Obituaries for September 27

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James Brooke Channon, 77, of Hawi died Sept. 10 at Kohala Community Hospital. Born in Tarrytown, N.Y., he was a self-employed business consultant, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and creator of First Earth Battalion, who was the inspiration for the book and feature film “The Men Who Stare at Goats.” Private services. Survived by son, James (Rita) Channon of San Francisco; daughter, Brooke (Sean) Dee of Honolulu; four grandchildren; a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

James Brooke Channon, 77, of Hawi died Sept. 10 at Kohala Community Hospital. Born in Tarrytown, N.Y., he was a self-employed business consultant, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and creator of First Earth Battalion, who was the inspiration for the book and feature film “The Men Who Stare at Goats.” Private services. Survived by son, James (Rita) Channon of San Francisco; daughter, Brooke (Sean) Dee of Honolulu; four grandchildren; a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Barbara Jean Cooksey, 90, of Hilo, formerly of Waianae, Oahu, and Kona, died Sept. 20 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Amarillo, Texas, she was a homemaker and member of Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly of South Hilo. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Richard Lowell (Virginia) Cooksey of Kailua-Kona, Gary Wayne (Vicki) Cooksey of Oakdale, Calif., and Billy Dale (Christine) Cooksey of Andros Island, Bahamas; daughter, Diana Lee (Glen) Matsuda of Hilo; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Juliana Torres Harrison, 74, of Papaikou died Sept. 20 in Hilo. Born in Kohala, she worked for Hewlett Packard on the mainland. Private memorial service at a later date. Survived by daughter, Anna Martinez of Papaikou; sister, Charlene (Clarence Salvador) Velarde of Papaikou; brother, Joseph “Joe” (Carol) Torres Jr. of Honolulu; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Curtis Lanui Spencer, 81, of Kailua-Kona died Sept. 15 at Hospice of Kona Nakamaru Hale. Born in Kealia, he was a former telephone lineman, security officer for Hawaii Protective Association, Hotel King Kamehameha, the former Kona Surf Hotel and at Keahole Kona International Airport, and U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 10 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 30) at Hale Halawai on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Urn burial noon Monday (Oct. 2) at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Survived by wife, Marge Spencer of Kailua-Kona; son, Curtis Spencer II of Hilo; daughter, Leilani (Ed) Zebart of Gaithersburg, Md.; hanai sons, Steven (Gladys) Iona and Lonn (Nani) Iona of Pahoehoe; hanai daughter, Johnette Manoha of Kailua-Kona; sister, Ruby Isaacs of Kohala; hanai sisters, Lavender Meno of Pahoehoe, Nancietta Haalilio of Kealia and Vicki Mamac of Honaunau; two grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Anthony “Tony” Ventura Sr., 74, of Hilo died Sept. 7 at home. Born in Hilo, he was retired and formerly employed by Hawaii Protective Association, RMA Cleaning, RSM Riverside Apartments Maintenance, rubbish hauling, Ventura’s Cleaning Service and as a private mail carrier. Celebration of life 2-10 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 1) at Wailoa State Park Pavilion No. 2. Survived by sons, Anthony Ventura Jr. and Antone Ventura of Hilo; daughters, Kiki (John) Ventura Lopez and Jamie Kahooilihala of Hilo; brother, Kenneth Ventura of Hilo; stepsister, Alohalyn J. Beck of Ka‘u; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.