FESS PARKER, 85

The former “Davey Crockett” star-turned-vintner passed away March 18 at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley.  Fess was born and raised in Texas and served in the US Navy during WWII.  After returning from the war and graduating from the University of Texas, he moved to California and was cast in Walt Disney’s “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” in the early ’5Os.  He followed that with the prequel “Davy Crockett and the River Boat Pirates” as well as The Great Locomotive Chase” and “Smoky”.  Fess retired from show business in the 197Os to concentrate on business ventures, ultimately opening a popular resort hotel on the Santa Barbara waterfront.  In 1989 he and his family created The Fess Parker Winery, which is a popular destination on the Foxen Canyon wine trail in Los Olivos, CA.  He was a beloved member of the Santa Barbra wine industry.