Person Page - 6736

     Carla Marie Kopietz was born on June 25, 1936 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.^2,3 As of circa 1960,her married name was Paxton.¹ She married Ronald Darrell Paxton, son of Hollie Shelton Paxton and Flora Gay Legg, circa 1960 at Minnesota.^1,3 Carla Marie Kopietz died on October 19, 2021 at Florida at age 85.³ She Carla Kopietz Paxton of Atlantic Beach, Fl, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2021. She was 85 years old. Carla is the daughter of Edmund and Marie Kopietz. She was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, where she spent countless summers enjoying the lakes and beauty of the north woods. She attended Carleton College and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1957, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta. Carla met her devoted husband Ron of 61 years as they were working in the Pacific Northwest. They settled and raised their 3 children in Spartanburg, SC, where Carla began her trek of never letting dust settle under her feet. While she carted her children to piano lessons, horseback riding, Scouts, soccer matches, swim meets, choir practice, Young Life, cheerleading and dance, she earned a teaching degree from Furman University, a Masters degree in Guidance from Converse College, and served her community as an educator and counselor. One fond memory her daughters have is when she would, on weekends when they were riding in horse shows, drive to Riveredge Farm at the crack of dawn, stand on an upside down feed bucket in the growing light, and braid their horses' manes for competition that day. She and Ron moved to the Fleet Landing community of Atlantic Beach, FL in 2014, where they have spent many happy years surrounded by the kindness of their neighbors. Her love for learning and activity ensured that no dust settled anywhere near her in the latter years of her life as well. The cheerful energy she brought to all events will be missed. Her passion for growing in knowledge and setting new goals was passed on to her children and seven grandchildren as they have journeyed through life with purpose and love. Carla is preceded in death by her father Edmund, mother Marie, brother Paul, granddaughter Maggie, stepmother Naomi, and step brothers George and Richard. She is survived by husband Ron, her children Holly Mabry (Don), Ann Von Thron (John), Jim Paxton (Lisa), and grandchildren Charlotte, Jennings, Jimmy, Joe, Mary Grace, and Holly, and several wonderful nieces and nephews. on October 27, 2021.³