Camay Rea Pope

Camay Rea Pope, 78 of Visalia, passed away on September 16, 2016. She was born in Mississippi on January 7, 1938. She moved with her family to Eureka, California in 1949. In 1953, she married her first husband, Paul Johnson, and had her first son. She then moved to Fresno, California where she met and married Chuck Pope and had two additional sons.

Camay worked as a nurse’s aide at the old St. Agnes Hospital and then moved into the food service industry. She spent most of her career (25 years) working for Al and Jimmy Pardini. Her greatest joy was in serving others.

After the loss of her husband in 1988, Camay moved to Visalia to be closer to her family. She then became a Sales Associate for Circuit City where Camay’s larger than life personality contributed to her success as one of their top sales performers until she retired in 1997.

Camay was blessed to find another life partner in Mel Farmer, who shared her life for 26 years until his death in 2015. Camay never met a stranger. She loved life, people and her family were the center of her world.

Camay is survived by her children; Paul Allen Pope and his partner, Gary Lee Smith of Palm Springs, Troy Pope and Doyle Pope and his wife, Kimberly of Visalia. She is also survived by her sister, Juanita Ederra of Fresno.

Visitation will be held at Miller Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 from 4:00 pm to 8:00pm. Graveside Services will be held at Visalia Public Cemetery on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made in Camay’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Foundation which was Camay’s favorite charity.