11/21/2015
Name: Lyle Theodore Cleveland
Birth: 5 Jan 1935 Iowa
Death: 21 Nov 2015 – Paradise, Butte County, California
Cemetery: Paradise Cemetery
Burial: Paradise, Butte County, California
LYLE TED CLEVELAND “Ted” passed away unexpectedly on November 21, 2015, at the age of 80. He is now at peace.
Ted was born and raised in Knoxville, Iowa, and moved to Chico, CA after his Army tour in Korea where he lived with an aunt and uncle and attended Chico State.
He earned a BA degree, married his first wife, and started his family. He was very active as a volunteer for organizations and charities. He was an announcer for motorcycle races at the CycleLand Speedway in the 1970s, a coach for the Golden Saints Junior Football organization, and played softball with the ” Bombers” team as their pitcher for 20 years.
He served as Exalted Ruler (1985-86) for the Paradise Elks Lodge. He was a member of E. Clampus Vitus #7-11, the Paradise Moose Lodge, Rotary International, Paradise Hi Twelve Club, Paradise Masonic Lodge, and a 32nd-degree Noble of the Mystic Shrine.
Ted was with the Butte County Assessor’s Office for 25 years, the last eight as Assessor. Through the county, he served on the Butte County Management Council, was a very active member of the California Assessor’s Association and was elected president of the Northern CA Assessor’s Association.
He served on the Butte College Foundation and was chairperson and Top Loaned Executive for United Way of Butte-Glenn Counties.
Ted met and married Vivian in 1980. They enjoyed riding his motorcycle and took several weekend trips, many of them to San Francisco for 49ers football games.
After having heart surgery in 1992, he retired at the end of his second term as Assessor in December of 1994. After retirement, they started traveling in a motorhome to see the 48 states, only missing three. They visited relatives along the way, Mississippi, Florida, Iowa, South Dakota, and Washington, and stayed a couple of winters in Yuma, AZ. One of the highlights of their trips was to the east coast for six weeks, staying with Ted’s cousin and wife, seeing the New England fall colors, visiting Washington D.C., New York City, Williamsburg, VA, Mt. Vernon, Niagara Falls, and everything in between. They also took five cruises with cousins from four different states. Went to the Hawaiian Islands four times, cruised to Alaska, and the Panama Canal from west to east.
Ted is survived by his wife of almost 36 years, Vivian, his daughters Debra Sinclair, and Tracy (Joe) Reed, his son, Patrick Cleveland, and step-son, Michael (Kera) Cleveland, grandchildren, Jessica, Tyler (Tiffany), and one great-grandson, Orion.
Also surviving him is Vivian’s family, Rachelle (David), Natalie, and Rick. Grandchildren, Jason, Colin, Heather (Jon), Jena (Todd), Sarah (Michael), Raina, and 10 great-grandchildren. Ted’s family, both immediate and extended, were very important to him. He liked to visit with each and everyone, either in person or by phone. He will live forever in our hearts.
A celebration of his life will be held on January 10th, 2016, at the Elk’s Lodge on Clark Road in Paradise from 1:00-3:30 pm. Donations may be made to your favorite charity.
Published in Chico Enterprise-Record on Dec. 30, 2015