CARMA RUSSELL LEIGH

LEIGH, CARMA RUSSELL ZIMMERMAN Carma Russell Zimmerman Leigh, 104 years old, passed away September 25, 2009. Born into a pioneer family that settled in 1895 in Oklahoma Territory, Carma Russell came by train to California as a young woman to pursue her dreams of becoming a librarian. After completing a Masters Degree in History and librarianship studies at UC Berkeley, Carma steadily rose to the top of her chosen profession. She served as librarian in Orange and San Bernardino Counties and as Washington State Librarian in Olympia prior to being appointed in 1951 as California State Librarian in Sacramento by Governor Earl Warren. Warren's three successors re-appointed her to that position, which she held until her 1972 retirement. After retiring, she moved to San Diego to be near her only daughter. Survivors include daughter Rita Collier (Mrs. Boyd Collier), granddaughter Jana Collier (Mrs. Chris Nordby), grandson Michael Collier, and great-granddaughter Kate Collier, all of San Diego. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Carma Leigh's memory to the California State Library Foundation, attention Gary Kurutz, Executive Director. P.O. Box 942837, Sacramento, CA 94237-0001, (916) 653-0101, gkurutz@library. ca.gov.