KING, Neva Verna

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: Neva Dani Ward Aug. 17, 1918 - Oct. 25, 2015 King City Neva Dani Ward peacefully departed Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, at her residence in King City. She was born Aug. 17, 1918, in Hollister. Neva was a hard worker and involved in her community through many organizations. The family is grateful for the excellent care given by her caregivers, Lydia Rodriguez and Joyce Duckworth. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Albert and Jane Dani; her son-in-law, John McCune; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Albert Dani; her second husband, Durward Ward, and her daughter, Margaret McCune. Cremation has taken place and as per her wishes, no services will be held. She respectfully requested any donations to be made to The Campaign for the Preservation of Mission San Antonio De Padua, PO Box 450, King City, CA 93930. Neva also requested no flowers or plants for they should be enjoyed by the living.
• Residence: King City, Monterey, California
• Residence: 1920, Tres Pinos, San Benito, California
• Residence: 1930, Monterey, Monterey, California
• Residence: 1947, r26 Via Paraiso, Monterey California
• Residence: 2007, 54080 Jolon Road, King City, Monterey, California, USA

Notes:

Margaret McCunes notes on her mother, Neva, on the occasion of her 80th birthday celebration:

Neva was born Aug. l7, l9l8 to parents Ivon Richard King & Eva (Austin) King in Hollister, CA. Her early years were spent at the King Ranch behind Tres Pinos, the Molera Ranch, the Mee Ranch (Then owned by Jess & Warren Cornwall) & othen our part of California. Following the death of her brother, Jack , when Neva was seven, her mother became a semi-invalid, & Neva spent most of her days & time with her father, Ivon, a noted horseman of the time & area . ( He was a great friend of George Frusetta of Tres Pinos...father of Peter Frusetta. I visited with George ,once He was telling me all kind of stories...., but I couldn't hear him...Sigh!) Neva's love of roping & "being outside" began. (Mom always told me that," God's greatest church is outside of any building!")
Neva attended thirteen different grammar schools in eight years. All of them were in the Monterey & San Benito Counties. They included Peach Tree School, Quien Sabe School, Big Sur School, the Sur School & Monterey Elementary School.
Neva attended three years at Monterey High School before marrying Albert "Al" Dani at the age of sixteen in l935. (Dad was 29...I think they married in San Jose.) She has two children, Margaret (a Reading Teacher", and Butch (Albert Ivoi), an bank officer....manager in Wells Fargo Bank.
When Neva's two children were both in grammar school, Neva went back to high school in King City & graduated in the class of l952 at the age of 34. She also took two years of home business study courses from the University of California inely (sp?).
Neva was employed as a cook at the old King City Hospital from l952 until l957 when she began work as the Secretary-Manager of the King City & Southern Monterey County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture. This was right up Neva's alley ase her a chance to promote the part of California she loves. Neva "retired" in l980 after 23 years with the Chamber of Commerce.
The "retired" is used loosely as Neva is known for her inability to say "no" to any civic or community group needing her help. Neva has donated volunteer help to the Brownies, the Girl Scouts, & Red Cross, & was a general community 4-Hr for ten years plus.
Neva worked at the Salinas Valley Fair Livestock Office for many a year far into the night. Neva continues to be active in Rebekah's, Royal Neighbors, Silver Kings & Queens, & a voting precinct volunteer.
Throughout all her busy life , nothing came before Neva's love of riding & roping. Neva was to be found at most mixed team ropings. One of her favorite partners was Pete Pedrazzi. They placed eight of the ten times they entered the populent at the Monterey Fair, winning the "silver buckle" in l959. Other of her partners were her husband, Al; his business partner, Durward; Freddy Roth; & Roy Gianolini. Neva also won or placed at the Monterey County Horse Show in Salinas, in King City, at the Bolado Rodeo & at numerous jack-pot ropings. During the time Neva wasn't roping, she was to be found in the timer's booth for PRCA & local ropings.
Neva's roping was finally curtailed by the loss of 2 and a half fingers on her roping hand during a "dispute" with the lawn mower. What was she doing trying to mow the lawn at dusk? You guessed it....there was a calf branding the nex, & she wanted to get the job done so she could go.....
In l975, Neva's husband , Al, passed away; in l982, she remarried his long-time partner in the cattle business, Durward Ward (Charles Durward Ward).
(Note: Mom was named "Vaquera" of the Monterey County Horse Show in Monterey at the Monterey Fair Grounds in l9__?)
Neva still believes that God's greatest gift is the "outdoors". She loves to garden...& has miles of it. she also loves to play Pedro, Bingo, & to "gamble a little" ! She also is still "Johnny-on-the-spot" if their is a calf-branding toound, although now she "vaccinates" instead of roping!

Neva married WARD, Charles Durward on 18 Feb 1982. Charles was born on 14 Nov 1904 in Kingman, Mohave, AZ, USA; died on 15 Aug 1996. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Neva married DANI, Albert on 4 Feb 1935 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co, CA. Albert (son of DANI, Alvin and PFEIFFER, Flora Katherine) was born on 7 Apr 1905 in Little Sur, Monterey, California; died on 15 Mar 1975 in Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California; was buried in King City, Monterey, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: Margaret Eva (Dani) McCune, 74 a lifelong resident of King City passed away on December 6, 2014 after a brief illness. Margaret was born December 1, 1940 in Monterey, Calif. to parents, Albert and Neva (King) Dani Ward. She moved to King City at an early age with her family. In 1957 at the age of 17, Margaret was crowned Miss Salinas Valley Fair. In 1961 she married John McCune. They were married for 53 years. Margaret was an elementary school teacher for the King City Elementary School District. She taught 2nd Grade, remedial reading and speech since the early 1960’s. Margaret retired after 30 plus years of teaching. She enjoyed reading, gardening, the outdoors, animals, teaching and reading to children and her own family. Her memberships include: California Retired Teachers Association, Life member of the National Education Association, Life member of the California Teachers Association, member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Phi Mu Sorority, Amor Rebekah Lodge #174 and Native Daughters of California. She is a 5th Generation Californian.  Margaret is survived by her husband, John McCune; son, Durward McCune; daughter, Nicole McKinley; Granddaughter, Mlyn McCune; brother, Albert “Butch” Dani and family and her mother, Neva Ward. She is preceded in death by her father, Albert Dani. MEMORIAL SERVICES: A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Jolon, Calif.
• Residence: 2007, King City, Monterey, California, USA

Margaret married MCCUNE, John Sherman [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Albert married BLAIR, Jane Elizabeth [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Albert married CHEEK, Phyllis Elaine [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Albert married ZEAGLER, Johnye Louise [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Durward married NORHTROP, Jessica Lynn [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nicole married TWAMELY, Darin [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bryan married ENOMOTO, Negumi [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lora married DIAZ, Victor [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]