Karl Jenifer, 67, silk-screen operator Karl Jenifer, a...

Karl Jenifer, 67, silk-screen operator

Karl Jenifer, a retired silk-screen operator, died Aug. 11 of pneumonia at Union Memorial Hospital. He was 67 and lived in West Baltimore.

Mr. Jenifer was employed as a silk-screen operator for 17 years with the Bert Goodman Co. Inc. in Baltimore and retired in 1995. Earlier, he was a courier and food service worker for the Harry T. Stevens Co. at Pimlico Race Course.

Born and raised in Sandtown-Winchester in West Baltimore, Mr. Jenifer was a graduate of Carver Vocational-Technical High School.

Active in Masonic affairs, he was a member of King David Lodge F.&A.M. and Hiram Consis- tory A.A.S.R. of Baltimore. He was also a member of the Zero Zone Club, a social group.

In 1955, he married Maxine Brown, who survives him.

Mr. Jenifer was a communicant of St. Edward Roman Catholic Church, Poplar Grove and Prospect streets, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. today.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Karl B. Jenifer of Baltimore; a daughter, Karen Omisore of Baltimore; a brother, Donald Jenifer of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters, Ruth Perkins of Baltimore and Gwendolyn Hines of Atlanta; and six grandchildren.

Martin F. Taylor, 49, former city firefighter

Martin F. Taylor, a former Baltimore firefighter, died Monday of cancer at his home in Linthicum. He was 49.

Mr. Taylor joined the Fire Department in 1973 and was promoted to captain in 1986. He spent many years with Engine 57 in Curtis Bay and retired this year from the Fire Academy.

Born and raised in Southwest Baltimore, he was a 1969 graduate of Merganthaler Vocational-Technical High School. He served in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam, and was discharged in 1972.

In 1970, he married Kim Neri, who survives him.

He was an avid reader of European and American history and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, where a Mass of Christian burial was offered yesterday.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Taylor is survived by a son, Jason M. Taylor of Glen Burnie; a daughter, Katie E. Taylor of Linthicum; two brothers, Thomas Taylor Jr. of Westminster and Raymond Taylor of Baltimore; three sisters, Shirley Prager of Pasadena, Irene Drozd of Bel Air and Margaret Hoerl of Millersville; and a grandchild.

Adeline Showell Merritt, 91, longtime BGE worker

Adeline Showell Merritt, a maintenance worker for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. for more than two decades, died Sunday of Alzheimer's disease at her West Baltimore home. She was 91.

Mrs. Merritt worked for 22 years at BGE's Lexington Street headquarters and retired in 1968. Earlier, she had been a domestic worker.

She was born in Frankfort County, Pa., and raised in Denton and Ridgely, where she attended Caroline County public schools. She moved to Baltimore in the 1920s and graduated from the Afro-American Cooking School.

In 1928, she married Melvin Banks Merritt, a mechanic who died in 1976.

She enjoyed cooking and was known for her homemade scrapple, applesauce and jellies. She also was an accomplished seamstress and gardener.

In the summer months, she liked to travel to the Eastern Shore to attend camp meetings.

She was a member of First Apostolic Faith Church of Jesus Christ, where she sang in the choir and where services were held yesterday.

She is survived by three daughters, Lillian Harrison of Crownsville, and Doris E. Coleman and Sedonia R. Merritt, both of Baltimore; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

States M. Edwards, 78, furniture salesman

States M. Edwards, a retired furniture salesman and former Lutherville resident, died Aug. 11 of lymphoma at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson. He was 78.

A resident of Oak Crest Village, the Parkville retirement community, since 1997, Mr. Edwards retired in 1990 from Levinson & Klein. He had been a furniture salesman for 10 years. Earlier, he held similar positions at Hecht Co. and Stewart & Co.

Born and raised in Forest Park, Mr. Edwards was a 1939 graduate of McDonogh School. During World War II, he was a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

He was a member of Towson United Methodist Church.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow in Tagart Chapel at McDonogh School, 8600 McDonogh Road.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Mary A. Edwards; a son, A. Markland Edwards of Baltimore; a daughter, Carol Edwards Swift of McLean, Va.; a sister, Betty O'Donnel of Cumberland; and three grandchildren.