Ventura County Star
Ventura County, CA
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005

Oxnard
Holly Ann Lake
  Holly Ann Lake's life was tragically cut short on Aug. 16, 2005.
She was 29 years old.
  Upon meeting Holly, the first thing most people would notice was her
angelic looks.  "Her smile would light up a room," her brother, Ralph,
reminisced.  After spending a few monments with Holly, you quickly
learned that her soul was just as angelic as her face.
  Holly was born in Oxnard on June 24, 1976.  She attended St. John's
Lutheran Elementary School, where she was an avid basketball player
with Cecil Martinez as her coach.  She also made the all-star team,
Ventura Stars, under Coach Giordano.  She graduated valedictorian of
her eighth-grade class.  She went on to Buena High School in Ventura.
There, she continued playing basketball, adding volleyball and track
to her high school sports career.  Holly excelled at each.  After
graduation, she went on to the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Holly graduated with her bachelor of arts degree in 1999.  She majored
in biology and geography.  Her interest in geography led her to tour
the Hawaiian Islands with Wildlands Tour Group.  She also spent a few
months in Costa Rica, backpacking.
  Holly started working at Frito-Lay in 1994 as a sales representative
and was still employed there until the present.  Co-workers loved and
respected Holly immensely.
  Since she was a child, she had a great love of animals.  As an adult,
she volunteered at BUNS, Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter.  She was an
avid outdoors lover, as well.  She hiked, biked, and loved to snowboard
and garden.  Holly was very artistic and loved music.  She was a dedicated
aunt to her nephew, Taylor, and niece, Jordan.  Holly had such compassion
for all people.  Friends and family remember her always being there for
the "underdog."
  She is survived by her grandmother, Virginia Kesting; mother and father,
Linda and Ralph Lake Sr., both of Oxnard; sister, Heather Shelton of
Ventura; brother, Ralph Lake Jr. of Oxnard; nephew, Taylor Kennedy,
and niece, Jordan Shelton, both of Ventura; beloved cat, Bailey; and
many friends and family members.
  She was preceded in death by her 'Papa," Bob Kesting.  We are sure
Papa welcomed her with a big hug and smile at the gates of heaven.
  In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to St. John's
Lutheran Church, 1500 North C St., Oxnard, in care of Holly A. Lake.
Donations will be distributed to the family's chosen charities.
  "You are too special to just be my friend, so God made you my sister."
Holly's sister, Heather Shelton, recalled a plaque she gave to Holly.
Her mother, Linda lovingly whispered to her family member, "Holly was
just too sweet to be on this earth."
  A service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at St. John's
Lutheran Church, 1500 North C St., Oxnard.
  Please take comfort.  Holly is in heaven, as well as the angel we all
knew she was on earth.
  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of James A. Reardon-Payton
Mortuary, 511 North a St., Oxnard; phone 1-805-483-2233.