This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mecartney, Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8396 Message Board Post: Marshall Fernandez Dec. 2, 1931 – June 21, 2005 Marshall Fernandez was born in the famous mining town of Dawson, N.M. in l931. He grew up in Stockton and attended Lafayette, Jackson, Stockton High School and Stockton College. He was a member of the Naval Reserves during the Korean War. He worked as an airplane mechanic for Tiger Air Lines in L.A. Moving to Camas, Wash. in 1961, he worked at Crown-Zellerbach and was an active member of the Associated Pulp and Paper Workers Union, Local 1225 as a negotiator, interpreter and editor of the union newspaper. He went to Chile to assist building a paper mill. In the early 1980s, he returned to California and worked for the National Farm Workers Service Center as an electrician and carpenter, building the first radio station for Radio Campesina, collaborating with Cesar and Richard Chavez. A tireless advocate for parents and students in the Tehachapi schools, he helped build arts, science and literacy programs and served on the Wells Elementary Site Council and District Attendance Review Team. In the late 1990s, Marshall moved to Castroville and continued his volunteer activities focusing on public schools, literacy, and land-use issues. A life-long activist and mentor, he worked as a campaign manager for candidates at the state and local level in Washington state, was president of the Tehachapi Democrats in California, and continued to work for Democratic initiatives and candidates wherever he lived. He was active with the JayCees and the Knights of Pythias. He loved the arts, music, photography, crossword puzzles and traveling. He was extremely devoted to his family, especially his children and grandchildren. In his retirement, he raised his daughters Erica and Maria Elizabeth. Loving husband of Mary Mecartney, father of eight children, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Tehachapi News Tehachapi, Kern, CA Published: Volume 106 - No. 12 July 6-12, 2005