Arthur Merritt Fanning Jr.

Art Fanning Jr. was born on January 11, 1943, in New York to Arthur Merritt Fanning Sr. and Mabel Croom.  He was the younger of two children, with his sister Carolyn being two years older.  Art grew up in the small town of Mattituck on Long Island, where he attended Mattituck Schools throughout his 12 years of education.  Mattituck remained his home until age 17 when he made the proud decision to enlist in the United States Air Force.
Art served from 1961 to 1965, and after completing his four years of service, he discovered California – a place he would call home for the next 66 years.  Over the years he worked a variety of jobs, starting at a meat company and later becoming part owner of a gas station.  He eventually went to work for a friend whose father owned a diamond tool company.  It was there that Art met his wife, Tereasa; they married in 1978, and between 1979 and 1984 they were blessed with 4 sons.  
Art loved the outdoors and had passion for gardening which led him to start a landscaping business that he truly enjoyed.  He also loved motorcycle rides with his cousin Mike, one of his few relatives living in California.  Art loved taking his boys out riding dirtbikes on the weekends and watching them play baseball whenever he could.  He didn’t always say it out loud, but he was very proud of his sons.
Life was busy – full of ups and downs, much like a roller coaster – but together, he and Tereasa made it through 47 years of marriage.
Art faced many health battles over the years, beginning with vascular disease, then lung cancer, bladder cancer and several bouts of pneumonia; through it all, he fought bravely.  He fought the good fight for many years, right up until the very end.
 

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