John L. Myers, age 83, passed away March 23, 2012 after a brief illness.

VISITATION:
Visitation will be Monday, April 2, 2012 from 4 – 8pm at Eddington Funeral Services.

FUNERAL SERVICES:
Services will be on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 11:00am at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 Canal Street, King City followed by a reception at Salinas Valley Fair Pavilion building.

John was the youngest of three siblings born to Elna & John Myers, Sr. on August 8, 1928 in Columbus, Indiana. An avid baseball player, John played 2nd base and short stop for the Columbus Merchants baseball team from 1945 – 1950 and was recruited for the Boston-Indianapolis-Hartford semi-pro baseball team. However, with a focus on education, John attended college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1951.
John joined Union Carbide Corporation in May 1951 and worked for a combined 14 years at their Gaseous Diffusion Plants in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky. He was involved in the production of enriched uranium used in nuclear energy. Toward the end of his work in Paducah, John spent time recovering gold from nuclear weapons which was made into ingots and shipped to the Treasury Department. He also recovered silver and aluminum from film and weapons. In 1966, John left nuclear reactors and spent the next 19 years of his career with Union Carbide in asbestos research and mining. At the beginning he was in Niagara Falls, New York, then in King City for 3 years, then back to Niagara Falls and finally in King City starting in 1981. In 1985, Union Carbide became KCAC and John was named President. Throughout the years, John made more than 20 trips to Japan and was well known and highly respected in his field.

John was Board of Directors Chairman of the Asbestos Information Association of North America from 1982 to 1995, a mining organization business group that is headquartered in Washington. John was called to be an expert witness during trials over the years giving depositions on asbestos and trying to educate people on the safe usage of short fiber asbestos. Besides involvement in the California Mining Association for 12 years, John also held several patents that are related to the industry and has been in Who's Who in California business several times. John retired from KCAC in December 1993, after 42 years with the company.

Following retirement, John stayed busy as a continual volunteer for the community. He spent much of his time at Mee Memorial Hospital, with 30 years on the Board of Trustees (1982 – 2012), Chairman from 1987 to 1988 and MMH Foundation Office Manager for 11 years. During his time on the Board, there have been upgraded services in radiology, a new Greenfield clinic, the purchase and remodeling of the SoMoCo clinic, the installation of the Dialysis Center, services developed in San Ardo and San Lucas, Hunter Liggett and construction of a new state of the art hospital.
John was also dedicated to the City of King. He served on the King City Planning Commission from 1984 to 1986 and served 20 years on King City Council from 1986 – 2006. John was the Mayor of King City from 1992 – 2004, the longest running mayor in King City's history. During his time as mayor, he was the vice chair of the Monterey County Mayor's Association, and served on the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District Board and was chairman in 1999. In addition John was a member of the bay area chapter of League of California Cities as a representative from King City.

President of the Community Concerts Association from 1987 – 1994, member of King City Chamber of Commerce over the years and member of King City Rotary since 1981, John was the perennial chairperson for VIP day. John was honored as 2000 King City Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year with wife, Donna, a prestigious award they were humbled to receive.

An active member and Director of Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum (MCARLM) from 1982 - 1987, John and Donna spent months restoring the Spreckels House at San Lorenzo Park. They also co-Chaired the first Valley Heritage Days in King City in 1983.

John and his wife have served on the Hospice Trees of Life committee since its beginning in King City. They were the first people to volunteer for the committee which provides an annual evening of music and fundraising for Hospice services in South County.

A faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church since 1981, John served on the church council for 6 years in the capacity of Treasurer, Trustee and President. He and Donna also co-Chaired the Community Food Pantry of King City for numerous years and were dedicated to feeding those in need.

John shared all his hobbies with Donna, including love for his family, gardening, volunteering, decorating for local functions, antiquing, and furniture restoration in earlier days. A dignified man, he was well-respected with a strong patriotic spirit shown by the flag proudly flown from his car. His favorite moments were at home doing crossword puzzles, smoking his pipe and enjoying time with Donna and his faithful fur companion, Daisy.

John is survived by wife, Donna, with 35 years of marriage. Children, Kim St George (Marty) of Salinas, CA, Debbie Berry of Salinas, CA, Sandy Stypick (John) of Grand Island, NY and John Lester Myers III (Sherri) of Lewiston, NY. He leaves behind 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, his mother-in-law Dorothy Maloney, and faithful dog, Daisy.

DONATIONS:
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Mee Memorial Hospital Foundation, ARIEL Theatrical in Salinas or Community Food Pantry of King City.