ELSIE RAYE RIGNEY CARR

Elsie Raye Rigney Carr Elsie Carr died peacefully in her San Rafael home December 2, 2010 at the age of 95. Born in 1915, Elsie's life spanned nearly a century. As she wrote in her 2007 memoir, Elsie's Story: Of Family, Friends and Dreams Come True, "I saw unusual experiences for a woman living during that timethrough World War II, the feminist revolution, the Civil Rights movement, and the profound changes in communication and travel." Independent and self-confident, Elsie did indeed live a remarkable life. She grew up in Las Cruces, NM and graduated from New Mexico State University in 1936. In 1943, recently divorced, she moved with her young son, Mike, to Maryland and, after the war, she worked for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and then the Food and Agriculture Organization in Washington DC. During that time, Elsie began her lifelong passion for traveling and for connecting with other cultures. In 1954, Elsie was offered a job at the Ford Foundation, so she and Mike then 13, moved to Indonesia where she, in 1956, met Dr. Jesse Carr. After their marriage in 1957, Elsie, Jesse and her extended family split their time between their homes in San Rafael, CA, their ranch in the Sutter Buttes, CA, their home in Mt. Rose, CA and their home in Fiji and traveled extensively around the world. After Jesse's death in 1989, Elsie moved to Villa Marin in San Rafael, CA where she continued to meet interesting people who enriched her life immensely. Elsie's family has been central to her life. She is survived by five children, Michael Marcley of Santa Rosa, CA; Jennifer Carr of Ashland, OR; Lawrence Carr of Ross, CA; Karen Doherty of San Rafael, CA; Pierre Carr of Sutter, CA; and 19 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and two great great grand children. Elsie is also survived by her sister, Ruth Meadows of Albuquerque, NM, her cousin Walter Gerald of Albuquerque and her nephew John Rigney of Leucadia, CA. Elsie has been a gracious supporter of many organizations including the San Francisco Asia Art Museum, the Marin Symphony, The De Young Museum, Marin Nature Conservatory, and the New Mexico State University. As Elsie concluded her memoir, "unlike some acquaintances who lament being so old because they are not needed anymore, I have always felt needed and wanted. As the shadows fall, I can express only gratitude for my unusual life." A "Celebration of life" services will be held at St. John's Chruch in Ross at 1:00pm on December 16 and at Villa Marin in San Rafael on December 18 at 2:00pm. Donations are preferred to a favorite charity.