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Carol Anne Higgins Gertz, 74

One of life’s truly beautiful souls has died. Carol Gertz passed on Dec. 24, 2019, at Valley Vista Care in Sandpoint. Carol was born on Feb. 3, 1945, in Washington, D.C., to William and Anne Higgins; the first of four daughters.

Carol attended the University of Maryland, where she received her teaching credential. She met Ron Gertz in 1967 and they married on Aug. 9, 1968. They were married for 51 years.

Their life travels took them to Florida, where daughter Erin was born in 1973. Then to Williamsburg, Va., where their second daughter, Darcy, was born in 1976. In 1979 the family moved back to California, where their son, Joshua, was born in 1980, in Sacramento.

Carol took evening courses and received her Master of Arts degree (to become a reading specialist) from California State University Sacramento in 1990. Carol was an elementary teacher in the San Juan Unified School District until 2004.

Carol is survived by her husband of 51 years, Ronald, and their three children: Erin Rosburg of Rocklin, Calif.; Darcy Winter of Koenigswinter, Germany, and Darcy’s children Emma, Myles and Abby; and son, Joshua, of New York City; sisters Susan McDonald of Ocean City, Md., Virginia Cwalina of Arlington, Va. and Vickie Maurice of Flint, Mich., and cousin Nancy Reid of Greensboro, N.C.

The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the staff of Valley Vista Care in Sandpoint for the compassion and love that was given to Carol for the many years that she was in their care.

The family will announce a celebration of Carol’s life at a future date.