* Jess V. Nava; Musician, Lifelong County Resident

Jess V. Nava, musician and lifelong Ventura County resident, died Monday at his home in Simi Valley. He was 55.

He was born Aug. 17, 1943, in Santa Paula. He grew up there and graduated from Santa Paula High School.

For more than 20 years, Nava was a meat cutter at the Oak Dale Market in Thousand Oaks. The store closed two years ago, but Nava and owner Charlie Weiss remained friends.

Recently, he started working at Jues Market in Ventura.

Nava was an accomplished musician and played the organ and piano with his band the Nava Brothers. He also played with the Estrada Brothers and other groups throughout his musical career.

He is survived by his wife, Alicia Meraz, of Simi Valley; son Adrian Noel Nava of Simi Valley; daughters Auriana Nava of Illinois, Reina Nava of Truckee and Gavi Meraz Nava of Simi Valley; father Pete Nava of Santa Paula; brothers Henry and Jack Nava, both of Ventura; and sister Margaret Garcia of Ojai.

Visitation will be today from noon until 9 p.m. at Pierce Bros. Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula. A vigil will be held tonight at 7:30 at the mortuary.

The funeral Mass is scheduled Friday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula, with Father Joseph Hernandez officiating. Interment will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Bros. Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.