iris Mae Manley; she married Harold Samuel on March 31, 1951.

Together, they had 3 sons and a daughter: Daniel, James, Thomas, and Rebecca.

Iris is survived by 2 of her children (James and Rebecca), 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Iris was truly a servant leader and loved her community. She was a member and president of Trinity Lutheran Altar Guild and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

She was a member and president of Colonial Heights PTA and secretary of Colonial Heights Little League Baseball.

She was a member and president of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) where two of her major projects were making and distributing quilts to wounded veterans and delivering citizenship awards to local high school students.

SERVICE
A service will be held at 10:00 am on April 2, 2025 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Lodi, Ca with a reception immediately to follow at the church. At 2:00 pm there will be an interment service at Cherokee Cemetery, Lodi. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to her church: St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Lodi.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Samuel family.

Melvin Haining

February 12, 1935 - March 11, 2025

Melvin Eugene Haining, lovingly known as “Sweet Mel,” was born on Feb 12, 1935 in Agra, Kansas, to Alvin and Mary Ellen Haining. The light of his big, loving heart went out as he passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 11, 2025, in Lodi, California.

In 1940, Mel moved with his family to Prescott, Arizona, where he attended grade school before relocating to Phoenix in 1947. It was there that he developed a passion for baking alongside his mother. He attended Arizona Academy for high school, where he worked in the bakery and met his high school sweetheart, Carole Ann Carlson. They married in 1952 and built a life together, sharing a love for horses and farming.

Mel pursued a career in construction, starting with Whitman Construction in Phoenix. His natural talent for mastering heavy equipment quickly made him the go-to operator for new machinery. He was the first to operate the largest crane in North America when it arrived in Phoenix, an experience he likened to receiving a Christmas gift. In 1967, he founded American General Contracting and later partnered with a family friend to build several golf courses in Arizona, including Scottsdale Country Club and Papago Golf course.

In 1989, Mel moved to Lodi to be closer to family. He worked alongside his son Rick in construction while continuing his love for horseback riding. In 1990, he met Vera Benson, and despite neither seeking commitment, they married in August of 1990 and shared 34 wonderful years together.

Mel’s love for baking led him to open Sweet Mel’s Bakery in Lodi in 2010. His pies became famous, drawing customers from across the country. Even after selling the bakery in 2023, his passion for baking endured as he collaborated with Frosted Flour and dreamed of new culinary ventures, including a hot dog stand and a food truck.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, brother Bud Haining, and son Larry Eugene Haining. He is survived by his wife Vera; sister Shirley Haining Spears; children Debbie Fessler (Jerry) and Rick Haining (Linda Frater); daughter -in-law Denise Haining; step-sons Clint and Robbie Benson; grandchildren Keri Gatling (Jason), Tyler Haining, Kelli DeBooy (Jon) and Tausha Rempfer (Matt); and great-grandchildren Noah Gatling 18, Madi Gatling 15, Frank Rempfer 15, Brayden DeBooy 13, Bennett DeBooy 11, Blakely DeBooy 9, Bowen DeBooy 7, Cooper Gatling 4.

Mel loved his family beyond measure. He enjoyed listening to then sing or play their instruments, and watching them play sports. He loved going to Arizona to get some “real Mexican food”. He would always want to stop at every bakery when he was on a road trip. He was an avid student of the Bible and loved to share Jesus with anyone that would listen and even some that wouldn’t.

His son Rick said “Dad always said put in 100% and you’ll get 100% back.” His daughter Debbie said “ Whenever I would cook or bake and dad would come over he would taste and taste again and then say “ this is not bad but you could kick it up a notch.”

Mel’s warmth, generosity, and love for family and friends will be deeply missed but forever cherished.

SERVICE
A celebration of Mel’s life will be held on Sunday, May 4th, at 10:30 a.m. at English Oaks Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s hospital or Maranatha.org

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Haining family.

Patrick Fisher

Patrick Fisher
1943 – 2025

Patrick Fisher, 81, passed away peacefully at home in Linden, California, on March 8, 2025. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Patrick lived a life marked by love, service, and dedication to his family and country.

A proud Vietnam veteran, Patrick served as a medic, providing care and comfort to his fellow soldiers during a time of great challenge. His compassionate spirit and selflessness in the face of adversity remained a guiding force throughout his life.

Patrick is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Janice; his sons, Shawn and Michael; his stepson, Tom; and his stepdaughters, Tracy and Johnna. He was a cherished grandfather to eight grandchildren who brought immense joy to his life. He is also survived by his loving sister, Yvette Lambertus.

Patrick’s legacy is one of kindness, resilience, and devotion to those he loved. His warmth, humor, and unwavering strength will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of all who knew him.

VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 9:00am - 10:15am on Monday, April 7th, 2025 at the Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
A graveside service will be held at 12:30pm on Monday, April 7th, 2025 at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, located at 5810 Midway Road, Dixon CA, 95620.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Fisher family.

Jayda Srey

June 19, 2006 - March 7, 2025

VISITATION
 A visitation will be held from 10:00am - 1:00pm on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICE
A service will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Srey family.

Karen Moore

July 9, 1940 - March 7, 2025

Karen Yvonne (Hansen) Moore passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on March 7, 2025. She was born in Stockton, California, to parents Robert and Norma Hansen on July 9, 1940 (a birthday gift to her sister Sandra who turned two years old on that same day!).

Karen attended Weber Elementary School, Stockton Junior High and Stockton College. She was proud to be a part of the first graduating class of the newly-developed Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in 1958. She loved to drive, and it was common for her friends to pile in her car on any given Friday evening and head to San Francisco for a few hours of fun, before turning around and coming home - radio blasting, of course!

“Aunt Karen” took great pride in her nieces and nephews and loved them as her own. She was always there for them in every way possible. She enjoyed her job in the catalog department at Montgomery Wards, where she made many lifelong friends. Later, she worked at Carnation Company’s trucking division, and it was there that she met her future husband, David Moore. David asked her if she’d like to go on a “ride-along” during a delivery in his semi-truck, and the rest is history! They married in 1987 in Reno, Nevada.

She was known to take any stray cat under her wing, and that lucky kitty would be treated like a king or a queen. Karen had a soft spot in her heart for all animals. Throughout the years, Karen was an active member at Trinity Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir and serving on Boards. Karen had a very sharp wit, and everyone loved to be around her! Karen will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She leaves behind her loving husband David Moore, dear sister Sandra Brungardt, treasured nieces Donna Kay Valdivia, Lauren Michel, Julia Lambie and Jennifer Ashby, and caring nephew Keith Mead. She was affectionately called “A.K.” by her great-nephew Casey Tholborn and great-nieces Madeline and Ruby Lambie.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 444 N. American Street, Stockton, California, with light refreshments to follow in the Fireside Room. Private interment at the Sierra View Mausoleum at Cherokee Memorial Park.

Please leave your condolences below.

Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Moore family.

Cherokee Memorial Park is a 501(c)13 non-profit company, owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of the community, serving Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Manteca and the San Joaquin Valley since 1940.

CEMETERY OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Mausoleums Daily
8:00 am - 4:30 pm


FUNERAL HOME OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Weekends by Appointment
*Staff available 24/7
for immediate need