Carolyn Kay Harrison

1938 - 2025

With a great enthusiasm for life and with warmth and laughter that drew many close to her, Carolyn Kay Harrison lived a full life for 86 years. Carolyn passed away in peace during the early hours of May 15, 2025, with her husband Terry next to her. Despite years of increasing dementia, her smile remained to her final days.

Carolyn Kay was born June 8, 1938 in Des Moines, Iowa. She was the oldest of four children to James Richard Swaine and Margaret (McCartney) Swaine. Carolyn excelled in academics and sports, winning the 1956 Moline City Championship in tennis. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, majoring in Geology. While there, she met her first husband, John Salzgeber. Together they had three daughters, Janet, Karin, and Jennifer. They settled in Madison, Wisconsin, and then later moved to Berkeley, California. Carolyn received a master's degree from U.C. Berkeley in Library Science and became a children's and reference librarian. Carolyn had many passions in life. She loved the outdoors, camping, travel, books and music, gardening, food, baking and chocolate.

In the early seventies, Carolyn met Terry Harrison. Life changed. Carolyn had always dreamed of living in the country and working outdoors. With this came the purchase of 30+ acres on Westside Road in Healdsburg, California, and the start of a new chapter in her life, farming. Carolyn and Terry grew wine grapes and other fruits and vegetables, selling the grapes to local wineries and the other produce to farmers' markets and local restaurants. Their biggest farming adventure was Sonoma Antique Apple Nursery, propagating unusual apples and pears and sending the young trees all over the country via UPS. It was one of the earliest organic grape growers and fruit tree nurseries. Under the management of their former farm manager, it is now known as Trees of Antiquity.

Carolyn and Terry traveled throughout the West in their RV, enjoyed camping with children and grandchildren, and traveled internationally as well. She was always ready with a great recommendation and enjoyed years of friendship with her book club gals. Carolyn loved playing her guitar and took classical guitar lessons. She and Terry were part of a folk singing group of friends, combining musical instruments and voices.

She will be so missed for all the warmth and laughter and smiles she brought to her family and friends. We love you, Carolyn, Mom, Granny. You live forever in our hearts.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Terry, her sisters Janet Allen (Red), Susan Bousson (Stan), her brother James Swaine (Sandy), her daughters Janet (John), Karin (Mark), Jennifer (Gary), her step-children Brent, Laird (Rachele), Marna (Scott), and six grandchildren, Scott, Emily, Dashiell, Trevor, Castor and Ethan.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Belmont Village, Albany, CA on August 9, 2025. For further information contact Janet Dektar (408) 726-1835.