Carol Kreis passed away peacefully on April 28, 2025. Marquita Carol Gutierrez was born on April 11, 1937, at the Armstrong Ranch, Balcom Canyon, Bardsdale, California to Margaret Frias Gutierrez and Luis F. Gutierrez. Her younger years were spent at the Armstrong Ranch, the Robertson Ranch, and later a ranch owned by Frank Le Bard. Mom became close to the Le Bards, referring to them as Uncle Frank and Aunt Emma. She spent many hours riding and occasionally being bucked off her favorite horse, Buck. She told many stories about riding Buck and feeding him apricots from the trees at the ranch. Her sister, Peggy, was 10 years her senior, therefore Carol spent many hours by herself or with longtime friend Patty Young (King) who lived nearby. Carol attended Bardsdale Elementary, Fillmore Jr. High, and graduated from Hart High School in Newhall, CA.
Carol met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) at a Croatian picnic in 1954 and they were married in 1955.
They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in July. The young couple initially lived in Culver City where Bob worked for Douglas Aircraft and later Hughes. Mom and Dad moved to Fillmore in 1959, where he became a partner at the local Richfield Service Station. While Bob worked for Richfield (later Arco), Carol did the books and ran for parts. She later became a para-educator at Sespe and San Cayetano schools where she retired.
Bob and Carol had two daughters Gloria and Karen, but Carol also had many sons who worked at the service station. Many became longtime friends and spent those years at the Kreis house watching UCLA basketball and eating Carol’s burritos!
There were many sides to Carol. She played the piano, had a beautiful voice, loved to dance, and was artistic. Carol loved all things in nature. There were many trips to Sespe and Pole Creek to hike, hunt butterflies, picnic, and haul rocks home for the garden. Carol even liked to dune buggy. In her later years she became a “Master Collector” of things.
Bob and Carol made many trips to Washington and Idaho. They moved to Moscow, Idaho in 2001 to be closer to family. Carol enjoyed observing the change of seasons and being outdoors. Time was spent camping at Dworshak Reservoir, white water rafting on the Salmon River, sitting on the deck at the Seiler cabin on Rimrock Lake, hanging out with the aunts and uncles at the Harneit cabin, floating the Clearwater River, barbeques at the Gillespie’s, attending concerts, gardening and much more. She was able to spend time with her grandchildren and in later years her great-grandchildren.
Carol is preceded in death by her mother Margaret, father Luis, sisters Gloria Gutierrez and Peggy Hungate. Carol is survived by her husband Robert Kreis, daughter’s Gloria Seiler (Scott), Karen Gillespie (Bill), grandchildren Marina Park (Jeff), Will Gillespie (Maja), Meghann Seiler Cheng (Steve), Kristen Seiler, Anna Seiler Schaut (Thomas), and great-grandchildren, Skylar, LJ, Mason, Adelyn, Piper, Jax, Lenora, Cecilia and Dezmond.
A small gathering will be held this summer.