James E. Mason

James E. Mason, 88, of Los Gatos died on July 11.

Mason was born in a house on Shannon Road in Los Gatos and died only a mile from that place of birth. He attended Guadalupe Elementary School and Los Gatos High School. He left school to work on the family prune-apricot ranch during the Great Depression.

In 1941 he went to Hawaii to work as a carpenter. He left Pearl Harbor only weeks before the Japanese attack. During the remainder of the war, he worked in Fiji, New Caldonia, Samoa and the island of Attu in Alaska.

After the war, he married and settled back home in Los Gatos. He built his own cottage on Frances Oak Way. He worked as a local carpenter and building contractor until his retirement in 1980, working on such projects as Leigh High School, Old Town, Bay Tree Apartments and the Paul Curtis Dance Academy.

Mason is survived by his son, Dave Mason of Los Gatos, daughter Debbie Savoie of San Jose, grandson Jason Ellefsen of San Jose, brothers Red Mason of Galt, Calif., and Dave Mason of Hollister, and sister Marion Allard of Smith, Nev.

Cheryl Lynn Reynolds

Cheryl Lynn Reynolds, 52, of Los Gatos died on July 12. Reynolds was a graduate of Los Gatos High School.

She is survived by her husband, Craig Reynolds; her son, Alex Preston; her daughter, Jennifer LaValley; her mother, Winona Shane; her sister, Adrianne Hahn; her brothers, Mike, Pat and Tim Shane; and three grandchildren.

Memorial services were held on July 16 at the First Baptist Community Church in Los Gatos.