Carol H. COLLINS

COLLINS, Carol H. Carol H Collins perished in the Tubbs Fire which ravaged Coffey Park and other parts of Santa Rosa on Monday, October 9, 2017. Carol was born in Louisville, Kentucky, of Thomas Hightower Collins and Peggy Carter Collins. She had a tough childhood, being shuttled between divorced parents, who were then in Chicago and Georgia, but grew into an independent, strong individual with a wicked sense of irreverent humor. Carol studied journalism at the University of Iowa, and pursued that career in Los Angeles and other venues for many years. She also owned an Office Supply store in Cloverdale before becoming a real estate agent in 1987, a career she has pursued successfully ever since. Carol has been with Century 21 for most of that time, and closed her last escrow with them days before her death. She worked as a volunteer for the Fireworks at the Fairgrounds for several years, (much to her step-children's youthful delight) and at the Sutter Hospice Thrift Store more recently. Carol is survived by three brothers; Kent Collins, (Bee) of Columbia, MO, Paul H. Collins, (Linda) of Tiger, GA, and Todd Collins (Susan) of Philadelphia; four step-children, Sandi Hamilton (William) in the Navy Reserves in Sparta, Wisconsin, six children, David Swasey (Jennifer) in the Navy in San Diego, CA, one child, Roxanne Swasey of Oakland, and Kim Johnson (Jake) of Lebanon, Ohio, two children; and by Jim Swasey, of Sonora, CA. She is also survived by many friends who loved her and will miss her terribly. One of her brothers remembers: "She was magic in some ways. She was gone for summers, living with her birth mother in Georgia, and then back with us, her three half-brothers, living in the Chicago suburbs. Appear and disappear, always with a flourish. She rode on an airliner in-and-out of Chicago - magic, back then. She was older, smarter, prettier each visit. The three brothers did not know if we should be delighted by her or if we should get out of her way. She was a bit glamorous and a bit demanding, but always magic." Typical of Carol, she wrote her own obituary, which is quoted here: "If you are reading this, I am dead. And no, I did not look this good when I checked out. "Born in the South, but raised primarily in Chicago, I had what can best be described as an "interesting" childhood. Fortunately, I was blessed with some talents and was successful in several professional fields. Unfortunately, I never stayed long with anything - jobs, houses, husbands or friends - until moving to Sonoma County in the late 1970s. "It has not always been easy being close to me, but I have been blessed with friends who taught me the meaning of love. Mary, Kris, Doris, Rosanne, Peggy, and others - thank you for being in my life. "Instead of feeling obligated to attend a memorial service - and there won't be one - contribute to a charity of your choice, and give a friend an extra hug today." As Carol requested (dictated) there will be no Memorial Service, but a celebration of her life will take place later, when Santa Rosa has recovered somewhat from this disaster in which she lost her life. Meanwhile, anyone wishing to remember her may make donations to the Sutter Hospice Thrift Store or to a charity of choice, also remembering the many service people who responded heroically to this disaster.