Written by Juney's oldest daughter, Debbie.

Death of my dad and uncle from the area newspaper: 2 fishermen lose lives near Gualala. One body found near capsized boat Mother’s day was tragically over shadowed on the Mendacino coast by the death of two fathers in a fishing accident involving a small boat on the Pacific Ocean. Charles A Peterson, 43, a general contractor from Signal Point midway between Gualala and Point Arena, and Elmer J Zarse, 27, Point Arena this weekend. Mr Peterson’s body was recovered by a Coast Guard cutter at 8 am yesterday. The body of Mr. Zarse has not been found although residents of the communities of Gualala, Anchor Bay and Point Arena spent all day yesterday searching the 14 miles of coastline between Sonoma County line and Point Arena. Mr Peterson left home at 12:30pm to go fishing in Point Arena with his wife’s brother. Mr Zarse. The 2 men launched their boat, owned by Mr. Peterson at Point Arena at 2 pm. L. V. Stornetta, who helped them put the boat in the water said the 12 foot craft carried no oars nor anchor and that the 3 ½ horsepower motor was not running properly whet eh men left the wharf. The ocean was so calm Saturday that Mr Peterson assured his wife that they would be safe in the small boat which had not been used on the sea for many months. When the two had not returned by evening their wives called the Coast Guard and a search party was sent out to look for them. A Coast Guard plane searched the coastline from 10:30 pm until 2 am yesterday when bad weather grounded it and the coast guard cutter from Noyo continued the search. The crew of the cutter spotted Mr Petersons body floating beside the overturned boat at 7:45 am. The body was about 1,000 yards west of Marilyn Planing Mill, two miles north of Gualala. When the news that Mr Zarse’s body was still missing reached the communities, crowds of volunteer searchers fanned out along the shore and spent most the day combing the area for some trace of the missing man. Coast guard planes and the cutter patrolled until the prevailing winds made a further search impossible. Authorities last night held little hope for the recovery of Mr. Zarse’s body. Mr Peterson,brn in Ione Washington, came to Gualala with his family in 1957. He is survived by his wife, Maxine Peterson, his son Charles Jr., age 7 Danny age 6 and daughter Marilyn 11 months. He is also survived by his mother, Rose Peterson, Kennewick, Washington, and his brothers John Peterson, Garfield Washington, and Arthur Peterson, Highland. Mr Zarse, a carpenter who worked for Mr Petersons Construction Company, was born in Wessington, South Dakota. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Zarse and his children Debbie,4, Kathy, 3 Clifford, 2 and Kevin born last month. He is also survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Zarse, Spokane Washington.; his sister Mrs, Peterson , Mrs, Virginia Smith, San Matea; Mrs. Duke Williams and Mrs Fred Enslow, both of Spokane Wash.; his brother Raymond Zarse Anchorage Alaska, and his half brothers Robert Wilson, Spokane Wash, and Leonard Wilson stationed in Germany, with the armed forces A memorial service for Mr Zarse will be held at Saunder’s Reef, six mile south of Point Arena. The accident involving the brothers in law is believed to have happened there. The reef is the graveyard of many ships and their crew. The Mendicino county sheriff’s office reported that it is not expected that Mr Zarse’s body will be found because it probably is in the kelp which is wide spread in the area. Mr. Zarse a Navy veteran had expressed a wish to be buried at sea.

Elmer John Zarse