"RAMEY, Judy Lynn Born January 17, 1945, Inglewood Calif. Raised in Lennox, Calif. Passed away Sept. 10, 2009, in Lancaster, Calif. She was a 25 year resident of the Antelope Valley and worked as an Accounting clerk of U.S. Borax. Judy had a very large doll collection. Judy loved to travel and was able to visit many countries in her life time. She loved to ride her ATV around in the desert, she enjoyed driving the custom cars her husband built. She is survived by her husband; Ken, daughters Jill Fear of Lancaster, Calif., and Brenda Moore of North Carolina, 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, sister Sally Chastian of Temecula, Calif. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Dorothy Oakes. There will be a small private family service. " Friends who wish to send a card to the family can contact Betty Peters for mailing address.
John Phelps (In Memoriam 2009)
Betty Peters
It is with deep regret that I announce that John Phelps passed away on September 16th of a stroke.
I received the following note from Howard Cain:
Ruth Phelps, John's wife, just called to advise me that John passed away on the 16th from a stoke. He had been in bad heath for several years and could not really talk.
I wish I could tell you more about him but I met him in about 1953 and moved to Kansas City with him as an assistant in 1955. We lived together as a couple of bachelors until 1956 when I married Carrie.
John then lived with us until he was transferred to Chicago as a Special Sales Asst. He became Dallas, TX. District Manager for 20 Mule Team about 1960 and remained in that title until we split 20 Mule Team into two sections, Household and Industrial Special Sales.
He then left USB to work for himself and later joined us again as an independent contractor for the Special Sales Group where he remained until about 1988 when we both retired.
Coffee Break - November 2009
Betty Peters
In attendance: Charlie Angelis, Karen Bachmura, Alice Jo Beck & friend Carol, Ben and Tana Benninger, Ed and Linda Docks, Henry, Ken Harris, Wesley Hsu, Barbara King, Fazlul Alam, Gerri Lampert, Dennis Lorenzen, Lu Perez, Betty Peters, Glenn Swartz, Susan Smith, Mike Stockman, Trudy and Geoff Williams, and Paul and Martha Zerella.
Sigrid Bausback - Permanent Temp Employee
Charles Bausback
When Sigrid Bausback married Charles Bausback, she worked at the Borax Company for a while longer and then decided to leave the company to become a housewife. She was working in the purchasing department at the time she retired. She was so efficient that the company decided to keep her on as a temporary employee. This was very unusual - whenever the company needed extra help they would always hire a Kelly Girl or get a girl from some other agency.
Sigrid was the only temporary girl on the Borax Company payroll. She filled in whenever anyone was ill, or on jury duty, or on vacation. Consequently she worked for every department in the company, including being a secretary for Jim Gerstley, the President of the Company at the time. Jim was writing several books about the history of the Borax Company and Sigrid took all of his dictation for all of the books and transcribed them.
She worked at the old "Plug In" switchboard for incoming telephone calls, and she even worked in the mail room. She was a good friend of Nancy Irwin and we had dinner at the Irwin's lovely home several times. She was truly a "Jack of all Trades".
At our home in the evening she would color maps for the land department and, she was always bringing work home from every other department as well. When Jim Gerstley retired, she worked for Ian White-Thompson. She seemed to be liked by every one she worked for, Pat Bates, and others. I am sure that there are many people at the Borax Company who miss her as much as I do.
Labor Day Memories
Kathleen Taylor
The First Baptist Church (Pratt, B [2009], Around Boron, Boron, California: Twenty Mule Team Museum, pg 58), was a source of many of our family's activities. Every Labor Day "the church" had a family picnic at the Tehachapi Park. We left early in the morning to hit the fruit warehouses first to pick up fresh fruit for the picnic and for later canning teaching by mother. Then on to the picnic with lots of good food, horseshoes, gunny sack and 3 legged races, etc. After the picnic it was a fast trip back to Boron and the plant "plunge". Not only was there the old time swimsuit contest (Around Boron pp 72 & 73), but the water ballet put on by people Pancho Barnes arranged for, from far away Los Angeles.
Avery Brown Davis (In Memoriam 2009)
Antelope Valley Press
"DAVIS, Avery Brown, born April 4, 1909, in Texas. Passed away September 9, 2009, in Boron, Calif. He grew up in Arkansas and California and has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1951. He was Chief Operator at U.S. Borax, his hobbies were gardening and raising animals. Avery was active to the end, dancing at his own 100th birthday party. He was well loved by all. Survived by his son Jimmy Ray Davis (Jo) of Boron, Calif., and daughter Dorothy Irene Rodden (Don) of Boron, Calif., 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 35 great-great-granchildren. Viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, September 14, 2009, at Joshua Memorial Park & Mortuary, Lancaster. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 1st Baptist Church, Boron." (AV Press)
