Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One

Carol Ann Grant, 77

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Carol Ann Grant, 77, of Stockton, California went to be with Jesus on September 4, 2016. She was born on July 26, 1939 in San Mateo, California to Michael and Ina Rusnak. She was one of the first women letter carriers for the United States Postal Service in San Mateo County, California. She then went into the retail grocery business for more than 20 years.

After multiple surgeries she left the grocery business and went back to school at Humphries College in Stockton, California where she made the Dean’s List with straight A’s. After graduating she worked for the State Compensation Fund in San Francisco for 10 years and retired in 1999. She and her husband, Larry Grant, moved to Stockton, CA to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Ina Rusnak and her husband, Larry Grant, the love of her life!

Carol leaves behind to cherish her memory, one brother, Kurt Rusnak (Dora) of Dublin, CA; a brother-in-law, Bart Grant (Kay) of Redwood City, CA.; three children: Mike Saner (Carol) of Lodi, CA, Tim Saner of Walnut Creek, CA, and Vicki Logan (Jim) of Stockton, CA; two step children: Kristie Grant Cockrell (Matt) and Ginger Barker (Andy) both of Oswego, OR. There are also nine grandchildren: Angie Reed (Aaron), Joshua Saner (Chelsea), Jessica Saner, John Logan (Brittany), Tim Logan, Dayva Cockrell, Oliver Cockrell, Abigail Barker and Miles Barker; three great grandchildren: Taylor Reed, Hailey Reed and Jackson Logan, favorite cousins (you know who you are!), numerous other family and friends, and her beloved dog Trixie Grant.

Some of her favorite things were vacationing with the love of her life Larry Grant, bowling (leagues and tournaments), gambling in Reno, bingo with Amanda Marchesotti, watching football (Go 49ers!), and attending her home church, Lifesong, where she met and fell in love with Jesus in 2002 and was baptized a year later.

She loved and adored her dogs over the years (FiFi, Little Chip, Sabrina, Toto, Missy, BeBe, and Trixie), but her ultimate joy and passion was spending time with her family and friends!

A celebration of her life will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at Lifesong Church, 3034 Michigan Ave., Stockton, CA 95204.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carol’s home church at their website­ Lifesong.net.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-982-3400.

www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com

30 Comments

  • Your Favorite cuz, Suzy Posted September 10, 2016 11:37 PM

    Love you Carol Ann, we will miss you so…
    Till we see each other again.

  • Lisa Logan Reedy Posted September 11, 2016 10:35 AM

    Carol you were the life of the party! You brought joy and friendship to everyone you met… adventurous all the way!

  • Lynn & Mary Dill Posted September 11, 2016 7:20 PM

    Vicki, Mike & Tim, Thinking of you and praying for all your family. Lynn & Mary

  • Claudia Woktkamp Posted September 12, 2016 2:58 PM

    Carol Ann was more than a cousin. She was one of my best friends. We were equals, ignoring the age difference, the amount of time that passed between our visits, and our lack of money., we ALWAYS had a great time together. We laughed a lot! We cried a lot! We were more alike than most people knew. Recently, at our Aunt LaVonne’s memorial party, she said to me, “what will I do without her?” Now I ask, “what will I do without you, Catol Ann?”

  • Claudia Woktkamp Posted September 12, 2016 3:00 PM

    We will be together again one day. I love you Carol Ann.

  • Daughter, Vicki Posted September 25, 2016 9:29 PM

    Mom, I miss you so very much and still can’t believe what happened in Arkansas. I know you’re doing awesome, it’s me I’m worried about!
    Love you forever and cherishing all our great memories we have together ♡ AML AML

  • Nancy Barnes Posted September 26, 2016 6:52 PM

    In the 70’s Carol came into my life when she was hired by Half Moon Bay Alpha Beta Store where I was already working. At the time I was at a low point in my personal life so she quickly became my guardian Angel protector, always telling me what to do like a mother would do, and soon I nicknamed her “My Ma”. One day I guess I was pretty down so she said, “Is that what’s bothering you Bunkie?” -thus, I became “Bunkie”. So we were “My Ma” and “Bunkie” and were the “Thelma & Loiuse” of Alpha Beta. We were constantly stirring things up, but also got the job done, so they put up with us.
    Soon “My Ma” took me home to meet the family, and I don’t just mean the immediate family – I met and became a part of a larger, very fun group of people who soon became my family too. “My Ma” is my very best life long friends and oh what fun we had together. We went on vacations and every one of them had some crazy event happen – leaving me with so many wonderful memories.

  • Nancy Barnes Posted September 26, 2016 7:00 PM

    I DON’T WEAR MAKE UP so while we were at a hotel in Santa Maria in the middle of a road trip, she spent 2 hours putting make up on me, chiding me the whole time about moving and laughing too much. Finally I became beautiful and we went to the bar where there was dancing. I DON’T DANCE, so when a gentleman came up and asked me to dance, I said,no thank you. My Ma couldn’t believe it – after she had spent 2 hours making me beautiful I said,no thank you!!! She not only harped on that all night long,but all the way home the next day -I’m sure all of you know what I mean. She was a very loving and fun person and I was so lucky to have her in my life.Besides leaving me with so many great memories, she left me with a very special family that I will treasure and love the rest of my life.
    Thank you “My Ma “. Lots of love,”Bunkie”

  • Jan Fay Posted September 27, 2016 1:53 PM

    Strange how lives can intertwine……I first met Carol in 1967. We both worked for Albertsons. We knew each other but did not become “buddies” then. Years later, 1976, I started work for Alpha Beta in Half Moon Bay, Ca. She was already there as one of the “top” people. We did become friends. She took me under her wing & helped me succeed . I had many fun times with her and “Bunkie”. She could be very funny at times. I will never forget the time she was training me to become a PIC & was showing me how to set the timer on the safe. We were supposed to set it for the next moring but somehow we set it for 24 hours. Yikes! How was the store supposed to function? We had to call our boss, who was at the movies & learned later someone at the theater went up & down the aisles calling his name….humiliated! And we sure heard about it…but…we laughed many times about that incident.

  • Jan Fay Posted September 27, 2016 1:53 PM

    Many years later she met & married Larry who had worked with my husband at TWA. Then lost track but thought of her often….kept tabs on her now & then from friends. Worked with her son Tim…so knew she was doing ok. Then to hear of her final time in Arkansas, of all places…..was where I was born & have family. Just another little keeping in touch .
    I know she will be missed by all the lives she touched…she was an original….

    • Daughter, Vicki Posted September 27, 2016 9:09 PM

      Thank you Jan ♡

  • JJ Logan Posted September 27, 2016 6:25 PM

    To the greatest grandma ever. When I first thunk of ky grandma my mind goes to one thing, her welcome mat in the entryway of the san mateo house, it sayed GRANDCHILDREN SPOILED HERE. We so were! I rememhernfeeling like the luckiest kid in my school because in February I got another christmas which meant morentime off school, more presents, and more time with my grandma and Larry Pa. Christmas in san mateo mateo meant all you can drink tree top appoe juice cans and more presents than there was floor!.

  • JJ Logan Posted September 27, 2016 6:31 PM

    Another memory I have of my grandmother is all the trips to reno and lake tahoe she would take me and my brither on. On these trips I never had to sleep, could play in arcade as long as I wanted and I got to wheel my grandma around on the casino floor in her wheelchair as a front so I could play the slots to! everything my grandma did, no matter what it was, she wanted me and my brother with her.

  • JJ Logan Posted September 27, 2016 6:47 PM

    Last thing, my grandma as most everyone knows was seemed to always be that person who lived her life with the what can I do for somebody else mentality. Always lookeing to brighten somebody dlses day rather than what can thus person do for me. it took me til August of 2015 to share in my grandmas outlook. I spent a lot of my later years looking at everyone including my grandma with the what can I get out of them and I regret it so much. But no matter what my grandmither still was there for me and did everything she could to help me. But it wasn’t until I left her and everyone behind and went Arkansas that i stopped being the old me and became the grandson, son and brother that my grandmother knew I could be!

  • JJ Logan Posted September 27, 2016 6:54 PM

    So in Arkansasni ckean up. I find a woman who I end uo marrying and having a son with and wouldn’t you know that besides my parents, my grandma was the first person to come out and not just meet my wife, but be there when my son and her great grandson born! Grandma I love u and talk to u everyday. thank you for coming and making sure i was ok before you went to be with Larry Pa. Im sekfish and still wish you were here running your fingers through my hair for hours while we watched soap operas. But you and Larry Pa are together with Jesus and me and my family will be there soon, till then go 49ers! i miss you more everyday! Your third oldest grandchild by 5days!

  • Stephanie Posted October 25, 2016 2:38 PM

    I will never forget how welcoming Carol was to me. I loved going and playing bingo with her, and helping her go grocery shopping at midnight. Lol I will never meet anyone like Carol and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

  • Melodi Posted October 26, 2016 2:47 PM

    I will always remember her humor. No matter what she always had a snappy comeback…very real woman, always accepting and giving in nature. Can’t ait to see you on the other side! 💛

  • JUDY MADDOCK Posted October 28, 2016 5:30 PM

    We have such a loving and wonderful family and cousin Carol Ann was a big part of it. She will live in our hearts and memories until we see her again. What a glorious day that will be!

  • Kris Tetz Posted October 28, 2016 6:49 PM

    You had a way of making everyone you met feel special! Always enjoyed seeing you. You always put a smile on my face. Until we meet again Aunt Carol!

  • Tim Posted October 28, 2016 9:49 PM

    I don’t know how I will make it without you, but sadly I will. I love you Grandma

  • Alyssa Meza Posted October 28, 2016 10:19 PM

    To a gem who danced to the own beat of her drum. Carol, our time together was precious. You literally let me into your home and showed me so much love as if I were your own. I will never forget the countless conversations about love and patience. I don’t think there’s ever been a bigger fan of Tim and I than you. You are so terribly missed but I know you’re with God watching over us and no longer in pain. I love you so much and I will see you again. I’ll bring the chevron donuts and Diet Coke. AML AML

  • Michael Tetz, (Mikey) Posted October 29, 2016 3:02 AM

    Mike, Vicki, and Tim. I love your mom very, very, much. One of the greatest regrets I will carry with me until my death is that I allowed the death of my parents (grandma Willie and grandpa Mel) and time and distance to seem like a proper excuse to always put off seeing her and the rest of the family. We always think that there will be another opportunity and a lot of the time sadly that opportunity never comes. Although we did correspond and keep in touch it just does not, in my heart, feel like it was enough now that she is gone. (continued…)

  • Michael Tetz, (Mikey) Posted October 29, 2016 3:03 AM

    Your mom was and I say this with all the confidence in the world one of the single best people I have ever known. She always had a smile on her face, a hug for me and a kiss every time I saw her from my earliest memory until my latest. She was HILARIOUS, genuine, and had an absolutely joyful spirit. (continued…)

  • Michael Tetz, (Mikey) Posted October 29, 2016 3:03 AM

    So many fun memories She, grandpa, EVERYBODY!!! Singing or playing cards and just being LOUD! I want you three to know we are family, I love you all very much, I really hope we can connect and not just running into you at the store mike! 🙂 One peaceful thought I do take is this, I know that when I die I will see her again and I know at that moment she will have ready and waiting for me a smile, a hug, and a big kiss! There is still sadness in my heart but a little peace with that thought. I’ll say this one last thing and AUNTIE CAROL THIS IS JUST FOR YOU!! Go Rams! your Niners Suck!!! She called me a “little ass hole” once for saying that. . . I’m smiling HUGE right now. . . I love you guys, love you auntie. . .

  • Jon Garcia Posted October 29, 2016 9:59 AM

    Carol was and always will be adored cousin as well as a good friend. Always when we were together conversation turned to kind words of comfort and support. I will miss her funny stories around the card table. Carol we miss you now but LOVE you forever.

  • Michael Saner Posted October 30, 2016 8:30 AM

    Hi Mom, It’s been 55 days now since you went to heaven. How is it? Is it everything you imagined? Since you went we have had several friends and loved ones go there as well. Have you met up with any of them? How was you’re reunion with Hope and Larry? Don’t know how many more days the Lord has for me down here but I am looking forward to the day I join you in paradise!
    Thanks for always being the best Mom you could be! Love for eternity, Michael

  • Amanda Marchesotti Posted October 30, 2016 12:13 PM

    Mommy dearest I miss you so much., 3:00 am texts too 5 hour responses . It was great to have you in my life even for the short time . I know your up there having a blast so that puts a smile on my face . Xoxo Amanda

  • Carol Saner Posted October 30, 2016 9:58 PM

    I miss you so much, I am so sad for taking time spent for granted thinking we had more time. Thankful for the last dinner we had and hearing you laugh like crazy at something Mike did. Thank-you for all the great memories and all the Love you gave us. So hard to see people that remind me of you without getting teary-eyed. I know you are rejoicing in Heaven but I just want to say you were an amazing woman , one of a kind, a true original. Love you . Carol

  • Teresa Leonardy Posted November 1, 2016 7:11 AM

    Only four months between the passing of LaVonne and Carol. A solemn time for all. Memories of both, more of sisters than Aunt & niece, will always warm my heart . My cousin Carol was loved by many and her life touched each soul in such unique ways. A friend of mine, who was instrumental in helping me deal with the loss of my mom, said to me. “The sadness will never go away , …what you are missing is her light, that light of God that shone through, the light you were so used to seeing everyday. That light went out….”. now their light must shine through all of us,

  • Stephanie Baffoni Posted September 24, 2017 10:49 AM

    I remember the first time I ever went to Carol’s house. I was so impressed with her Niner stuff!! I felt we instantly clicked because of our love for the Niners. I will never forget my late night chats, and her giant mug of Diet Coke. Lol She was one of the kindest individuals I have ever met, and she will always have a special place in my heart

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