NOTABLE DEATHS

Laguna Beach lost a number of leading lights in 2006.

K Turner, Board of Education member and gay activist, died April 22 at age 70 after battling for more than a year with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Before she died, Turner was feted with a celebration of her life, and the Laguna Beach High School library was named after her.

Ted Taylor, prolific author of “The Cay” and dozens of other books and a benefactor of the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library, died at 85 on Oct. 26.

Tom Wall, a reserve Laguna Beach police officer who patrolled the beach area, died June 21 of cancer at age 61. Former Chief Jim Spreine said of him, “He was one of the finest things that ever happened to the Laguna Beach Police Department.”

Joyce Dusenberry, longtime community activist, died July 20 at 98. Dusenberry served as a plane spotter at Arch Beach Heights during World War II, searching the skies for enemy aircraft, and worked to spearhead the drive for trash cans on city beaches. She was described as a mentor for many of the city’s political leaders.

Ellin Henderson, co-founder of the Friendship Shelter and a community activist with the Charm House Tour, died Nov. 16 at age 70 of breast cancer.

William “Bill” McDonald, longtime leader of the North Laguna Community Assn. and founder of the Laguna Coalition, died Nov. 16 at age 80 after a fall.