Both Andre Norton and Marian Zimmer Bradley are deceased. If she weren't, Andre Norton would definitely be on my list. She's the first person who inspired me to write. I wanted to write stories that she could read and enjoy as much as I enjoyed hers. Alas... But there are many others I can write for, so I keep plugging on ahead.

Most of the rest you've listed are also deceased, and the question was the greatest alive. :)