Carolyn Hope Geary

1944 - 2017

CAROLYN HOPE GEARY After a long and gallant fight with cancer, Carolyn Hope Geary passed away March 27,2017, only two days shy of her seventy third birthday. Carolyn was born in Glendale, California on March 29, 1944 to Helen Hope Geary and Carroll W. Geary, both from Minnesota. Carolyn had one brother, Gordon Geary, who also succumbed to cancer in 2003. Carolyn was an eternal optimist and brought joy to all who crossed her path, whatever the circumstances. Carolyn cared for her mother from the time she was a young child, until her mother's death in 1981 when Carolyn was 37. At that time in her life she was thrown out into the world to fend for herself and through her friend Bill Troiano, was hired at Robinson's department store in Glendale, where she continued to work for over twenty years. She found her niche in the housewares department and loved her work and customers. Her artistic talents surfaced early and in high school she won national awards for her outstanding sculpting ability. In her younger years, she engaged in furniture refinishing and custom painted techniques for many customers in the Glendale area. She also began painting in oils, which was always her great love. After taking a long respite from her art work, later in life she began again and created many drawings and paintings, many of which were done during her years living in Eureka. Her plein air painting trips with her neighbor Brandon Wilcox gave her much pleasure in the last months of her life. She loved her garden, especially her treasured roses. Her home in Eureka gave her great pleasure, right until the end of her life. Carolyn had many passions, among them being art, opera, classical music, football and her most passionate being the classic movies that gave her so many hours of pleasure. She had great joy sharing her knowledge with her neighbor Annabelle Huff, who visited at least once a week for their special "movie nights" at the end of her life. Carolyn could quote lines and answer trivia questions from hundreds of movies from the past. Carolyn leaves her aunt, Beverly Highberger of Bellingham, WA, her cousin Debbie and Brian Plog and family of Bellingham, WA, Sandra and Dimitri Skopos of Vacaville, CA, and Tom Highberger and family of Big Bear, CA. Carolyn will be sorely missed by her lifelong friend, Bill Troiano and his partner Randy Eaton of Eureka, Claudia Zavala-Santori and her husband Bobby Santori of Glendale, CA, Dr. Rob and Lisa Castanos of Laguna Niguel, CA, Sunny and Bob Lang of Canyon Country, CA, Rodolfo Gonzalez and Bradly Briggs of North Hollywood, CA, Peggy and Don Bollinger of Fieldbrook, CA, Tom Cave and his son Richard of Eureka, CA, Tom Herd of Eureka and Harry and Ursula Lowther of Eureka. Special thanks should be given to those friends who made the end of Carolyn's life so pleasant and meaningful. Donna Wallace, who unselfishly made it possible for Carolyn to remain in her beloved home by giving her such loving care until the very end, Bill Furst (deceased) who took Carolyn marketing for over ten years, Happy, Carolyn's faithful companion and service dog, Amanda and Brandon Wilcox and their children, Case and Kahala, who were her dear friends and neighbors and helped Carolyn on a daily basis at the end of her life, Matthew and Annabelle Huff, Mark and Wendy Parkhurst and their children, Kyle, Nikki and Annaleise, Bill Gilmore, Clinton Ellis, Brian and Ariel Coughlin, Ace and Pamela Vandenack, Dr. Anna Nusslock, Sherman and Lisa Landry, Summer Morin, Kimberly Harris, Charles Tempas, Carmen Williams, Jeri Cantrell, Cinnamon Solem and the skilled staff at St. Joseph Oncology and Radiology, including Dr. Hardy, Dr. Lui and the wonderful staff at the infusion center. Thanks also to Hospice of Humboldt, Red Cross Pharmacy, Mary Bancud-Bettis of Lotus Studio, Martha Mead, Ramons Bakery and Ayers Family Cremation. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com