Celia A. Meese

Published 2:38 pm Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Celia A. Meese

May 10, 1938 – October 25, 2024

Celia A. Meese passed away at her home in Medford, Oregon on October 25, 2024, at the age of 86.

Celia was born May 10th, 1938, to Roy and Bessie Emma Lucille Edwards in San Diego, California. She was the youngest of four siblings and spent her childhood living in several states. Eventually, Celia returned to California and attended the University of California at Sacramento where she graduated in 1958 as an English major, making the Dean’s list multiple times. Additionally, Celia was a MENSA member based on her high IQ.

Celia met the love of her life, Jed Meese, in 29 Palms, California in 1962. They were quite the dynamic duo; it is said that you could hear Celia’s heartbeat throughout the room the second Jed walked in. They briefly moved to Taiwan before returning to California where they co-created Formulation Technologies (FTI) in Oakdale, California in 1982 with their close friend, William Hensley. Later, the two founded Vitaline where Celia was named President and Jed Vice President.

In 1987, Celia and Jed made the move to Ashland, Oregon where Vitaline Corporation operated until it sold in 2000.

Celia was a loyal friend, an incredible businesswoman, philanthropist and world traveler. In addition to English, she could fluently speak Chinese, German and Spanish.

Celia, along with her husband Jed and the Foundation they created, gave back generously to their community. They were supporters of education, healthcare, the arts as well as women and children. Their generosity inspired the naming of many places throughout Southern Oregon including the Ashland Family YMCA’s Meese Family Aquatic Center, multiple buildings at Southern Oregon University including the Meese Auditorium and Meese Terrace, The Jed and Celia Meese Student Commons at St. Mary’s School, as well as the most profound – Celia’s namesake: Celia’s House in Holmes Park, a working twelve-bed hospice home owned by the Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice.

Celia received many awards throughout her career and lifetime, including the SOU President’s Medal in 1998 and the Carpenter Award in 2008 alongside her husband, Jed.

Celia was preceded in death by her spouse, Jed Meese (2024), and their son, Scott E. Meese (2015). Celia is survived by her sister Dee Davies, Scott’s wife Lori Meese, as well as her granddaughter Kimberly Renee Houston and four great-grandchildren: Mika, Ikaika, Nova and Zola.