Watsonville Death Notices: Farmer, Great-Grandmother, Teacher

Ralph Clayton Drake: Drake, who lived his life in Seaside, Carmel, Salinas and Boise, Idaho, died July 26 at the age of 70 after a brief illness. He worked at Watsonville's Couch Distributing for many years, starting in 1979 through his retirement. He also helped run the Monterey Jazz Festival and Laguna Seca Races.

Joseph Francis Falco: Falco was a math teacher in Watsonville, and before that, in Fresno. He was known for being protective, standing up to bullies and emphasizing the importance of education. He will be remembered for his legacy and for his jokes and stories.

Ines Heyder: Heyder, of Watsonville, died in her home on July 24 at the age of 40 due to cervical cancer. She was born in East Germany and began working at Hewlett Packard in Germany in 1997. She transferred to California in 1999. She is survived by her daughter, parents, brother and fiance.

Ivy Jean "Jeanie" McCullough: McCullough was born in Santa Cruz and died in her home in Watsonville unexpectedly on July 26 at the age of 52. McCullough loved arts and crafts and thriller novels. She was devoted to her children and her church. 

Mary Ivanovich Plomteaux: Plomteaux was born in Watsonville and was a resident of San Jose. She served as a Eucharistic minister at Queen of Apostles Church and was a devoted mother and grandmother. She died at the age of 90. 

Guadalupe Ramirez: Ramirez lived in Watsonville since 1958, when she emigrated from Mexico with her family. She raised nine children and farmed with her husband, Javier, for 30 years. She died on July 23 in her daughter's Watsonville home surrounded by family at the age of 88. She is survived by 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.