12-13-02obituaries

Cecil Irvin Taylor, 74, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002. He was born March 4, 1928 in Highland Park, Mich., to Bertha Buhl and Cecil Frank Taylor of Detroit, Mich.
He attended Detroit public schools until moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., in the early 1940s. In January of 1948, he graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. He enlisted in the Michigan National Guard in 1947, and married Barbara Jean Salisbury, of Ann Arbor, in 1951.
In 1951, Mr. Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Denver, Colo., at Lowry Air Force Base for four years, attending U.S. Air Force schools in electronics, mechanics, computers and education, while he was also an instructor. His honorable discharge as staff sergeant occurred in 1954.
In 1955, Mr. Taylor manufactured the first all-transistor geiger counter for Modern Living Electric, Inc., in Denver, a company he founded. He moved back to Ann Arbor in 1956 to work on the Atlas Computer at Burrough's Corporation, which was used to put man on the moon. He then worked for the Bendix Corporation in Ann Arbor, as a component engineer, supervisor of instrument engineering, logistic engineer and maintainability engineer.
Mr. Taylor next worked as senior quality control engineer for AVCO Corporation in Richmond, Ind., and then as quality control head at General Dynamics in Newark, N.Y. He was a missile transportation specialist during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Early in his career, he was a charter member of the Society of Logistic Engineers, a senior member of the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
In January of 1972, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor conceived of and directed a nonprofit art center called Artworlds, a multimedia school of the arts in Ann Arbor, with programs in dance, photography, crafts, fine arts, martial arts, theater arts, music and more. At its zenith, 40 instructors were teaching 800 students, and the center continued with Mr. Taylor until 1980, at which time he moved to Channel Islands Harbor, Calif., where he took up work for Abex Aerospace in Oxnard as reliability manager, later including quality control.
Retiring in 1987, he and his wife moved to Ojai.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara J. Taylor, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Michael Taylor-Ladd, and grandchildren Kristen and Beau Ashton Taylor-Ladd, of Ojai; son Todd Andrew Taylor of San Diego, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law Brook Elliot and Marion Taylor, and grandchildren Clare and Mastina Taylor, of Eugene Ore.
A private memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 7, at Our Lady and All Angels Liberal Catholic Church in Ojai, with the Rev. Jim Voirol officiating. Ashes of the deceased will be scattered at sea.
Arrangements were under the direction of McDermott-Crocket Mortuary in Santa Barbara through Channel Cities Memorial Society of Ventura.

Herbert C. Mercer

Herbert C. Mercer, 101, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 at his home in Ojai after a brief illness. He was born Feb. 23, 1901 in Ventura, and was a lifelong county resident. He had lived in Ojai for 40 years.
Mr. Mercer was a rancher and a veteran of World War II.
He is survived by his brother, Ben Mercer, of Ojai, and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services are being held today at 10 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with the Rev. Jeff Holland officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Kathrine Mohr Meister

Kathrine Mohr Meister, 87, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002 at her home after a short illness. She was born Nov. 22, 1914 in Gatliff, Ky., and had lived in Ojai for 28 years, coming from Glendale, Calif.
Mrs. Meister was a homemaker.
She is survived by her daughter, Erika Meister, of Ojai; and a niece, Judy Munroe, of Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Meister, in 1985.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Private inurnment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Dan Spencer

Dan Spencer, 76, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 at his home following a four-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born Oct. 6, 1926 in Los Angeles, and had lived in Ojai since 1967, coming from Hawaii in 1941.
Mr. Spencer was owner-operator of Spencer Trucking and a motorcycle enthusiast.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marlene Spencer, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Dani and Jesse VanDiver of Oak View; brother and sister-in-law Bill and Ann Faith of Ridgecrest, Calif.; father Earl Faith and companion Fran Binnion of Ventura; granddaughter Kylie Stump of Oak View; and many nephews.
The family would like to extend special thanks to all the staff at Livingston Memorial Hospice, especially Carol McCormick.
A celebration of life will be held at later date.
Memorials may be made to Livingston Memorial Hospice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Memorial Service

A memorial service for Raymond Tracy of Eugene, Ore., who had lived in Ojai for 40 years, will be held Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ojai, with the Rev. Corrie Lassen officiating.