Marilyn Ann Ekizian; Fair Board President

Marilyn Ann Ekizian, president of the Antelope Valley Fair Board of Directors and owner of a clothing store, has died at a Lancaster hospital. She was 53.

A Lancaster resident, Mrs. Ekizian died Tuesday of cancer, said Lou Bozigian, a family friend.

Born in Selma, Calif., she earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Fresno and moved to the Antelope Valley in 1965. Mrs. Ekizian taught second grade at Monte Vista School in Lancaster from 1965 to 1969, and in the early 1970s she and her husband opened The Westerner clothing store in Lancaster.

She was appointed to the Antelope Valley Fair Board of Directors in 1984 by then-Gov. George Deukmejian, who reappointed her in 1988. She became president of the board in October.

Mrs. Ekizian was a longtime board member of Desert Haven Center, a nonprofit organization that assists developmentally disabled adults with jobs and job training. She also was active in Republican politics and had helped organize fund-raisers for several local charities.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Arthur Ekizian; son Douglas Ekizian and daughter Alison Ekizian, both of Lancaster; father Jake Eknoian, and brothers Sammy Eknoian and Johnny Eknoian, all of Selma; and sister Betty Nurick of Milpitas, Calif. Mrs. Ekizian’s mother, Rose Eknoian of Selma, died earlier this month.

A funeral is scheduled at 1 p.m. today at United Methodist Church of Lancaster, 918 W. Avenue J. Burial will follow at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster. Mumaw Funeral Home in Lancaster is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mrs. Ekizian’s name to the Desert Haven Center, 43437 Copeland Circle, Lancaster 93535.