Carole Lee Blackmer
August 01, 1934 - June 27, 2015
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Carole Lee Blackmer
August 01, 1934 - June 27, 2015
Obituary
Blackmer, Carole Lee, from Lake Forest CA and Gillette WY, passed away from natural causes on June 27, 2015. Carole was born in Freeport Illinois, August 1, 1934 to Frank and Viola Kamrar. Her maternal grandparents, Ludwig and Caroline Trunk, helped raise her until the age of 12. Her only sister, Joyce, was born when she was 6 years old.
Carole attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse and always maintained good grades. She loved to ride bikes, listen to music and as a child she would sing songs on the radio. Carole attended West High School in Rockford Illinois, where she met her future husband, and graduated in 1952.
On September 10, 1955 Carole married her high school sweetheart, DeLyle Blackmer. They went on to have 4 children, Lynn, Lori, Dirk and Lisa whom they raised in Illinois and then California where in 1966, they settled in Garden Grove.
In 1968, Carole was divorced. She married second husband, Skip, in 1970 and was widowed on December 25, 1981. In 1973, she started college and graduated with her BA in Literature and Manpower Management from Cal State Long Beach in 1980. Carole starting working at the El Toro Marine Base in 1974 where she worked her way up to Supervisory Labor Relations Specialist. She was one of the last people working on the base when it closed and everyone jokingly told her to bring the flag out when she left. She had many wonderful lifelong relationships with people that she met while working at the El Toro Marine Base. She was also on the board of directors for the MCAS Federal Credit Union, eventually attaining the position of President.
After a 25-year career in Civil Service, Carole moved to Wyoming near her son. She worked for the District Court for several years before fully retiring.
As an adult, Carole was an avid reader, amassing an impressive collection of crime novels. She also enjoyed playing cards. Carole loved to travel and especially enjoyed her trips to Germany and Italy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, husband Skip and dear friend Dot Barrett. She is survived by her son, Dirk (Tammy) Blackmer; daughters, Lynn (Rory) Allen, Lori Rahimzadeh (Marco Grammatica) and Lisa (Matt) Coulson; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sister Joyce (Don) Moline; many nieces and nephews; dear friends Linda and Richard Banks; Jim Carson; her Wyoming friends and her former spouse DeLyle Blackmer.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to the memory care staff at Brookdale, San Juan Capistrano and St. Joseph’s hospice, especially Robin and Jo, and volunteer Yoon for their wonderful care of our mother.
Our beloved mother and grandmother, greatly loved and greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 7th at 10:30 a.m. St. Kilian’s Catholic Church, Mission Viejo CA. Graveside services immediately following. Reception afterwards.
13 responses to Carole Lee Blackmer
Linda Banks says:
July 2, 2015
Carole has been my wonderful friend for 34 years. We’ve made some great memorie over the years. I love her and will miss her forever.
Linda
Lori Rahimzadeh says:
July 2, 2015
Lit a candle in memory of Carole Lee Blackmer
Lynn Blackmer says:
July 2, 2015
My Mother will live in my heart forever.
Debbie Saunders says:
July 3, 2015
Mrs. B, as I always called her, was like a second mother to me during my teenage years. I will treasure those memories forever.
Joshua Bonilla says:
July 3, 2015
Being her 1st grandchild , my grandmother always spoiled me and protected me . Even when my mother had good reason to discipline me , it didn’t matter because my nani would back me up and protect me regardless. I remember when i was in elementary school ,my mother and I moved in to her house. My poor mother was outnumbered by me and my nani . Each and every time I shouldve been disciplined it was super nani to the rescue !!!!!! I didn’t understand how my nani kept me out of trouble . So I asked how she did it . She told me the most powerful secret that a kid of that age could ever learn . She explained ” when your mom starts acting like the wicked witch of the west , this is what you do . All witches have an invisible spider hanging from their nose by a web . When she gets mad grab that spider and pull it off and she will lose her powers . ” Now this may sound absurd to everyone , but believe me , IT WORKED !!!! ANY TIME MY MOM WAS MAD , I WOULD ACT LIKE I WAS RIPPING A SPIDER FROM HER NOSE AND SHE COULDNT HELP BUT LAUGH . EVEN IF SHE WAS MAD . My nani . Jeoperdy and trivial pursuit extrodinare . My nani . Made the best circle potatoes ever . My nani . The reason I drank coke instead of pepsi . My nani . Once received me as a present and acted like she won the lottery. My nani . Had a magic wand that no one could see because it would make you go blind . My nani . She had hooks hanging from the ceiling . It was ok to make mommy mad but mess with her and you will be “hanging from the hookers.” My nani called the first girl that ever called me “the breathless babe.” Now that I think about it I don’t even remember her real name . I just remember the “breathless babe” and that’s only because of MY NANI . RIP . I LOVE YOU AND WILL NEVER FORGET MY NANI.