Carol Attinger Steed

Carol Attinger Steed

October 18, 1957 - June 01, 2016

Carol Attinger Steed

October 18, 1957 - June 01, 2016

Obituary

Carol Attinger Steed
Oct 18th, 1957 – June 1st, 2016

Carol’s life was a beautiful tapestry. She was a mother, wife, sister, a dreamer-a woman of love and passion, grace and deep vision. Relentlessly, she did what she dreamed. Her creative talent, her love of others and her charm, graced all she met along life’s way. And meeting her was one of God’s blessings to all who were so fortunate.

Carol was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, on October 18, 1957. She was the first child of Ken and Lola Attinger. Her siblings are Terri Jensen, Sharon Ezell, and Mark Attinger. When Carol was barely three months old-in a laundry basket in the backseat of the family’s ’52 Chevy-she made the trek to California. Her early years were spent in South Gate, Compton, and Berkeley, as her dad made his way through college until the family ultimately settled in Costa Mesa.

She had an early passion for drama and the arts, performing from a young age and sharing her gifted voice. She captured leads in many high school productions including, Dial M for Murder, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and Romeo and Juliet. But as she pursued theatre, she discovered her flair for entrepreneurship. After graduating high school a semester early, at seventeen, she opened a sandwich shop in Irvine, at Woodbridge Lake in a deserted cabana. She did everything by herself: permits, licenses, health inspections and menus. This was only the beginning-the seeds were planted.

After Carol took her bow from both acting and her studies at CSUF, she went on to work in Property Management and then into Commercial Real Estate-rising to an executive level. She was only twenty-one when she fell in love with Bill (William J. Steed, III), a willing partner in dreaming big. Soon after their marriage, they found an opportunity in an abandoned cliff-top property in Malibu and convinced the original owner to fund their vision of rejuvenating and developing the property while they occupied it-gaining a rich reward of invaluable experiences. Carol had a knack for home design and project supervision; her General Contractor’s license soon followed. She designed, built, and decorated.

But most importantly, Carol raised four boys-never missing a beat, always with love. She was a soccer-baseball-basketball-wrestling-mom. She was deeply involved in boy scouts and homeschooled with dedication and love. And no one can forget the entertaining she did. It came naturally-she loved to cook, and her home was always comfortable, graceful and inviting-a place where family and friends often congregated. She balanced being a mother, wife, homemaker, and serving those in need. As their sons became teenagers, Carol and Bill transitioned to full-time farm life. Together they envisioned a prospering, organic farm with citrus, avocados, and blueberries, and the inimitable Fairfield Farms came into being.

In her final years, as she battled breast cancer, Carol and Bill made frequent trips to Orange County to meet with doctors and to visit family and friends. They bought a condo in Laguna Beach in 2015, and this home became a place of solace-a place where she and Bill could enjoy their new hobby of paddle-boarding and spending time together, where she could find peace and become ever closer to our Lord.

Mercy and compassion, encouragement and joy were richly integrated into Carol’s life. Wherever she went and whomever she met, she loved and extended herself to them. Her selflessness and her love for others were unforgettable. She trusted and loved God and never gave up hope. She was a child of God.

No Events & Services

No Charities & Donations

No Gallery Photos

No Videos

10 responses to Carol Attinger Steed

  1. Dear Bill & Family,
    Carol was an extraordinary woman who exemplified her Savior and King with grace, mercy and beauty beyond expression. Her smile is infectious and still remains as a vivid picture of Christ’s love. She will be forever in our hearts as a special friend and sister in Christ Jesus.
    Lovingly in Christ,
    Tom, Karen and the AgriVision Family

  2. When I was just out of high school I worked for a short time as an Au Pair for Carol and Bill when they lived in Laguna Niguel. I came from Minnesota and my new life with their family opened my eyes to many great things in my life. Her and Bill were the first “power couple” I’d ever met and I wanted to be just like them.
    Although I haven’t spoken with them in almost 30 years I have thought of them often. Over the years, she has come to me in my dreams which is how I came to find her obituary, Needless to say I was shocked to learn of her death.
    She had such a fire, I thought she would have lived to be 100! I know that she will be greatly missed for she was such an inspiration. My heart goes out to Bill and their family. Her radiant beauty, energy and strength will not be forgotten, even by those were merely passing ships.

  3. terri jensen says:

    Jennifer, thank you so much for posting. I randomly googled Carol’s name this morning as I thought about her. Your words made me smile, yes, she did touch many lives. We all love and miss her. Thanks for taking the time to share. — Terri Jensen (Carol’s sister)

  4. Carol and I were in the Sound of Music together at Mission Viejo High School during the summer of 1974. She was going to be a senior and I was going to be a sophomore. She taught me a lot about acting as this was my first production. She was older than me, but in the play she was Liesel and I was Rolf. Yes I had a small crush on Liesel and would do anything for her. I loved singing 16 going on 17 to her every performance. That was my first time to sing solo. We talk about our true ages being reversed. Thought it was funny. She taught me how to dance a little. And I gave her a BIG kiss during our last performance on stage. She will always have a place in my heart. I am so sorry to learn of passing. These are the memories that I will always cherish with Carol.

  5. Hanneke says:

    What a beautiful life, what an inspiration and what a beautiful story.

    Sending love & strength –

    Greetings from an avocado grower from Kenya.

Leave A Condolence

Choose a Candle