Joanne Taylor Hezlep

Cowgirl, Miss Santa Barbara, Sweetheart of the Salinas Rodeo, docent at Casa del Herrero, member of the UCSB alumni board, wife of 64 years, mother of two, beloved grandmother, Joanne Taylor Hezlep passed away March 6th, 2024, after a short battle with Glioblastoma.

Born in Oakland and raised in King City, California, the eldest of three siblings to parents Frances and Russell Taylor, Joanne delighted in the great American West excelling in all manner of cowboy culture: 4-H club, equestrian riding, showing, and Sweetheart of the California Rodeo in 1954.

While attending UCSB as a Physical Education major and a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Cal Club and student body officer, she met the love of her life, James M. Hezlep Jr. The happy couple made many lifelong friendships and created an indelible bond with the city of Santa Barbara with Joanne being crowned Miss Santa Barbara 1958 going on to become a runner-up for Miss California.

After graduating in 1959, Joanne and Jim married at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and relocated to North Carolina, where Jim was stationed in the Marine Corps and was the birthplace of their eldest son, James M. Hezlep III. The family then settled in Sierra Madre, CA where they were blessed with the birth of their second son, John Taylor Hezlep. Their hearts always belonged to Santa Barbara, so the couple purchased a vacation house on Miramar Beach where they reconnected with their college friends hosting numerous parties over many memorable summers.

Retiring in Montecito, Joanne served on the UCSB alumni board, was a docent at Casa del Herrero, an active member of Mount Carmel, The Little Town Club, Birnamwood Country Club and was blessed with two beautiful grandchildren. Joanne and Jim became active residents of Casa Dorinda after moving there in 2016.

Joanne is preceded in death by her parents Russell M. Taylor and Frances Cleary Taylor and survived by her loving family, husband James M. Hezlep Jr, son James M Hezlep III of Rolling Hills Estates, CA, daughter-in-law Julie Hezlep, grandsons Matthew Hezlep and Alexander Hezlep, son John T Hezlep and partner Kevin Mischler of West Hollywood, CA, brother Russell Taylor (Jeanette) of Cayucos, CA and sister Mavourneen Nolte of King City, CA.

A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held Saturday April 20th at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Montecito, CA at 11am. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Casa Dorinda Employee Scholarship Fund.

Check payable to:
Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
Memo: Casa Fund/Joanne Hezlep
P.O. Box 3620 Santa Barbara, CA 93130
www.sbscholarship.org