Pioneer rancher Lewis' grandson dies at 86
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Searles Tally

Searles Francis Tally, grandson of rancher Joseph Lewis, died in his Los Angeles home on Tues., Oct. 31 at the age of 86.

Tally was born May 21, 1920 to Terrence Francis Tally and Lula Lewis. His grandfather Joseph Lewis owned an 8,200-acre farm on land where California State University at Channel Islands is now located.

The Lewis family was known for helping introduce the lima bean to Southern California agriculture. Around 1900, Joseph Lewis moved to Pleasant Valley from Carpinteria and bought what would quickly become one of the largest ranches in Ventura County. In addition to the lima bean crops, Lewis' holdings included vast hayfields and extensive walnut groves.

In 1916, the Lewis family finished construction on a series of buildings along Ventura Boulevard in what is now Old Town Camarillo. The J.F. Lewis and Sons building has housed a long list of businesses, including the Stein and Tally department store co-owned by Tally's father and Fred Stein.

Although the Lewis family had amassed a small fortune in farming and real estate, much of their holdings were lost during the Great Depression. The reversal of fortune had a devastating effect on the Tally family, said Terrence Tally, Searles Tally's son.

COMPETITOR-Searles Tally easily clears the crossbar while competing in the high jump as an athlete at the University of Southern California in the early 1930s. Tally, a Camarillo native and grandson of Joseph Lewis, died last month at the age of 86. Services were held in Hollywood Hills.

In 1933, Tally, his brother Bob and their parents moved into a small back room of the family's building on Ventura Boulevard.

"They would still go out in the evenings because they were known as the upper-crust of Camarillo in those days," Terrence Tally said. "My grandmother still would dress up, and they'd go to a movie . . . even though they had lost everything, they had to hold their heads high and pretend they were still doing okay."

Soon after, the Tally family moved to Los Angeles. Tally graduated from Los Angeles High School, where he excelled at the high jump.

He earned a full scholarship to the University of Southern California in track and field.

While at USC, Tally met JoNell Rogers. The two were married in 1943 and were together for 42 years until JoNell's death in 1985.

Toward the end of World War II, Tally enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in the South Pacific. He helped supply Navy boats, ending his military career in 1945 as a lieutenant.

Following the war, Tally earned a business degree from USC and went to work in the paint and manufacturing industry in the Los Angeles area. He owned a painting contracting company, retiring in 1985.

Private services were held at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills.

Tally was preceded in death by his brother Robert.

He is survived by his daughter of Reno, Nev.; son, Terrence Tally of Tujunga; grandsons Ryan Miller and Jason Miller of Reno; granddaughter Lindsey Tally of Tujunga, and greatgrandchild Davis Miller of Reno.