Families of the year named

By   Harold Kruger Appeal-Democrat

The Yuba-Sutter families of the year were announced Thursday night, and the winners couldn't believe it.

"I'm amazed," said Jim Nunes, who, along with wife Janet, were the Sutter County family of the year. "There were many well qualified families. To be us is a miracle."

The Yuba County winners were Jack and Marylyn Easter.

"Very surprised, I'll tell you," said Jack Easter. "We knew we were being nominated, but we didn't expect this."

This was the sixth year for the awards program, which honors families for their values, accomplishments and faith.

About 100 families have been nominated since the program began, moderator Bob Harlan told the crowd in the Marysville Community Auditorium.

"That's really exciting," he said.

Harlan noted that "very frequently in the news you hear the bad things in our community."

Families of the year is an opportunity "to celebrate the goodness in our community, which is so prevalent," he said.

Twenty-three families were nominated this year, seven from Yuba County and 16 from Sutter County.

The Easters, who live in the Yuba County foothills, are a "blended" family with 15 children and 45 grandchildren.

"We don't count the foster kids," said Jack Easter. "We've got eight of those presently."

He retired from the Yuba City Fire Department and moved into the foothills in 1990, where he is now the Dobbins-Oregon House fire chief.

"They won't let me leave because somebody's got to run the show," he joked.

Being named family of the year is "quite an honor, I'll tell you," he said. "I feel blessed."

Jim Nunes retired after 40 years in the grocery business. Janet Nunes is now the administrative assistant at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Yuba City.

They've been married for 42 years and have lived in Sutter County since 1969, when they moved from Gridley. They have three children and 13 grandchildren.

"I want to give the Lord the glory first, what our kids have turned out," Janet Nunes said. "It's great."