Carol L. Hull Kelley

========================

Presented by her Husband, Dwight at the LDS Memorial Service held for Carol on October 7, 2011.

Carol was born in Binghamton NY on August 17, 1943 to Keith and Eleanor Hull, and was the youngest of three Daughters.

Carol's Mother was a Homemaker until later in Life, when Carol's Parents moved to Anaheim, California. Her Father was a Machinist and worked in both Manufacturing and Aerospace Industries.

Carol had a large, extended Family close by growing up with numerous Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. As a result, she joined in many Family Outings & Reunions. Her Hull Grandparents also lived in her Parent's Home in Johnson City, NY.

Carol was active as a youth in the Boulevard Methodist Church in Binghamton, participating in Choir, Youth Groups, and Church Camps.

While living in Binghamton and Johnson City, Carol acquired a life-long Friend, Carol Wilson (Hague).

Carol was very busy in School at Johnson City High School. Activities included Cheer leading, Yearbook & Newspaper Reporting/Editoring, Choir, Band & Orchestra, participation in Musicals & Drama Productions, Sports, Prom Committees, Class Officer Positions, and the Honor Society.

She graduated in 1961 from Johnson City High School and started College at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She studied at the College of Fine Arts (Music) at the University from 1961-64.

Her Activities included Membership in Sigma Alpha Iota (International Music Fraternity), Choir, Musicals, and was the Yavapai Dorm President and a Floor Advisor, Resident Hall Council Member, and Religion Council Member.

Carol transferred to Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, CA when her Family moved from Phoenix, AZ to Anaheim, CA. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BA in 1966, and also practiced Teaching in the Placentia School District in Placentia, CA.

She was employed by the Centralia School District in Buena Park, CA starting in 1966 and was later Credentialed by the State of California in 1969 with Elementary Education as the Specialty. She taught all Grade Levels, but preferred 2nd & 3rd Graders. She also shared classes and taught Combination Classes.

During the Summer of 1970, she traveled to and in Europe with a Teaching Companion. They visited England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. She never stopped reminiscing about that adventure and experience.

While at Centralia, she also worked in the Role of GATE Program Director, Administrative Intern, and Pageant/Holiday Musical Director.

She met her future Husband in 1972 in Long Beach, CA while he was in the Navy. They were married in July 1973.

Their first Home was an Apartment in Westminster, CA, and their first "House" Home was purchased in Garden Grove in 1974.

Carol's Father passed away before their Son Brett was born in June 1975. Their second child Melissa was born in October 1979.

Carol next obtained an MA in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1984. She aspired to become a Principal, worked as an Assistant Principal, but then decided to remain in the Classroom.

Although busy with School, Marriage, and her Children, Carol did manage to plan and take many Vacations to the Bass Lake/Yosemite area, Alaska, Hawaii, England, Scotland, and visit Family/Friends in Maine and New York.

In 1988, Carol moved to their 2nd House/Home in Mission Viejo, CA. Carol's Mother passed away in 2000.

Carol retired from Centralia in 2002 after 33 years of Teaching.

Carol suffered a major Stroke in June 2004 and following 18 months of Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy she was able to resume Driving and most other normal Activities! She thrived well until 2007 when she was then diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Despite the Disease, Carol and her Husband Dwight were able to travel once again to Europe in 2007 where they visited the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary during a Rhine, Meine, and Danube River Cruise.

Carol's Hobbies & Interests included Art (Watercolor, Oils, Tole), reading Mystery Books, Homemaking, Cooking, Baking, being a Hostess, Quilting, Macramé, Bead work, Sewing, Singing in Community & Church Choirs, playing the Piano, Scrap booking, Cake Decorating, Travel, collecting Owls, Angels, and Miniature Houses, and planning Family Travel & Vacations.

Carol was a loyal Daughter, loving Sister, dedicated Educator, beloved Wife and Companion, devoted Mother, and blessed Grandmother. Her precious smile and infectious laugh were always present and will be deeply missed/cherished.

Her Family hopes and prays that we might all be so truly kind and loving as Carol was.

Celebration of Remembrance

======================

Presented by her Husband, Dwight at the Protestant Memorial Service held for Carol on October 8, 2011.

Called to Serve - The Selfless Mortal Journey of Carol L. Kelley

Carol may have returned into the Presence of God and his Son too soon, but she has more than fulfilled his intended Plans, and her Work is done.

To remember Carol well is to simply remember the many Memories of her loving and selfless acts provided Family, Friends, and yes, even complete Strangers.

At a very early age, Carol befriended a young girl in Johnson City, NY who still remains a close Friend. Her name is Carol Wilson. Because of my Carol’s love and devotion to her Friend Carol, they have remained close despite many years of separation in time and distance.

Perhaps it was sending/sharing a loving Note on a Card, a small Gift, or a long Telephone Call. But Life never seemed to diminish or dull the loving Bond that was made so long ago between them.

Carol left Parents, Sisters, and Friends soon after High School in order to attend College far from Home, at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Many of you may recall that adjusting to College Life, Classes, and Studying was no easy Feat to accomplish. To help other Students Thrive more easily, she lovingly and willing accepted the additional Responsibilities of Dorm Floor Advisor, Dorm Hall President, and was a Religion Council Member.

Many Women chose to pursue Careers upon Graduation from College in the 60's that are now seemingly considered mundane in Today’s World. Carol chose Teaching, and as a Result countless Students, Teaching Colleagues, Administrators, Parents, and Members of the Community were deeply touched by her Love, Care, Generosity, Devotion, and Dedication to the Profession of Elementary Educator. And many of the countless hours she spent each day within & for her chosen Love & Profession, did not always include actively teaching her Students. Examples come to mind of Organizing\Directing School Pageants for the Holidays, working closely with PTSO Parents, and actively participating in School/Classroom Fund Raisers.

I recognized how much Students admired and loved my “Mrs. Kelley” by the large number of gifts she would receive at the end of each school year. And seemingly, challenges at work seldom involved her Kids nor distracted her from having a sincere love for children & teaching.

During her Teaching Career she befriended a Number of Principals and other Administrators in the Centralia School District. How often does Staff and Administration fraternize? Seldom if ever did this ever occur in my own Careers with the Military and then Aerospace Engineering! Carol’s love & commitment to a Life of Service in Education surely made her special in the hearts & minds of all she met.

Soon after meeting a Man who was to become her Husband, she selflessly committed to a 7-month separation from Him as he served in the Navy. At times her Fiance’s Destroyer was deployed into the Vietnam War Zone. Recall that at this time there were no Cell phones nor the Internet - and so Mail Delivery was often infrequent, irregular, and uncertain to arrive. True to her Nature, Faith, and Devotion, her Prayers and the Spirit brought me Home safely.

Carol was the “Big Idea” Person. I then filled in the Details, and so we were very compatible during 38 years of marriage. How blessed and grateful we were for all the Plans she made to enrich and add joy to our Lives.

Our Son Brett’s long & tiring Birth for Carol was another inspiration to me. We men will never experience the fear of perhaps losing something so precious as a Child who grows within Ourselves. Nor the intensity of pain during birth. And despite this, although spent & exhausted, Carol was able to still smile so deeply & brightly once Brett was delivered by the Doctor.

We had another Child four years later. Melissa gave us one false alarm, so we returned back Home from Garden Grove Hospital to wait for when she really wanted to arrive. Carol let me sleep, while she remained alert through most of the Night. And then we hastily had to return to the Hospital. Of course I was more eager to go through the formality of checking her in at the Admitting Window, while she clung desperately to a Floor Buffer in the Hallway waiting for a Wheelchair, and eventual entry into a Delivery Room.

She was responsible for finding 2 Houses we were to eventually call our Own. I was initially content to stay in an Apartment, but she turned these 2 Houses into such marvelous Homes, and places of comfort & refuge for the Family.

Carol seemed to be the inconsumate Santa, the Easter Bunny, Wife, Companion, Lover, Mother, Mentor, Teacher, Student, Nurse, Cook, Baker, Hostess, Party Planner, Shopper, Costume Maker, and the Family Vacation Organizer all rolled into One. Today’s “Helicopter Parents” seemingly act more for Show or Status, but Carol’s Love, Devotion, and Support for her Children went well beyond the Norm. I recall constant and continual Doctor, Dental, Orthodontic, and Dermatologist Appointments, Baseball & Basketball Games, Hospital & Urgent Care Visits, School Open Houses & Pageants, Soccer Games & Tournaments, Horseback Riding & Jumping Competitions, and fatiguing Commutes to Del Mar on Friday Nights in order for Melissa to be with her stabled Quarter horse. When we were looking through family photographs this past week, Melissa stated simply, “Mom was always there!”

Was Carol a good Cook for her Family? Why of course, and she also took her own mistakes along the way in stride. Cheerfully, enthusiastically, and lovingly she would plan, prepare and serve her Family Meals at the end of many long work-days. Did I ever tell you the time about when we tried to open up clam shells with a hammer & screwdriver for chowder, rather than steam them open?

Not being an avid Outdoor Camper or Bowler as I was during our early years of marriage, she seldom if ever complained about being dragged onto the latest outdoor adventure, or signed up for yet another Bowling League. But I could see the “sigh of relief” when we started vacationing regularly in the Westman Cabins at Bass Lake - finally, and long-last giving up Tent or Pop-Up Trailer Accommodations. And during our last League Stint, she sweetly told me that “Bowling was not/never her Life.”

When asked to provide Food & Gifts to and for Others, Carol always found the time to personally plan, make, and deliver the Goodies and Presents to Family, Friends, Neighbors, and Work Associates.

Carol helped share Classroom Teaching Responsibilities with a close Colleague and Family Friend. Carol was untiringly and devotedly able to help grow, nurture, and love that Boy as much as her own.

There were many hours that I spent on Hair-Brain Get-Rich Schemes, Do-It-Yourself Projects like digging a hole for a Doughboy pool by hand, finishing up a House Addition, and doing Yardwork/Gardening. My own Career required that I also travel at times. Unflinching, she chose to tirelessly endure these separations and obviously, the time spent apart. Why I even missed the Kids having Bouts of Chicken Pox. She later inconsolably said that the Sores seemed to be visible everywhere on her poor, young children. Since she loved to Read, and also wanted to let me sleep, she would not leave a light on & disturb me, but rather go to another room. And there was never a complaint if I left for work at all hours of the day & night to solve a software programming issue at work, or was needed to support Company’s Customers.

Carol always referred to our Walks together, as “Forced Marches.” God did give her short legs, so she always was at a disadvantage. But we would joke that both legs still made it all the way to the ground. I loved to walk, and I recall a time we were visiting in the Portland, OR area.. Before the Visit, Friends had suggested we visit the Rose Gardens there as they knew how much we both loved those Plants. Mistakenly, we exited the Light Rail System at a Stop too early before the Gardens. Being a typical Man, I didn’t ask for Directions. So over Hill & Dale we walked in the heat & sun. Carol was of course frustrated with me, and quite fatigued as a result. I made it to the Gardens, but she managed to finally find a Bench. She never complained once, nor lost that quick smile. (But a Cab Ride back to the Hotel and a nice Dinner did help to sooth things a bit for me)

Despite her Illness, and not until Alzheimer’s robbed her of that ability - she was Open, Loving, and Caring. How often we have seen Others in similar circumstances act and react with anger, spite, shallowness, and revenge? Yet Carol would often approach complete strangers in Public, touch their arms, and then kiss their hands. Some Strangers were taken aback, but not for long once they quickly saw her endearing & engaging smile.

Family and Friends often ask how & why I remained so loyal, loving, and devoted to my Carol after she suffered such a significant acquired brain injury, and was later diagnosed with the terrible Alzheimer’s disease. My answer is an easy one. She devoted her entire existence to me for over 31 years. Would God not then grant me the Strength and Courage to do the same for my Beloved, Carol? And I then learned even more about the Woman I had married so many years before, when I had to care for her so completely. As she had already done for me and our children.

She sacrificed in many ways in order to help us save for “a rainy day.” Life’s extravagances were often simply Dreams of “wishful thinking.” I am now experiencing the kind of rain not ever imagined so early in Life, but because of her service, devotion, love, sacrifice & hard work - I will be kept safe, well, and comfortable, while I travel Life’s remaining journey without her.

Although Carol could not verbalize at the end of her Life, she alleviated our own Fears & Concerns with her display of calmness and acceptance.

Carol’s final act of selfless love & devotion was also for her Family. She clung to Life certainly as God’s Will permitted, but she seemingly did not let go until she felt her Loved Ones would be OK without Her. And then she Passed peacefully.

Remember to keep her in your Memories in doing your own acts of love and kindness with all the People you may meet each day. And if you get to see an injured Hawk or Owl able to recover, be released, & soar high again, think of my Carol.

And someday, when there is a final Solution for defeating Alzheimer’s, believe that Donations made in her name helped to make it Possible.

We aren’t saying “goodbye” to Carol today, but rather we should say, “We will meet again soon.” She is now forever at Peace with God, and His Son, in the Celestial Kingdom.

Carol’s Family and I would also cherish that you send Us any Photographs you might have taken of Carol. And please send us Memories, or visit the Pacific View California Memorial Park’s Website in order to sign Carol’s Memory Book.

Carol L. Kelley - Autobiography - Written in March 1987 when she had applied to the Institute of Children's Literature

====================================================================================

When I was growing up in Johnson City, New York I enjoyed writing little books and then using them in my attic school-room to teach my two sisters and the neighborhood children. Both writing and teaching have continued to play an important part in my life. During my school days I enjoyed participating in cheerleading, drama, music, (I sing and play the piano) and was editor-in-chief of my high school paper "The Wildcat." Since childhood I have enjoyed writing poetry. In my younger days I wrote rhyming poetry for fun and many of my articles for the school paper were in poetry form. Now my poetry is free verse and a means of personal expression.

In 1961, after graduating from high school, my family moved West, first to Arizona and then to California. While attending first the University of Arizona in Tucson and then Cal. State Univ. at Fullerton, CA. I majored in Music and minored in English. I received my teaching credential in 1966 and have taught in Elementary Education since then.

I met my husband Dwight at the Naval Officers Club in Long Beach, CA. and we were married in 1973. He has since left the Navy and is now a Computer Programmer. We have two children Brett 12 and Melissa 7 and three cats Pepper, Mouse, and Cinnamon. By the way, Cinnamon recently had babies and we're now looking for adoptive parents. Would you like another cat?

I went back to school in 1984 and received my Masters in Educational Administration, thus my stint as Principal. I've decided, however, that Administration is not really what I want to pursue. I continue to have many interests; reading- I always have my nose in a book, cooking- I'd be fine if I just cooked and didn't eat it too, and many artistic activities- oil painting, Chinese brush painting, quilting, calligraphy, you name it I've done it!

I'm looking forward to this new challenge even though I know it won't be easy! I found this great quote recently and even felt that way a few times this week.

"Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead." Gene Fowler

When Carol returned Home for the first time following her Stroke - September 2004

============================================================

" I knew where I was, but felt like a stranger in my own house. While looking down at my hands, I wondered where my rings were? I started a search in the bathroom and then the bedroom. I found them in the top drawer of the dresser. Then I tried to decide which fingers to wear the rings on. I put my wedding ring on my left hand and my engagement diamond on my right hand. It felt right and somehow I felt more at home."

Selected Stories, Thoughts, & Poems Written by Carol

=========================================

"Life is but a discovery of

the

beauty of God."

" Lord, help me to discover all you

have for me,

All that in my blindness I can't see

Help me to know your will for me

Help me your loving face to see."

"A ray of light fell on her head

As she rested by the running brook

I saw the look of sunlight on her face

And knew the light shone deep

Within her heart."

Calvary

======

" I have a friend

Who gave his life for me

I have a friend

Who died on Calvary

And if you trust him

He'll be your friend too

Jesus, my Savior, my friend.

And day by day

I grow to love him more

This friend of mine

Who all my sins, he bore

And someday soon

I'll go to be with him

Jesus, mu Savior, my Friend.

Chorus

----------

To Calvary, He went for me

To bear my sin abd shame

On Calvary, He stayed for me

So I new life could claim

From Calvary He rose for you and me

And now I sing because of Calvary."

"When Heavn's fair gates I enter

What there shall I behold?

A vision more wondrous than I have seen

Most blessed to behold.

For I shall meet Him face to face

My master and my King

And then I shall as ne'r before

Be free to truly sing.

The earthly grief that I have known

And all the trials too

Will vanish quickly from my sight

When I behold His smile.

And all my hopes and dreams and prayers

In Christ will be fulfilled

For I shall end my earthly quest

And dwell in Heav'n with Him."

New Vision - 4/28/67

================

Never satisfied are we,

Always wanting something else to be,

If we could only be like Him,

Then all our troubles would grow dim;

For He can see beyond today,

Beyond the things that on us weight,

His view is one that has no end,

That sees beyond life's farthest bend;

Our vision is blurred,

We cannot see,

Let Him our guide and shepherd be."

Resting In Christ - 4/28/67

===================

" We come, we ask, we go our way;

We do not stop, not for a day,

We do not pause to gaze above,

To see God's glory and his love.

Oh Lord, it seems we do not rest,

In your great arms of faithfulness,

We hurry through each day and year,

Forgetting still that you are near.

Help us to pause, to rest, to wait,

To look to Him who suffered hate,

That we may mount up with strength anew,

Better able to love, and glorify you.

How can I doubt that God can do,

All the things I ask Him to,

When He who calmed the stormy sea,

Lives within the heart of me.

His power has given new life to me,

Where once there was but death,

His love has proved itself to man,

Why can't I understand?

His patience is unending,

His grace so rich and free,

Yet I continue on my way,

Not willing His to see.

Oh God, my heart cries out to thee,

Help me thy wondrous plan to see,

Show me the way that I should go,

Guide me to all that I need know."

Thoughts

========

"I have so many thoughts which cannot

be expressed in simple words which

man has devised. My thoughts reach

up to one who can through infinite

power divine, accept and understand

these thoughts and then reach down

to mine. His thoughts and hopes and

wishes for man He has given us to

read, that we might accept and under-

stand His love and wondous plan.

And so He waits so patiently, for

us to grasp His hand, and walk with

Him and let Him know His words we

understand."

Time

====

"Time is a thief, for it never

stops to ask if you have finished

your task or done the deed which

so long you planned."

Have We Thanked Him?

==================

The Lord has kept us all day long

And made us all well and strong

But - have we thanked Him for these things?

Our Lord and Savior, Him our King.

Have we thanked Him - maybe not yet

But, we'd better hurry. lest we forget

He who sent His only son to die

On the cross for you and I."

Haiku

=====

"The sun shines brighter

When you are here beside me,

Then when you are gone.

Birds fly with freedom.

So does my heart, when near you,

Mine own beloved.

Stars shine above me

And my heart is filled with song

When I think of you.

My heart in a cage

Is like a rose in a vase

Captured by your smile."

A Young Girl

==========

"When I was a girl too young to go to school,

I'd ride the swing in the backyard

Singing ... "San Francisco here I come, right back where I started from!"

or

Eat warm peached from a mustard jar."

"Lattice leaves against a sunset sky,

Floating in blue grey velvet water,

The sound of birds in the eaves above,

And me, content, happy, at peace."

"She wears a suit of sorrow beneath her polished armor."

"Listen - the water sings,

A new song is heard;

Flowers open their faces to the sun,

Thirsty stems drink deep;

All nature is alive;

A miracle transforms the earth,

Unseen, unknown."

"Waves - stormy seas.

Water dripping, forever flowing.

Never-ending ripples float by.

Vision is blurred,

Eyes cannot see,

Drowning - all is lost."

"My thoughts are as a tumult of billowy clouds,

Floating freely in the sky.

And as a bird soars, so would I,

Higher, ever higher, until at last

Until I rest.

My heart would be free,

To sing, to laugh, to dance,

To ever joyful be.

And then once more to fly,

Forever to be free."

Falling

======

"Petals falling from the arms of the trees,

Rest lightly on the ground below.

They appear as a cascade of pure white snow,

But scatter warmth wher'ere they go.

The love of God, reaches down from above

As a ray of sunlight on the petals

of a flower

The music of falling water sings

And all the world is aglow

As the angels magnify their Lord.

The falling of the water

Speaks as if to sing

A melody of glorious song

A testimony of the One above

Who looked to us and smiled in love."

You

====

"When I think of you...

I think of beauty and love,

of warmth and sunshine,

the freshness of an ocen breeze,

blowing across the moments with you.

I think of the happy way my

heart smile, when you're near."

"You bring to me...

A new awareness of a new world,

a world alive and glowing,

a world of new thoughts and feelings.

Happiness and sadness blended

into the joy of discovering you."

"I long to...

Wander across the meadows of your thoughts

to love you more, as I know you more,

to share with you, the gladness that I feel

loving you."

Colors

=====

"Yellow, sunshine, brightness,

You are my yellow,

my sunshine, my brightness.

You come to me

And my life glows

bright and alive

Happiness and contentment,

Radiating from the orb that is you.

Red, firelight,

You are my red,

My firelight.

My senses burn

With a constant awareness

A glowing feeling of warmth

Permeates my being

Light and power

Glowing from within.

Blue, calmness

You are my blue,

My calmess.

A quality of stillness and quiet

becomes mine

Silence and strength

Flows through you to me.

White, light

You are my white,

My light.

The promise of hope and love.

The dreams that may come true."

Wishing

=======

"Wishing you were here

My heart is so empty without you

Wishing you could hear

What my heart would like to sing

I have a song - a song I've never sung

before

A song for only you to hear

When you are here, when you are near."

Time

====

"Time is my ally

One who will never

leave me or die.

Time wraps me in a cocoon

of sameness,

The safety of regularity

and routine.

Time is my enemy

One who advances without

thought or care or warning.

Time is the butterfly

of change,

The fear of the unseen

and unknown."

Stars

====

"Stars lighting up

the cities in the sky.

Homes and streets

of far distant places,

Reached only

in my imagination.

Lights undimmed

by time and space

Shining forever

to light the way.

If I could travel to the stars

Would their lights still

shine brightly with the

promise they hold on earth?

Would they reveal their

secrets to me?

Could I walk amidst their

blinding brightness,

and still see?

If I could travel to the stars,

Would I ever return?"

Painted Owl

==========

"The smell of the dark still air

permeates the forest.

Into the silence the sound

of your eternal questioning comes.

Your huge, bright eyes

blink an accompanyment.

Who has brought you here

and imprisoned you with

painted feathers?

Like me, imprisoned by time,

We cannot fly."

Waterfall

=======

"Water cascading forcefully

over the rocks.

Smoothing their sharp and

craggy surface, in its

downward flow.

Announcing its coming

in a constant cacaphony

of sound.

Cold and brittle,

carelessly rushing to

Its destination.

Carrying with it those

who are without

an anchor."

Head and Heart

============

"My head talks to my heart,

But my heart won't listen.

My head tells me you meant

to call

But my heart won't believe,

My head tells me you are

too busy,

But my heart still hopes.

My head tells me you

think of me,

But my heart wants more.

My head tells me you need

your freedom,

But my heart weeps.

My head talks to my heart,

But my heart weeps

and breaks."

House of Glass

============

" You live in a house of glass,

And the world looks in and

watches.

Your house is open to the

sun and the wind,

And day by day you live

and grow.

In your house of glass are

many things.

They sit and watch you too.

You come and go

And people briefly touch your life

But no one comes to stay,

We are just visitors, in and out.

You live in a house of glass,

But there are no windows

to your soul."

The Bird

=======

I heard a bird sing today

And in its song I heard

freedom and happiness.

The freedom to soar and fly

in neverending paths

across the sky.

The happiness to feel sun

and wind on its

fluttering feathers.

I heard a bird sing today

And in its song

I heard my heart."

* * * * * * * * * *

In Loving Memory of Carol L. Kelley, age 68 of Mission Viejo.

A dedicated Educator, beloved Wife and Companion, devoted Mother, and blessed Grandmother. Her precious Smile will be deeply missed.

She was born August 17, 1943 in Binghamton, NY, the youngest daughter of Keith and Eleanor Hull.

Carol attended Johnson City High School in Johnson City, NY. While in School she was active in Cheer leading, Drama & Musicals, Chorus, Sports, Yearbook Activities (Reporter & Editor), and also held multiple Class Officer positions.

Carol obtained a BA in Fine Arts (Music) after studying at both the University of Arizona and Cal State Fullerton. She then obtained a CA Teaching Credential with Elementary Teaching as a Specialty. While in College, Carol’s Family moved first to Phoenix, AZ and then onto Anaheim, CA.

She was employed by the Centralia School District in Buena Park starting in 1967. Although she taught all Grade Levels, her love was for 2nd & 3rd Graders. While teaching, Carol then obtained an MA Degree from the University of San Francisco within the Field of Educational Administration.

Besides teaching in the Classroom, Carol acted as the District’s Gate Program Director, Administrative Intern, and served as an Assistant Principal. She retired after teaching 33 years in 2002.

She met her husband Dwight in Long Beach and they married in 1973. Their first home was in Garden Grove, and then they moved to Mission Viejo in 1988.

Carol’s Interests & Hobbies included Art (Watercolor, Oils, Tole), reading Mystery Books, Homemaking, Cooking & Baking, Quilting, Macramé, Bead work, Sewing, Singing in Community & Church Choirs, playing the Piano, Scrap booking, Cake Decorating, Travel, and collecting Owls and Angels.

Carol is survived by her Husband Dwight, Son and Daughter-In Law Brett and Daphne, Daughter Melissa, Granddaughter Elizabeth, and Sisters Sandra and Joyce.

She truly leaves behind a legacy of dedication to children, devotion to family, and love of friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Rancho Santa Margarita on Fri., Oct. 7, at 10 AM.

An additional Memorial Service, and Ashes Interment will also be held at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar on Sat., Oct 8, at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Orange County Bird of Prey Center.