Carol Sue Stevenson
October 7, 1947 - February 28, 2023
Carol Sue Stevenson was born in Neodesha, Kansas on October 7th, 1947. After graduating from the University of Kansas, she moved to New York City in the summer of 1969. Carol came west to San Francisco as a hippie where she met her partner, Ron Turner. They went on their first date at the local laundromat and fell in love-their partnership would last over 50 years.
While pregnant with her first child, Colin, Carol enrolled in law school at Hastings College of the Law. She worked with the Child Care Law Center for 14 years, advocating for children, families and childcare providers. Her tireless advocacy impacted the health and safety of children across California.
In 1988, Carol gave birth to her daughter, Claire, a source of great happiness. An avid feminist, Carol was a trailblazer as a full-time professional and devoted mother. She served as a program officer for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, director of Starting Points, and later became a beloved professor of child care policy at San Francisco State University. Carol's volunteer work included St. Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, as well as service on many nonprofit boards.
She instilled a deep love of travel, cultural exchange, and exploration in her family. Whether road-tripping across Canada in her early twenties, traveling solo through Central America, dancing at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, or camping in the High Sierras, Carol knew how to have a good time. She met religiously for dinner with the same group of mothers every other Tuesday for 45 years and would sing-up the sunrise each solstice. She surrounded herself with a powerful community of women friends from every part of her life.
Somewhere amid her busy life, ovarian cancer invaded her body. Carol faced it with clear vision and courage. Over the course of 22 years, Carol never lost her sense of humor or her will to live well. Although cancer was always lurking in the background, a malevolent party crasher in Carol's wonderful life, she always said that her disease taught her to never take a single moment for granted.
Carol Sue passed away peacefully at sunrise on February 28, 2023, surrounded by family.
She is survived by her siblings Mary Anne Demeritt, Jean Stevenson (Lou Talman), Scott Stevenson (Sally), her husband Ron Turner, her children Claire Turner (Sam Reider), Colin Turner (Nancy Tran) and her three grandchildren Charlotte, Lisianthus, and Delphinium.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Mar. 3, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Carol Stevenson

Sponsored by Duggan's Serra Mortuary - Daly City.

8 Entries

Lynne Hearne (aka Miss Shag)

March 19, 2023

Carol's husband Ron hired me in 1976, a year that is the genesis of my lifelong family of friends in the comics industry, Carol being one of the shining stars. If Ron Turner was the "Underground Mayor of SF" then his wife, the delightful Carol Sue Stevenson Turner, was the loving Den Mother of all misfits in the Last Gasp crew.

I was shaken beyond words when I heard Carol had passed from ovarian cancer on Feb 28, 2023.

How could that be??? I saw her in September on one of my very rare excursions to the outside world. Although I didn't feel physically up to it, I went to an exhibit of Spain's work in the Mission, determined to see friends that I've dearly missed in the past few years. There was Susan Stern and her beau. Paul Mavrides. Jay and Dixie Kinney. And Carol with her usual warmth and kindness. That day we enjoyed quiet conversation without interruption and I'll treasure the memory.

Sylvia Chavez Frinak

March 16, 2023

Thinking of Carol I see one thing; her precious smile. I met her while working at the Children´s Council of San Francisco. Carol you were a mover a shaker always moving things a little further but always your beautiful smile ! Know that you made a huge difference to so so many !
Sylvia Chavez Frinak

David Kahn

March 9, 2023

A kind soul. A bright light. A source of joy and support for those fortunate enough to know her. Always a positive force for good. Carol´s contributions to the larger world were significant, but what she added to the lives of family and friends always felt even greater.

Jerome (Jerry) McGuire

March 6, 2023

No one more genuine; no one more dependable; no one more lovable; no one more fun. Nodesha Kansas' gift to the world.

Lynne Beeson

March 6, 2023

I had the great pleasure of working with Carol through the Childcare Law Center as well as the broader childcare community over a period of many years. Her contributions were instrumental in making San Francisco a national leader in childcare. Carol was a very special person and will be greatly missed.
My deepest condolences to her family.

David Kupfer

March 5, 2023

Carol was a gift to her friends, family, and community, and all three certainly benefited from her time here. I hope her journey onward is a safe and carefree one!

Howie

March 5, 2023

Carole and I met the first day of law school in August of 1977. She was among the smartest law students in our class, if not the smartest. We became close friends and shared many meals, concerts and parties together. Carole had a great sense of humor and a lust for life. We both dedicated our law practices to Tikun Olam which in Hebrew means to repair the world. Carole was a leader in the child care law movement and contributed greatly to its evolution. We spent many days with our daughters at the park chasing Geese. She was the big sister in my life for 45 years. Her battle with cancer was long and hard, and I never heard her complain. She had strength and courage to spare. My life was greatly enhanced by her love and loyalty. I am blessed to have Ron, Colin and Claire as of my extended family and my thoughts are with them. May Carole´s memory be a blessing to all of us. Love, Howie

Peggy Dodge

March 4, 2023

Mourning the loss of this amazing woman whose work with the child care law center first brought her into my life. Even in mourning, thoughts of Carol bring a smile to my face. Her humor and good spirits were contagious.
Peggy Dodge

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