Carol Ann Adams

Carol Ann Adams, the consummate friend, wife, mother, grammy, aunt, teacher, counselor and school administrator, passed away at 66 years of age of metastatic breast cancer on February 13, 2010 at home with her husband, children and sister at her bedside. Carol was a selfless and generous giver of her time to the community and was passionate about education and civic responsibility throughout her life. She made everything she touched better by living out each day to her own high standards with each little gesture and action. The little things, it turns out, aren't little at all, and Carol's reach in this world and bigger-than-life presence, and subsequent absence, are the proof. Born in 1943 to parents Elmer Kilgore Warner and Helen Laverne (Enyeart) Warner in Painesville, Ohio, Carol Ann Warner was a 1961 graduate of Riverside High School where she was voted by her class as most active senior girl. Growing up Carol was a leader in the 4-H Silver Spurs Riding Club and loved riding her horse Kandu in Cascade Valley with her lifelong friend Ruth (Hayer) Goundry. After high school graduation Carol continued her education at Hiram College in Ohio, graduating in 1964 with a BA in Sociology and Social Science. After college she worked as Teenage Program Director at the YWCA in St. Joseph, Michigan (1964-66). It was in St. Joseph that Carol met her future husband of 43 years, Noel F. Adams. They were married in her hometown on August 20, 1966. Following her dedication and passion for helping others she went on to earn a Secondary Teaching Credential (1966) and a MA in Counseling and Guidance (1967) at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and went on to teach at Madison Junior High School in Marshall, Michigan (1967-68). Carol and Noel then relocated to Dixon, Illinois in 1968 where Carol gave birth to two daughters, Michelle Grace Adams and Tiffany Lynne Adams. She also continued her life-long professional quests to help and educate others, teaching and counseling at Rock Falls High School (1969-1974). Carol and Noel moved to California in 1975, first residing in Rohnert Park before making Healdsburg home in 1976. In California she landed at Santa Rosa Junior High School (1976-79) before making the move to Healdsburg High School, as a counselor and then Assistant Principal, where she worked with generations of students (1979-1997). During this time she also "walked the talk", devoting herself to her family and taking a hands-on approach in her daughters' education and community engagement, raising girls that value opinions, and expressing them, and education and community sustenance. Continually enhancing her educational range and skills, Carol obtained a Standard Life California Secondary Teaching Credential (1979), MA in School Administration (1988) at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, CA, and two Certificates of Achievement (1990 and 1995) from the California School Leadership Academy (Sonoma County Office of Education). These merits were part of Carol's constant strides toward enhancing the educational experience for students and led to her selection as Assistant Principal at Healdsburg High School and then later at Windsor High School as Assistant Principal (1997-2004). Carol was the first Assistant Principal and part of the initial administration at the new Windsor High School, helping to establish a tradition of learning and excellence. After 41 years of professional dedication to her communities, Carol retired in 2004. School colleagues describe Carol as a person who had the innate ability to instill confidence in others, a go-to-person who always had a kind word and wonderful smile, an even disposition and who was an incredibly talented leader, a woman who was effortlessly elegant, graceful and ever-professional and in control, and a mentor generous of her time and knowledge. Carol was a paradigm of what professionalism is all about. Carol did not slow her civic engagement in retirement. She was involved in numerous organizations, such as the Sonoma County League of Women Voters (LWV), American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). For the LWV, Carol served a term as president, as well as dedicating time to participating on the executive council, voter registration committee, organizing candidate nights, and used her computer skills to polish the format for the monthly newsletter. While with the Healdsburg chapter of the AAUW Carol combined her passion for civic duty and technical know-how and created a website and delivered content that serves as a model for other chapters throughout California. For several years prior to and during retirement she was an active committee member of the Healdsburg ACS Relay For Life, serving in several capacities, more recently as Web assistant. Devoted to teaching in everything she did, whether it was educating youth or adults, Carol was always making a difference for future generations. In addition to her contributions to the community at large, Carol was also highly valued for her friendship. Family and friends alike looked forward to time with the Adams, taking pleasure in Carol's famed blue cheese dip porcupine and legendary pie making skills (handed down from mother-in-law Mabel Adams), game playing wizardry (especially pinochle, bridge and Taboo), and clever and mirthful sense of humor and warm company. Carol will be sorely missed but is now in Heaven, with her parents and sister, and is watching over us with her kind, compassionate and wise spirit. Her sister Donna Smith Tripi, as well as her parents, preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Noel; daughter Michelle Adams and son-in-law Joseph V. Mattern; daughter Tiffany and son-in-law Matthew Curci; grandchildren, Channing and Cole Curci; sister P. Gay and brother-in-law Barry Tillotson; nephew R.B. Tillotson III (Malani); niece Gretchen L. Teaney (Job); niece Dana S. Saddler (John); and niece Sally "Deeny" Lego. Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March, 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Healdsburg Community Church (1100 University Ave., Healdsburg, CA 95448). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Carol Ann Warner Adams Memorial Scholarship. To donate, make checks payable to "Carol Ann Warner Adams Memorial Scholarship" and send to the McCord Career Center, Healdsburg High School, 1024 Prince St. Healdsburg, CA 95448. For questions or additional information, call the McCord Career Center at (707) 431-3473.