Carol Hay

Hay, Carol L.

MADISON - Carol L. Hay, 65, Madison, Wis., left us all too soon on Oct. 10, 2021, following complications from pancreatic cancer.

She was born in 1956 in Mankato, Minn., daughter of Richard and Janet Hicklin, both deceased. She spent most of her childhood in Milwaukee, where she graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School. Carol married Ron Hay, her true love and partner in many great adventures, on Sept. 27, 1986. They recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary, and together they built a joyful life sharing their deep commitment to helping others.

Carol was a 1978 graduate of Beloit College, where she double majored in history and art history. She shared her knowledge and love of the arts as a volunteer docent at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and as a quilting instructor at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, Wis. Carol's quilts are true works of art, and she generously donated many to charitable causes. Carol also enjoyed studying family genealogy, gardening, and enjoying the wonders of the natural world while traveling, hiking, biking and canoeing. She was an excellent cook.

Carol had the gift of seeing what people needed and made everything easier. A natural leader, she applied those gifts, and her passion for learning and sharing, as a volunteer with Leadership Greater Madison and Madison Literacy Council, and throughout her career in roles that emphasized customer service and the consumer experience. She worked in leadership roles for Gimbels Midwest, H.C. Prange Company, and spent 22 years in management with American Girl.

Carol was extremely grateful for the gift of life she received from her kidney donor, Karl Roswall, and the relationship she held dear with his wife, Maria. She expressed her gratitude as a volunteer for UW Organ and Tissue Donation, where she later accepted a position as community outreach specialist. Carol passionately served with great kindness and dedication and touched thousands of lives through her advocacy for organ, tissue and eye donation.

She is survived by her husband; sister, Sara Hicklin of Madison, Wis.; and brothers, Bruce Hicklin of West Allis, Wis., and Jeffrey Hicklin of Cottage Grove, Wis. (daughters, Amanda and Michelle, and their mother, Susan); and will be greatly missed by her cousin, Sue Dossey (Dr. James Dossey) of Coppell, Texas; and second cousin, Mary Allyn Arnold (husband, Chad, and children, Adaline and Edison) of Coppell, Texas.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Carol's name to the National Kidney Foundation or Madison Community Foundation-Ron & Carol Hay Family Fund.