Marie Carr

Marie Carr Marie Bernice Carr was born October 13, 1917 to Minnie and James Carr in Aberdeen, South Dakota, In 1922, the Carr Family came to the Bay Area and settled in San Jose.

Marie attended Santa Clara High School. From there, she went to San Jose State University, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees. She enjoyed the campus so much that she decided she would teach there. While teaching at San Jose State, she also worked on her PhD at Stanford University. She received her PhD in 1957.

Her teaching career at San Jose State spanned more than five decades and was spent in the Speech and Drama Departments. Her expertise was in classical rhetoric and public speaking. She chaired the Communications Studies Department at SJSU for 11 years. Marie retired from teaching in 1986. After the passing of her mother, Marie established the Minnie Carr Award and Scholarship as well as the Marie Carr Award and Scholarship at San Jose State. These awards are given each year in the Communication Studies Department to students showing outstanding efforts in academics and service.

Besides teaching, Marie loved to travel. She and her mother often took trips together. Her travels took her to Europe several times, where she fell in love with the British Isles and, specifically Ireland. It was visiting the country of her heritage that piqued her interest in genealogy.

Perhaps Marie's dearest companions were her dogs. She was an animal lover and believer in animal rights her whole life, many times rescuing strays and nursing them back to health. She leaves behind her beloved Pekingese, Zhen, who has been adopted into another loving family.

Marie departed this life peacefully on January 15, 2006, to return to her Heavenly Father. She had a quick wit and a sharp mind, even as she dealt with health issues later in life. Her big heart and warm spirit were so much stronger than her frail body conveyed. She loved literature and music. She always enjoyed participating in intellectual debates. She "adopted" several "nieces and nephews," and there are many who consider her a part of their family.

Services for Marie Carr will be held Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1336 Cherry Avenue in San Jose. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to San Jose State University or to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. Arrangements by DARLING & FISCHER CAMPBELL MEMORIAL CHAPEL.