Emmett C. Ekdall; Real Estate Broker, Musician

Emmett Carlson Ekdall of Ventura, a longtime musician and retired real estate broker, died Thursday at his home following a brief illness. He was 91.

“Ek” as he known, was born Oct. 8, 1905, in Cheyenne, Wyo. He attended elementary and high schoolin Cheyenne, and later studied music and graduated from the University of Wyoming.

While earning his bachelor’s degree, Ekdall met his wife of 69 years, Mary.

“He was a pianist and wrote his own music,” Mary Ekdall said. “He wrote love songs and songs from his own experiences and memories. One that he composed that I always liked was ‘Yesterday Sweetheart.’

“I don’t know if it was about me or not. It was ‘Yesterday Sweetheart,’ ” she said with a laugh.

They moved to Ventura in 1943, and Ekdall served in the Navy during World War II. In 1947, he opened a real estate office, Ekdall Realty, in Ventura. He was the first president of the Real Estate Assn. of California and remained a broker for 27 years.

Ekdall was active in the American Federation of Musicians Local 581 in Ventura. He was also a member of San Buenaventura Lodge 214, Free and Accepted Masons; Ventura Oddfellows; Elks Lodge 1430 of Ventura; American Legion Post 339 of Ventura; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679 of Ventura. Ekdall was a lifetime member of the Al Malaikah Shrine, Los Angeles Temple.

In addition to his wife, Ekdall is survived by four daughters, Joan C. Black of Oroville, Donna L. Bennett and Sally M. Barnes of Ventura, and Linda M. Thomas of Valencia; 20 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, with the Rev. Bill Baumgarten of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Santa Paula officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.