The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a terrible toll on our Santa Barbara County communities — as of this writing, 337 of our neighbors are dead. In an ongoing series, the Independent is putting names and faces to this growing number with the purpose of conveying the human toll of the coronavirus. We feel it is important to recognize and remember these individuals as people, not just statistics. To share the story of a lost friend or loved one, contact Senior Editor Tyler Hayden at tyler@independent.com.
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Fred Markley
Fred Joseph Markley died January 19 with daughter Sheri, his greatest pride and joy, and ex-wife Mary Lou, his best friend of 58 years, by his side. The cause was COVID-19. Fred was 84.