Marian James Latimer

Marian Jones Latimer January 28, 1913 - July 12, 2004 CARMEL - Marian Jones Latimerâ€"seeker of knowledge, lover of literature and music, faithful friend, enthusiast, adventurer, optimist and mother of threeâ€"died July 12, 2004 at the age of 91. She was born on January 28, 1913 in Oakland, California. She was the oldest child of Roscoe D. Jones and Tirza S. Jones. Throughout their lives, her parents were prominent civic leaders in the East Bay Area. Mr. Jones practiced law in Oakland for more than 45 years and otherwise served the community as President of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, President of the Board of Directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District and President of the Legal Aid Society of Alameda County, among other endeavors. Mrs. Jones was a national and local leader in charitable organizations including the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Kings Daughters. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones were supporters and benefactors of the Presbyterian Church in Oakland and Danville, where their summer home was located. Marian Latimer attended Lakeview School in Oakland and Piedmont High School. She was admitted to Stanford University in 1929 at age 16. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1933 and went on to do graduate work in the Department of Education. At Stanford, she met the love her life, George Andrew Latimer. They were married in 1935 following Mr. Latimer's graduation from Stanford School of Business. Due to Mr. Latimer's employment in the oil business, his service in the military and his service to government commissions, the couple led a nomadic life for the first decades of their marriage. They lived in San Francisco, California; Danville, California; Bogata, Colombia; Maxwell Field (Army Air Corps, Montgomery, Alabama; Washington, D.C.; Caracas and Maracaibo Venezuela; New Orleans, Louisiana and Darien, Connecticut. They retired to Carmel in 1976, to the delight of their children, Ellen, Arthur and Tirza, and their families. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the newly constructed Monterey Aquarium. Mrs. Latimer first came to Carmel, where the Jones family often summered, in 1918. She moved to Carmel Valley Manor soon after the death of her husband in 1990. Wherever she lived, Mrs. Latimer was always active in community affairs. From scout leader in Danville to Chairperson of the Darien Community Council, she energetically contributed to her communities. She was a longtime member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Association, the World Affairs Council and the Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed and supported the Monterey Symphony, the Carmel Bach Festival, the San Francisco Opera, the Stanford Alumni Association and the Carmel Foundation. She is survived by Ellen Latimer McGrath of Carmel, California, and her children, Morgyne McGrath LeCount and Jason LeCount of Woodside, California andGeorge Robert Leaman of Charlottsville, Virginia; Arthur Hugh Latimer and Kate Latimer of Bethany, Connecticut and their children, Calvin Barney Latimer of Brooklyn, New York and Andrew Morris Latimer and Jane Latimer of Bethany, Connecticut, and their son, Leo Hugh Herrmann Latimer; and Tirza True Latimer and Francoise Flamant of Kensington, California and Paris, France. Marian Latimer will be honored at a Vespers Service at the Carmel Valley Manor Meeting House on Sunday, August 1st at 5:45 PM. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be made to the Carmel Foundation, PO Box 1050, Carmel, 93921 or the Monterey SPCA, PO Box 3058, Monterey, 93942. Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary.