Carroll B. Root
July 1,1939 - October 13,2004
Carroll B. Root, a long time resident of Westport passed away on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at St. Josephs Hospital in Phoenix Arizona.
She suffered a massive stroke.
She was found by her husband of 46 years, Roger Root, late in the evening of October 11. She was taken by ambulance to Yuma Community Hospital then air vacked to Phoenix.
Her daughters Michelle and Liisa, both of Westport, flew to Phoenix early Tuesday morning to be with their parents.
At 2 p.m. on Wednesday Carroll’s life support was turned off.
Her family was with her as she took her last breath at 5:20 p.m.
Her husband and her daughters were the driving point of her life.
It was a blessing they could all be with her.
Carroll was born on July 1, 1939 in Portland, Oregon to Donald and Dorothy Brown.
At the early age of 12 Carroll learned she would have to be a fighter in her life. She came down with Rheumatic fever. She was paralyzed from the waist down and doctors did not expect her to live, let alone walk. After a year of being bed ridden she beat the odds and not only lived and walked, she lived
~*~BIG~*~
She always had the feeling that
“Attitude does make a difference”
Carroll was always very patriotic with a big love for her country. She waited anxiously for her 18th birthday to join the military. She joined the Air Force with a goal in nursing. It was soon after she arrived in Texas for training that she met Roger. They were married April 23, 1958. This is another story where her wonderful attitude towards life made a big difference for her.
Roger and Carroll raised their two girls in Sacramento, California. Roger was a business man and Carroll a stay at home mom. She was a devoted wife and mother. She often referred to herself as a
“Kept Woman”.
Carroll’s hobby was baseball. Her love of the game had her and her family burning the highway several times a week to Oakland where they had season tickets right behind the A’s dugout. With Carroll’s vivacious personality she soon became friends with the entire team. Her home was open to parties many times for the likes of Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Gene Tennis, Reggie Jackson and previous owner of the A’s, Charles Finnely.
Carroll had a unique birthday present one year; she was able to spend the entire game in the bullpen of the A’s, compliments of her best pal, Jim “CatFish” Hunter.
When Sacramento acquired a farm team for the Milwaukee Brewers she was signed on to the Sacramento Solons as booster club president. She was the first woman to have the cover of the Sacramento Bees Weekend Sport Magazine.
As a member of Beta Sigma Phi she organized many charity and social functions. She especially loved the Mother and Daughter lunches and the Christmas parties she held yearly for all the kids. The Roots were also well known for the 100 plus persons annual 4th of July parties, always with live music. Lots of good food and margaritas. And plenty of great activities for the children.
In 1987 Carroll and Roger semi-retired to Westport. They bought an RV park, named it “Jolly Rogers” and added a seafood company. Carroll loved the excitement of crabbing and “her fishermen”. She was always a delightful hostess to her campers. She thought of them as friends coming to visit her for the week ends. In 2001 Roger and Carroll bought a retirement home in Yuma, Arizona. Her daughter Liisa took over management of the business. Her daughter Michelle is assisting Liisa. They became
“Snow Birds”.
Carroll never retired from being a doting wife and was a mother to her girls every day of their lives. She also has had a very special relationship with her grandsons.
Carroll was a devout “stage mother” for her youngest daughter Liisa during her singing career. She made her stage clothes, wrote lyrics of songs so Liisa could learn them. She faithfully followed her around to her many performances, always standing close to the stage for support, with pride in her eyes.
She always said Liisa was her excuse to get out to the bars and party with her best friend Donna.
In addition to her husband and daughters she is survived by her grandsons Mitchell and Michael Peak, and her great grandson, Michael Jr. All of Westport.
An adopted son, Kevin Kobel of Phoenix, Arizona,
Her father Donald Brown of Astoria, Oregon.
She also leaves her long life friend Donna Mayo.
Her mother has preceded her in death.
A celebration of Carroll’s life will be held in Yuma on November 18, 2004. A service is being planned in Westport at the South Beach Presbyterian Church after the holidays.
Further notice will be posted.
Carroll’s zest for life will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She would want to remind everyone her most important motto always was
“Do It Now”
Please no flowers.
Any donations please send to Lung Cancer Research.
Tricha ©
