OBITUARY:Former Laguna resident dies

John Gregory McCollum, a former Laguna Beach resident, died Aug. 23 after a long battle with melanoma.

McCollum was born Nov. 2, 1959, to Ronald and Dianne McCollum. He grew up in Tustin and Laguna Beach, graduating from Laguna Beach High School in 1977. He made his home and raised his family in Rancho Santa Margarita.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, and daughters Paisley, Felicity and Charlotte McCollum of Rancho Santa Margarita; sisters Nancy Roberson of Maui, Hawaii, Karen Tobin of Aliso Viejo, his nephew and nieces Dylan, Summer and Brittany Reinhold, niece Tatiana Tobin and a large extended family.

Karen Tobin founded McCollum Gallery in Laguna Beach in 1994.

A website, www.johngregorymccollum.com, has been created in celebration of McCollum’s life, family and art.

All visitors to the website are encouraged to contribute words and memories of John, and any photos of him or his artwork. Services will be today at noon at Saddleback Community Church, 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest. The phone number for the church is (949) 649-8000. For a map and directions, visit www.saddleback.com.