Obituary of Carol Joyce Rees

Our Beloved Mother, Carol Joyce Rees was born in Pulaski Virginia January 19 1937 and left to be with the Lord, January 07, 2016. God blessed us with this selfless woman for nearly 79 years. A brief view of our Mother’s family history goes as follows: Carol’s paternal family, the Fishers (then Fischerbach) arrived to the new world in the early 1600’s, coming from Cuxhaven, Niedersachsen, Germany and arriving through Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Her Maternal side also came to the new world sailing from Ludgate, London, England and arriving in Spotsylvania, Virginia in the mid 1600’s Carol’s family had deep roots in Virginia. They had husbands, sons, fathers, uncles and brothers who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. We know several lost their lives. They also built churches, owned land, held political positions; were hardworking farmers, coopers, brick masons, carpenters, laborers, craftsmen, musicians, Pastors and homemakers. Her family line includes Mary Ball, the mother of President, George Washington. Carol’s parents were Hurl Ray Fisher and Cordie Pauline Arnold, both from Pulaski, Virginia. They married when Cordie Pauline was just 15. Their first child was a daughter Nellie Merline Fisher, but she died at just 4 months old in 1930. Later they had a son, James Ray Fisher born in 1931; Carol Joyce was born in 1937. Her mother later married Roy H. Jones on September 7th 1946 and they had a son in 1949, Roy Jones, Jr. Carol married Charles Guy Shipwash November 11, 1954 in Stokes County, NC and relocated to Huntington Park, California in 1955. Together they had (4) children. They divorced in 1962. Carol worked for several years at Kresses Dept. Store; working full time and taking care of 4 small children on her own. Carol met Gerald “Jerry” Ellsworth Rees, sometime in 1962, when in the middle of the night; someone broke into her home, with only her and her 4 children in the room. Jerry heard her screams and wasted no time coming to her aide and scaring the assailant away. Carol married Jerry on, September 23rd 1965. Carol loved spending time with family, often brought the whole family together for frequent family picnics at the local parks and taking trips to Doheny Beach, California and Drive-in Movie nights. There were frequent trips to the Griffith Park and San Diego Zoo, as well as Knott’s Berry Farm. She enjoyed watching her sons play baseball and seeing her daughter perform in school plays. She loved short and long road-trips, traveling all over this country. Carol & Jerry didn’t socialize outside the family a lot, but had a few close friends that were very dear to her and always enjoyed spending time with. The enjoyed participating in bowling leagues as well. In 1968 they moved to Ontario, California and she went to work at a company called PARCO. She later took a job at Royal Seals a California subsidiary of Minnesota, Rubber. Her husband Jerry died at age 51 in 1990 from a vascular disease and a year later Carol accepted a job transfer from Minnesota Rubber and moved to St Louis Park MN in 1991. She loved living in Minnesota and enjoyed reading, taking walks around her own and other neighborhoods, walking at Westwood Nature Center, Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet’s Gardens, often accompanied by one or more of her kids. She loved gardening and doing DIY projects. Mostly she enjoyed time spent with family. She worked hard all her life, she always put her children first, she was strong in her convictions and held to them, she lived with integrity, and never felt she was entitled to anything, but we know she deserved so much more. She was the great example of how one should live their life. Preceded in death by her parents, Hurl Ray Fisher, Cordie Pauline Jones; step-father Roy Jones Sr.; husband Gerald Rees; son Mark Jeffrey Rees. Carol is survived by her sons Gregory Allen Rees and Gary Rees of Isanti, MN; daughter, Sharon Kay Clark and son-in-law Ottie Jay Clark of St. Louis Park. Grandchildren, Kelly Lynn Spear, Jeffrey Brian Clark, Shauna Rees, Justin Daniel Rees, Chad Cale Rees, Ryan Alan Rees, Ashlee Rees, Marlee Rees and Connor Rees; Great-grandchildren, Austin Blake Smider and Isaac Bryce Clark; Brothers, James Ray Fisher and Roy Jones Jr. Her ashes will be laid to their final rest at Bellevue Cemetery in Ontario, California in the spring, resting beside her husband and surrounded by all her family members mentioned above, both earthly and in Heaven. Mom, you will be in our hearts & souls forever and we look forward to seeing you again someday