Meryl Lee Darsey

1925 - 2017

Meryl Lee Darsey

July 28, 1925 - January 30, 2017

Three Rivers

Meryl Lee Darsey left us to begin a new journey January 30, 2017. Meryl was born July 28, 1925 to Cecil and Lois Caswell Darsey in South Gate, CA. Pearl, his sister, remained close to his heart over their lifetimes. He greeted daughter, Karen in 1946 and son, Darren in 1969.

Meryl was trained as an Army Air Corps airplane navigator and served until 1946. He studied photography under the GI Bill in Los Angeles. Fred Archer liked his work and introduced him to Nickolas Muray who he worked for, first in Hollywood, then in New York City. He moved to Valentino Sarra's firm working on national television accounts.

Sent back to Hollywood on assignments he decided to branch out on his own forming Siegfried-Darsey Studio.

Tiring of advertising, Meryl moved to Three Rivers where his parents had purchased a ranch on which his family created Trailer Isle. Opening Darsey Studio, he changed his photo focus. Many a valley bride appreciated his artistic touch at her wedding.

Meryl met Emmi (Nietlispach) through mutual friends visiting from LA and they married in 1974. Theirs was an enduring love. Together they raised Darren, worked and traveled together..

Meryl believed life unlived is hell. He counted among his accomplishments ballooning over the Alps, his photos appearing in National Geographic Magazine. Often seen in the skies over Three Rivers in his self-built ultralight, his flight over the Sierras to Lone Pine and back generated a photo tale as well. In latter years he explored classes in computer aided photography. He enjoyed introspection and contemplative conversations with friends and those he met in his travels.

In addition to his parents, Meryl was preceded in death by his sister, Pearl Boshion of Idaho Falls, ID, nephews Phillip and Keith Clayton, John Keith, and Richard Hoff, and great nephew Eric Clayton. He is survived by Emmi Darsey, his wife of 43 years; daughter Karen (Donny) Jones of Cheyenne, WY; son Darren Darsey of Portland, OR; granddaughter Kari (Jess) Wendell, Cheyenne, WY; grandson, Aaron Mattley, Austin, TX; nieces, Julie Keith, Akron, PA and Jeannette Hoff, Idaho Falls, ID; great nieces and nephews coast to coast.

A celebration will be held Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 2 PM in Harrison Hall, 43410 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Aging in Community - Three Rivers, P.O. Box 33, Three Rivers, CA 93271 or www.agingincommunity3r.org.