Bill "Coach" Carr

1934 - 2017

Bill "Coach" Carr was born in Port Townsend, Washington. His folks, Mary and Chet, also had a daughter, Ann. He spent his youth hiking in the Olympic Mountains and fishing in Discovery Bay where all the local children caught salmon almost as big as they were.
The family moved to Fernandina, Florida, and lived in a home on the sandy beach. Bill was in high school when they later moved to Antioch. He always made friends quickly as he was an outstanding athlete, winning individual awards and championships with the high school football team.
At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy with four best buddies and spent the Korean War on a destroyer. This was the game changer that led to what he wanted to do with his life. When he was discharged he started college on the GI Bill and thereafter, met his future wife on a streetcar as they were both going to San Francisco State to be teachers.
Bill decided to call her Susie instead of Merlynne. They were married two years later at Christmas time. They graduated together with Bill also receiving his Master's. Their sons, Mike and Tod, were born in 1960 and 1964, respectively.
After a stint teaching in Daly City, Bill was hired at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa as a teacher and coach of football and wrestling. His programs for these teams turned into his life's work. Through wrestling he was able to instill both pride and team values in many young athletes, many of whom still visited him regularly right up to his death.
While the athletic director, Bill also worked closely with others creating the County Special Olympics Program, finding a new passion for these young people as well.
In 1988, Bill and Susie moved to Mendocino and owned the local Village Toy Store. Being near the ocean was something that Bill truly enjoyed.
In 2007, Bill and Susie retired and moved back to Santa Rosa to be among their many dear friends.
Bill was recently inducted into the Montgomery High School Hall of Fame as Coach of the Year in Wrestling.
Bill died June 3, 2017, and is missed by his wife, Merlynne Susie Carr; son, Tod; daughter-in-law, Terry, with son, Mike, and beloved grandsons, Spencer and Kelly.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Franklin Avenue in Santa Rosa.
Donations may be made to the Montgomery Athletic Booster Club at www.montgomeryvikingsathletics.com.