Sept. 9, 1953 – Dec. 4, 2019
Theron Bernard Yochelson, 66, of Sweet Home, was taken home by his Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019.
He was born Sept. 9, 1953, in Van Nuys, Calif., to Bernard and Diana Yochelson and grew up in Ventura, Calif., where he graduated from Buena High School in 1971.
Having a talent for fixing his own cars, Theron started his first auto repair shop in Auburn, Calif., in 1977. He later earned an AA degree in electronics from Sierra College, where he also discovered an interest in both writing and gold mining.
In 1991, he married Betsy Billings, and in 1993, they moved to Sweet Home, where Theron opened Hilltop Automotive.
Always exploring creative pursuits, Theron spent years becoming an accomplished mandolin player, singer, and songwriter. He performed alongside his wife Betsy in the acoustic bands Blue Light Special, LeRoy & the Sidekicks, Prairie Dog Backfire, and Red Diesel, and enjoyed jamming with friends in grange halls, pubs, and festivals.
He never lost his passion for writing and collaborated with his son Cliff on the paranormal thriller “115,” which they self-published on Amazon in 2012.
His own teenage adventures inspired his young adult book series “Treasure Seekers.”
He completed the first book, “The Lost Suttertown Gold,” and was working on the second book “The Sunken Curse of Blackwell Springs.”
Theron was preceded in death by his grandmother, Eva Seiffert, parents Bernard and Diana, and his brother Brad. He is survived by his wife Betsy, son Cliff of Cary, N.C., daughter Sarah Meek of Hendersonville, Tenn. and step-daughter Shilo of Albany.
A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Community Chapel at Ames Creek. A private burial service will be held at a later date at Newcastle Cemetery in Newcastle, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the CJD Foundation, Inc. For information, visit http://www.cjdfoundation.org.