Obituaries
A. Currie Munce
A. Currie Munce died of cancer complications Nov. 7 in his Saratoga home. He was 73.
Born Feb. 18, 1928, in Chester, Pa., Munce was a graduate of the Drexel Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked as a mechanical engineer with IBM until his 1990 retirement.
As his four children went through Saratoga schools, Munce was an avid supporter of their music and athletic activities and helped with various school fundraisers over the years.
An accomplished sailor, Munce was a member of the United States Power Squadrons Service as an assistant national educational officer; he strove to teach safety to recreational boaters both locally and throughout the country. He also enjoyed traveling and photography.
Survivors include wife of more than 49 years Caroline Munce of Saratoga; sons James, Eugene and Currie Munce Jr.; daughter Laurie Bough; grandchildren Nikkie, Jeffrey, Danielle, Dillon, Scot, Graham, Megan and Jayce; and sister Mary DiStefano of Pennsylvania.
Memorial services have been held.
Lynne McKenzie
Former Saratoga resident Lynne Higgins McKenzie died Nov. 17 in Nevada City, where she had been residing. She was 59.
Born Aug. 3, 1942, in San Jose, McKenzie was a graduate of Saratoga Elementary School, Los Gatos High School and Heald Business College. She also attended West Valley College and Truckee Meadows College.
McKenzie worked for Jokel Bartley Associates in San Jose and for an architectural firm in Reno, Nev. She enjoyed traveling, arts, crafts and gardening. She also was active in a breast cancer support group based in Reno.
Survivors include daughter Kerri McKenzie of Reno; son Michael McKenzie of Santa Clara; parents William and Virginia Higgins of Saratoga; sister Jane Houser of Bellevue, Wash.; brother Bill Higgins of Felton; and nieces Stacy Houser Weigel of Washington and Shelley Houser of Illinois.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Foothill, 12399 Nevada City Highway, Nevada City, CA 95945
Walter L. Taylor
Former Saratoga resident Walter L. Taylor, who had been living in Santa Rosa, died Nov. 6 at the age of 64.
A native of Newman, Kan., Taylor came to California with his family when he was 2 years old. At the age of 7, he began his musical career with marimba lessons; by 11 he was a member of the Oakland Symphony, where he was a marimba soloist. He also played timpani with the symphony before moving to San Jose, where he graduated from San Jose High School and San Jose State University. At the latter, he played in the SJSU Orchestra.
While serving in the U.S. Army, Taylor belonged to the European Theater Headquarters Band in Hiedelberg, Germany, from 1960 to '62. While living in Saratoga, Taylor taught band, orchestra, chorus and jazz. He later lived in Twain Harte and Kelseyville and played in the Lake County Symphony, Ukiah Symphony and Mendocino College Band. Two years ago, Taylor moved to Santa Rosa, where he became a member of the Bohemian Club Orchestra and the Cotati Philharmonic.
Survivors include companion Ann Church of Santa Rosa; son Brent Taylor of Newark; daughter Cassandra Taylor of Tahoe City; sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Herb Conley of Pebble Beach; one niece and two nephews.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Valley Memorial Park in Novato.
John R. Morrison Jr.
John R. Morrison Jr., a former Saratogan residing in Miami, died Nov. 18 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 86.
Born May 14, 1915, in Omaha, Neb., Morrison began his aviation career as a barnstormer for Barney Miller Flying Service in Omaha. He was later hired by Transcontinental Western Airlines in 1940. During World War II, Morrison served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. He then returned to TWA, from which he retired in 1975. Morrison, his late wife, Adele, and their children lived in Saratoga from 1961 to 1992.
Survivors include daughters Joanne P. Howard of Miami and Trudy A. Wight of St. Louis; son John W. Morrison of Pacific Grove; and five grandchildren.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Donations may be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 NW Ninth Ave., Miami, FL 33136.
|
Saratoga, California Since 1955
