James Flora, 84, a noted children's author and one of the first artists to design and illustrate record album covers, died July 9 in Norwalk, Conn. His children's books included "The Fabulous Fireworks Family," "The Day the Cow Sneezed," "Charlie Yup and his Snip-Snap Boys" and "Wanda and the Bumbly Wizard."

Roger Quilliot, 73, a former French government minister and expert on the writings of Albert Camus, killed himself Friday in Paris. His wife, Claire, also tried to kill herself and was hospitalized, the daily Le Monde newspaper reported Sunday.

Hugh Reilly, 82, who played the father on the classic television show "Lassie," died in Burbank, Calif., on Friday after suffering from emphysema for decades. He played Timmy's father, Paul Martin, on the CBS show that aired from 1958 to 1964, opposite June Lockhart as Ruth Martin.

Reyes Serrano, 97, considered California's last vaquero, or cowboy, died in Lake Forest, Calif., on Tuesday of pneumonia and a heart attack. A descendant of one of California's early settlers, he was for most of his life, a cowboy, farmer and hunter.

Martin Seymour-Smith, 70, British literary critic, editor, biographer and poet, died July 1 of a heart attack at his home in Bexhill-on-Sea, in southern England.

Pub Date: 7/21/98