Carolyn J. Prola

Carolyn J. Whitney Camacho Prola was born in Vancouver, WA on July 3, 1934, and passed away at her home in Myrtle Point, OR on April 6, 2025, at the age of 90. Carolyn was an army brat and lived in Washington, Oregon, and Utah, before moving to California when her father was stationed at Fort Ord. She attended Monterey High and then Salinas High School graduating in 1953. She attended Hartnell Jr. College and was a pom-pom girl. She also competed for Rodeo Hostess at the California Rodeo. Before her first marriage, she worked as an usherette at the El Rey Theater and for a veterinarian. In her spare time, she enjoyed showing Norwegian Elkhounds for Pat Craig Trotter. After her marriage she became a stay-at-home mom to her four children. She became involved in Girl Scouts, 4-H, and Job’s Daughters, while continuing to show and raise Cairn Terriers. After her marriage of 20 years ended she learned to drive, finished her AA degree at Hartnell College, and worked for a nursing home, and Natividad Medical Center. She met her second husband, Don Prola, and after retiring, they moved to Mrytle Point, OR where she had relatives and fond memories from when she lived there as a child.

While living in Myrtle Point, Carolyn served on the City Council and was instrumental in building a skate park for the children of the town. Many famous skateboarders showed up for the dedication of the park. She enjoyed a vast array of hobbies including writing, publishing several books, poetry, genealogy, quilting, stain glass, sailing, circus performing, shooting black powder guns, and making wine and spirits. She entered many of her hobbies at the Coos County Fair and was proud of the blue ribbons she won. She was involved with the Sawdust Theatre in Coquille for many years. Carolyn also portrayed Mrs. Claus to the delight of the children of Myrtle Point.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents Capt. George H. and Harriet Whitney, and her husbands, Moe Camacho and Don Prola. She is survived by her children, Vickie (Mick Brown) Casacca of Salinas, CA, Laura (Benny) Bojorquez of LaGrange, CA, Gail (Chris Smith) Krauter of Fowler, CA, and Stephen Camacho of Stagecoach, Nevada.  Grandchildren Andrew (Sara) Casacca, Peter Casacca, Julie (Corey) Smith, Ted (Erinn) Brown, and Alyssa Krauter; and great-grandchildren Colby, Casey and Carson Casacca, Cade, Faith and Skyler Smith, Leo and Scarlett Brown, and Levi and Emmett Gershman. She is also survived by her brothers Thomas Whitney and Bill Whitney and her companion John Lindegren and their dog, Atlas.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 11 at 10:00am at the Pioneer Cemetery in Myrtle Point, OR with a reception to follow at the Myrtle Point First Christian Church, 511 6th Street Myrtle Point, OR.

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