Celia Marguerite Kutcher

Loving mother, grandmother, conservationist, ecologist, environmental advocate. In the words of a colleague, she “was a lover of all things native and original. Celia was a botanist, naturalist, and horticulturist all rolled into one. She enjoyed the fragrance of our coastal sage, the sound of its birds, the spring flowers of the chaparral, the smell of winter rains, the shade of an oak woodland, and a rare plant found.”

She passed peacefully with sons Dan and Mike at her side.

Born in Santa Ana, her family lived in various places around California and Nevada, finally settling in San Clemente in the early 1950’s when she was a teenager. After graduating from Capistrano Union High School and later from Orange Coast College, she married and settled in Capistrano Beach, raising two sons while being very active in P.T.A. and Cub Scouts.

With a passion for native plants and a growing awareness of conservation concerns that were beginning to emerge in Orange County in the late 60’s and early 70’s, she resolved to pursue an education and career that would enable her to effectively work towards conservation and preservation of natural habitats.

She went back to school, attending Saddleback college in the early days of that institution. From Saddleback College she went on to earn first a Bachelors degree and then her Masters degree from California State University Fullerton. While a student at CSUF she played an integral part in planning and development of the Fullerton Arboretum and went on to be a curator there for over 20 years. Later, she also played a role in developing several sections of the Arboretum at the University of California, Irvine.

Her resolve was more than fulfilled with her extensive efforts throughout Orange County and beyond to protect and conserve native habitats, rare plants, special plant communities, and to uphold the laws that protect them. Much of this work was accomplished through her membership in the Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society. As a founding member of the Orange County chapter, she served in numerous roles and was involved in all facets of the Chapters activities over the last four decades. She received many awards and honors culminating with the CNPS Fellow Award, the Society’s highest honor. She will always be remembered for the time and energy she devoted to protect Orange County’s wildlands and flora. Her work will continue to protect Orange County habitats well into the future.

She was preceded in death by her parents Don and Marguerite and is survived by Son Dan and his wife Kim, Son Mike and his wife Debbie, Brother John and wife Diane, granddaughter Maree and husband Nolan, granddaughter Allison and husband Tom, grandson Josh, grandson Matt, granddaughter Debra, and ex-husband Bob.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to California Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter.

CNPS Orange County

P.O. Box 54891

Irvine, CA 92619-4891