Caroline Marie Fisher

Caroline Fisher, 78, passed away on May 19, 2006, at her home in Moses Lake. She was born to Ed and Laura Kramer in East Lake, Minn., on May 22, 1927. Her family relocated to Kalispell, Mont., when she was 2 years old.

Caroline was married to Dale Fisher on Dec. 27, 1942. In 1943, they moved to Moses Lake, where Dale worked helping to build runways at Larson Air Force Base. They first lived in the olive drab government trailers that were parked in the area of the present city library.

Caroline was very busy raising their three children and was very active in community service. Over the years, her involvement was extensive. Campfire, 4-H, Rainbow Girls, Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth, the American Legion Baseball and various PTAs. She was treasurer of Grant County Homemaker's Council and was elected the Grange Young Couple of the Year.

Caroline was a 4-H leader for 10 years; worked at the hospital gift shop; the blood bank; helped with the Moonlight Parade and Festival and worked on the Moses Lake float.

Caroline Fisher was the office manager for Grant County Fair from 1954 to 1994. When she first started working at the fair, there were only 300 exhibitors and the office was a plywood shack.

She also was secretary to the fair board and bookkeeper; she scheduled off-season events and commercial exhibits, etc. She also worked 13 years for J.C. Penney and retired in 1990.

Caroline became the executive secretary for Washington State Fair Association from 1976 until 1994 when she retired. In this position, she was secretary to the board, organized conventons and handled the budget and other financial matters.

Caroline also was an honorary member of the Moses Lake Chapter of FFA (honorary chapter farmer) and vice president of the Columbia Basin Job Corps community relations board. She was also a member of the Soroptimists, Moses Lake Senior Center and the B.H. Carriage Club.

Her volunteering was extensive — Red Cross blood drive, Inland Northwest Blood Bank, Senior Center, Monroe House, Superior Court bailiff for 11 years, Fair Association, General Voters and Mae Valley Voters election.

Caroline leaves behind her husband of 63 years, Dale Fisher, and two of her children, Gary Fisher and wife Mary of Moses Lake and Jeri Barsz and husband Bill of Coronado, Calif. Thier third child, Judy Hansen, preceded her in death in 2004. Caroline also leaves her grandsons Bob Hansen and wife Cobie; Jeff Hansen and wife Jana; great-grandchildren Lindsey and Christopher Hansen; granddaughters Erin and Sheri Jackson; her sister Myrtle Hutchens of Whitefish, Mont., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Caroline enjoyed helping people and serving her family and community all her life. She was quoted in a newspaper article concerning her job as fair office manager, "It is my job to make things go right here. I enjoy the people and I enjoy the work. What more could I want?" You are loved and will be missed, Caroline.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Central Basin Home, Health and Hospice, 311 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake, in her honor. A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. at the Caroline Fisher stage on Tuesday, May 23 at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Please dress casually.