Richard Keith McGaugh, known by many as “Ranger Rick” passed away December 25, 2009, in UC Medical Center, San Francisco. He always loved Christmas as a time of giving and reflection and so will be remembered each holiday to come.
He was born March 27, 1951 in Fresno, California, but spent most of his childhood in Dunsmuir, California, where he began his career with the state park system as a park aid at Castle Craigs State Park in Castella while still in high school. He graduated from Dunsmuir High School in 1969, attended CSU Chico, then worked for close to 30 years as a California State Park Ranger, retiring from Bidwell Sacramento River State Park in Chico in 2006.
In addition to working for California State Parks, Rick was also an accomplished artist and over the years designed nine labels, including the widely popular “Bigfoot Ale” and “Celebration Ale” labels for Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Rick enjoyed reading, gardening, and in 2009 wrote a monthly column for the Enterprise Record using his childhood in Dunsmuir and nature as inspiration.
Rick is preceded in death by his parents Harvey D. McGaugh who died in Medford Oregon in 2007, and Edna (McGaugh) Smisek, who passed away in April of 2009. Survivors include his children Derrick McGaugh of Chico and Allison McGaugh Wilkins and her husband Josh of Oroville, and sisters Lynda Demsher of Alturas and Pam Zaklan of Medford Oregon.
A celebration of Rick’s life will be held Saturday, March 27 at the Sierra Nevada Brewery on 20th Street in Chico from 2-5 p.m in the Big Room.
Call Deanna at 530-894-5848 to RSVP. If anyone would like to make a donation in Rick's memory, they may be made to the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens in care of Harriet Alto; P.O. Box 242, Dunsmuir, CA. 96025.
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Richard Keith McGaugh, known by many as “Ranger Rick” passed away December 25, 2009, in UC Medical Center, San Francisco. He always loved Christmas as a time of giving and reflection and so will be remembered each holiday to come.
He was born March 27, 1951 in Fresno, California, but spent most of his childhood in Dunsmuir, California, where he began his career with the state park system as a park aid at Castle Craigs State Park in Castella while still in high school. He graduated from Dunsmuir High School in 1969, attended CSU Chico, then worked for close to 30 years as a California State Park Ranger, retiring from Bidwell Sacramento River State Park in Chico in 2006.
In addition to working for California State Parks, Rick was also an accomplished artist and over the years designed nine labels, including the widely popular “Bigfoot Ale” and “Celebration Ale” labels for Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Rick enjoyed reading, gardening, and in 2009 wrote a monthly column for the Enterprise Record using his childhood in Dunsmuir and nature as inspiration.
Rick is preceded in death by his parents Harvey D. McGaugh who died in Medford Oregon in 2007, and Edna (McGaugh) Smisek, who passed away in April of 2009. Survivors include his children Derrick McGaugh of Chico and Allison McGaugh Wilkins and her husband Josh of Oroville, and sisters Lynda Demsher of Alturas and Pam Zaklan of Medford Oregon.
A celebration of Rick’s life will be held Saturday, March 27 at the Sierra Nevada Brewery on 20th Street in Chico from 2-5 p.m in the Big Room.
Call Deanna at 530-894-5848 to RSVP. If anyone would like to make a donation in Rick's memory, they may be made to the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens in care of Harriet Alto; P.O. Box 242, Dunsmuir, CA. 96025.
