Obituaries Obituaries (October 11, 2002)

Tiffani Teresa Miller Cooper PHOTO

Tiffani Teresa Miller Cooper, 37, died Oct. 2 at the UC Medical Center in San Francisco. She was the granddaughter of the late John L. McWilliams, a former Pleasanton mayor, who died Nov. 1, 1980.

As a child, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on Christmas Day in 1971. Her death was attributed to the treatment she had received for her childhood cancer.

Born in Livermore on Oct. 13, 1964, she attended Pleasanton schools and graduated from Amador Valley High School. She graduated from St. Mary's College and fulfilled a longtime dream of becoming a French teacher. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and traveled extensively in Europe as both a student and teacher. In addition to her language skills and love of the French culture, she was an accomplished photographer and she enjoyed crafts.

She is survived by her husband of 15 years, John Cooper; her parents, Janis (McWilliams) and Lawrence Miller; her grandmother, Barbara McWilliams of Pleasanton; her aunts and uncles, Lynne and Phillip Champlin of Napa, John and Donna McWilliams, Lee McWilliams, William and Patricia Glover of Pleasanton, Barbara Eccher of Dublin, Susan and David Wells of Sacramento and Mary Miller of Chico; and many cousins.

A vigil will be held Oct. 11 with a public viewing at 5 p.m. and services at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Augustine Catholic Church. A private inurnment service will be held next week.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Tiffani Miller Cooper to the Family House, 50 Irving St., San Francisco, CA 94122. The organization provides shelter to families of seriously ill children hospitalized at UCSF. Dianne Kay Miranda

Former Pleasanton resident Dianne Kay Miranda died Sept. 7. She was 57.

Born on Dec. 16, 1944, in Dupree, S.D., she earned a bachelor's degree at University of Washington and teaching credentials at San Jose State University. She was a speech therapist in the San Jose Unified School District for 27 years.

She is survived by two daughters, Tamara Miranda-Bohen of Pleasanton and Michelle Miranda-Talbanese of Livermore; a son, Thomas Jenssen of Portland, Ore.; two grandchildren; and two nephews.

A private burial service was held at St. Augustine's Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 7000 Village Parkway, Suite E, Dublin, CA 94568. Lauretta Doan

Lauretta Doan, a Pleasanton resident, died Sept. 8. She was 97.

Born on Sept. 12, 1904, in Chicago, she was a homemaker. She was a member of the Dublin and San Ramon senior centers.

She is survived by her son, Jim Doan of Davis; two daughters, Sharon Frink of Fullerton and Diana Beuerman of Dublin; one brother; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Sears Doan, who died in Garden Grove, Calif., in 1981.

Private family services were held.

Memorial donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin, CA 94568. Marvin Vargas

Marvin Vargas of Murphys, a former 50-year resident of Pleasanton, died Sept. 5. He was 72.

A California native born on June 30, 1930, he graduated from St. Mary's College on a football scholarship. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1955 with Strategic Air Command.

He was an art teacher at Harvest Park and Pleasanton Middle School as well as Grimmer Elementary in Fremont, where he also attended as a student. He was also a swim coach for both Pleasanton and Livermore swim teams.

A gifted artist, he sold many of his paintings from his shop in Murphys. He loved duck hunting, skin diving, snow skiing and working with his hands.

His survivors include his wife of 47 years, Rae Vargas of Murphys; two sons, Michael Vargas of Vancouver, Wash., and Eric Vargas of Pleasanton; a daughter, Nancy Vargas of Pleasant Hill; and three grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 7000 Village Parkway, Suite E, Dublin, CA 94568. Jack David Jackson

Jack David Jackson, a 24-year Pleasanton resident, died Sept. 9. He was 70.

Born in Dallas on July 6, 1932, he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from UCLA. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and retired after 44 years with Safeway. He was a Human Resource Coordinator. He was also a member of the Valley Community Church.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Madeline M. Jackson of Pleasanton; two sons, David Jackson of Pleasanton and Aaron Jackson of Antioch; five daughters, Carolyn Simpson of Placentia, Calif., Marilyn Kinman of Canoga Park, Calif., Donna Lee Robertson of Santa Paula, Calif., Linda Martin of Pleasanton, and Nancy Maurice of Brentwood; a brother; and nine grandchildren.

A celebration of his life was held at the Pleasanton Hotel. Ray L. Oestreich

Ray L. Oestreich, a 36-year Pleasanton resident, died Sept. 15. He was 72.

Born in Duluth, Minn., on April 24, 1930, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He was employed by TransAmerican Airlines.

His interests included golfing worldwide, politics and listening to talk radio.

Survivors include three daughters, Kay Oliver of Bakersfield, Rosalie Hayman and Eddie Oestreich, both of Livermore; a sister and brother; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Oestreich, in 1989 and a daughter, Lorelei Wagner, in 1999.

Private services were held.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ridgeview Country Club Junior Golf program c/o Head Golf Professional Jim Alhey, 700 W. Redwing St., Duluth, MN 55803. Mary Frances Stranahan

Mary Frances Stranahan, a Pleasanton resident for 10 years, died Sept. 15. She was 81.

Born in Dallas on April 8, 1921, she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for more than 50 years. She was a longtime Bay Area resident, also living in Hayward and San Leandro. She worked in the auto industry and at St. Rose Hospital for many years.

She is survived by her children, Denise Rhys of Pleasanton, Jerald Putman of Alameda and Duane Rhys of Spokane, Wash.; a son-in-law, Paul Strohl of Pleasanton; a sister; a brother; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Mission Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home in Hayward.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Central Alameda County & TriCities Unit, 1900 Mowry Ave., Suite 405, Fremont, CA 94538.