Carmen Lynn Williamson

Carmen impacted the lives of so many. The family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, and stories from those who remember her and the special way she interacted with family, friends, and even strangers.

Carmen Williamson was a wife, daughter, sister, auntie, niece, cousin, friend, co-worker, entrepreneur, decorator, artist, collector, and lover of everything vintage. Carmen lived 51 years full of love and laughter.

Carmen planted seeds of hope everywhere she was.

Carmen was born on September 29, 1968, at Mattoon Hospital in Mattoon, Illinois to her parents Lester Dale and Joyce Elaine. She grew up in a large family with her mother, step-father, and sisters in Aromas, California and Tucson, Arizona and spent summers with her dad and step-mother in Illinois. Carmen attended Eastern Illinois University, studying early childhood education and worked in the Mattoon Time Movie Theater, always ensuring her sister Jill would get free admission to watch the movies.

Carmen rented her first apartment, living on her own, when she moved to Tucson, AZ. Carmen worked for Walgreens Drug Stores and met many close friends there and she even met a few movie stars who were filming in Old Tucson. In Tucson, she lived near her Grandparents and hung out with her sisters, Jill, Priscilla, and Armida and Dave her brother-in-law. She moved to Magalia, California to join her sister Jill and was present for the births of her nieces Sedona and Emaline. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Sacramento to follow a career opportunity with Pacific Bell. She married Ken Williamson, the love of her life, in 1998 and they built 21 years of wonderful life together. Five years ago, she and Ken started a business, Gray Willows Vintage Finds, and participated as a vendor in vintage shows throughout California. Carmen and Ken also traveled extensively for antique picking, collecting unique vintage goodness from her native Illinois and other states visited along the way.

Carmen had a successful 22-year career with AT&T (previously Pacific Bell and SBC) as a customer service representative. Five years ago, she and Ken started a business, Gray Willows Vintage Finds, and participated as a vendor in vintage shows throughout California. Carmen and Ken also traveled extensively for antique picking, collecting unique vintage goodness from her native Illinois and other states visited along the way.

Her husband remembers how she would get so tickled telling a funny story that she would let out a high-pitched squeal and could hardly get the story out – “cracking herself up”. Carmen loved her big family. Her sisters remember Carmen as empathetic, supportive and loving. Her smile and laughter were infectious and she really lived life to the fullest creating, memories from life’s most usual activities. She cultivated relationships with those she cared about and even had several inside jokes with her sisters – “Rufus T. Brown” and “Maynard” – you know who you are. There were very few negative qualities about Carmen but she wasn’t a very good navigator when she sat shotgun which is why we know that she has now taken over the driver’s seat and will be navigating from above. While she didn’t have children of her own, Carmen loved children and at one time studied to become an elementary school teacher. She spent much time and energy developing relationships with her nieces and nephews and made each of them feel loved, remembering birthdays and making holidays special. Family and friends remember her as a kind, gentle, patient soul who served as an encourager of others. Carmen was skilled at decorating, crafting, and mixed media arts and, alongside her husband, she was passionate about collecting and selling vintage goods and antiques. Carmen was a follower of Jesus Christ and believed in Heaven and we know she is there now reaping her reward in glory.

Carmen is survived by her husband Ken Williamson of Sacramento, California, her mother Joyce Quiroz of Plumas Lake, California, her parents Lester and Beverly Edwards of Shelbyville, Illinois, her sisters Anita Hernandez, Aurora Olivas, Armida Damitz, Priscilla Quiroz, Jill Conyers, Lisa Quiroz, and Aimee Salgado, her grandfather Harold Nippe, and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her Mother-in-law, Sharon Williamson of Grass Valley, California, her Grandmother Zelma Nippe of Stockton, California, her grandparents Ted and Lola Edwards of Shelbyville, Illinois, and her grandparents Bill and Martha Boaz of Charleston, Illinois.

Carmen’s passing was unexpected and shocking, but we understand God has His own timing and while we don’t understand and we are broken-hearted, we are comforted in knowing Carmen was a believer in Christ and we will be reunited again in heaven. The family wishes to express their gratitude for everyone’s kindness during this sorrowful time.