Our beloved Twyla Jean Capurro was tragically killed in a work-related accident on April 14, 2026.
The accident occurred in Knight’s Ferry at the Canyon Tunnel Project worksite. Twyla was 35 years old. Her life was full of accomplishments and great joy.
She was born at Sierra Nevada Hospital in Grass Valley, Calif., on May 4, 1990, to Sally Pearson and Chuck Capurro. She was raised in Chico, Calif., and attended college there.
Throughout her life she showed great creativity and an interest in the arts including music, movement, making up songs, singing, dancing, writing stories, poems and drawing. She loved collecting interesting and diverse rocks. As an adult her love of agates inspired her to teach herself the intricate art of wire wrapping.
As a teenager she taught herself how to cut and style hair. She had a small clientele which inspired her to earn her first degree in cosmetology. Twyla quickly discovered that her love of hair styling wasn’t fulfilling so she returned to Butte College where she earned four more associates degrees (Psychology, Social Sciences, University studies and Geology).
She then transferred to CSU Chico to pursue her BS in Geology. While attending college she and her boyfriend, Kyle Lovelady, became pregnant with their first son, Bodi. In 2021, she graduated at the top of her class. She was recognized as an outstanding student and was highly regarded by her professors.
In February 2022, Twyla and Kyle had their second son, Levi. When Levi was six months old the family moved to Coulterville, where Twyla applied for, and was offered, a position as a geologist with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group based in Sonora, Calif. Her work often took her to Napa Valley where she helped supervise wine cave and tunnel projects.
Twyla was very proud to work for Provost and Pritchard. She was an excellent and beloved employee. Her desire to learn, attention to detail and her ability to manage and motivate work crews and contractors, was acknowledged and appreciated by her employer.
Twyla was intelligent and well balanced in her capabilities. She was an excellent communicator and was empathic, intuitive and compassionate. She was extremely likable, easy going and quickly made people feel at ease. She was resilient, authentic, funny, quick witted, adventurous and brave. Close friends referred to her as being a “badass.”
She was also math minded and able to problem solve projects such as remodeling a bathroom and designing a “barndominium.” She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and liked a good challenge. Twyla’s perseverance and determination paid off as all of the permits associated with building the barndominium were recently approved. This made her extremely proud as she was able to successfully meet every obstacle to building this structure on undeveloped property.
Twyla truly excelled at anything she put her mind and heart to. She was amazing.
More than anything Twyla loved and adored her boys. She was an attentive, playful, thoughtful, nurturing and loving mother. She showered the boys with love, affection and emotional support.
Twyla was an extraordinary mother, daughter, partner, niece, cousin, aunt, friend and employee. She embraced the rural lifestyle and loved the rich gold mining history of Coulterville and the Sierra Nevada. She and Kyle enjoyed many days together mining for nuggets.
Twyla’s light was brilliant. Her love continues to burn brightly in all those lives she touched. She was an extremely loyal and protective friend and an anchor for those she loved. We love and miss her dearly.
Twyla is survived by her two young children, Bodi Lovelady, 9, and Levi Lovelady, 4; partner Kyle Lovelady; mother Sally Pearson Kent; stepfather Nicholas Kent; father Chuck Capurro; grandmother Maggie Capurro; aunt Linda Pearson; the Capurro, Lovelady, Kent, Hasbrouck clans and many many friends. To know her was to love her.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sept. 19 from 1-5 p.m. at the Creekside Rose Garden, 545 Vallambrosa Ave., in Chico. All are welcome.
We will share stories and celebrate the brilliant life of Twyla Jean Capurro.
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