Caroline Ann Korn

Carline Ann Wenger Korn was born on October 18, 1939 to Benjamin and Bessie Davis Wenger of Big Oak Flat, California. She passed from this Earth on August 4, 2026. She grew up on the Davis Ranch in Catheys Valley and attended Catheys Valley School, Mariposa High and graduated from Merced High School. She earned her BA degree from California State University, Fresno with majors in Education and Biology and MA from the University of San Francisco. She taught in Plainsburg, Catheys Valley and 23 years as science, journalism and bilingual education teacher in Hollister. Students remember her as a caring teacher who helped them achieve their dreams.

She and her husband Alex Korn operated the Primrose, a commercial salmon- albacore troller for 18 years. They retired to the family ranch in Catheys Valley where she led the community effort to save and restore the 1879 schoolhouse she and her mother's family had attended. She served as schoolmarm when classes visited the Little Schoolhouse to experience a day in a pioneer school. She was first president of the Catheys Valley Historical Society and, when the Society was offered Gold Rush blacksmith tools and relics, she led volunteers in building a shop to house them.

Several years after Alex's passing, Catheys Valley native Earl C. Gordo heard of the Save Our Schoolhouse effort and returned to help. Also, a widow he and Caroline cherished ten joyous years together exploring their beloved Sierra, nurturing their organic garden, volunteering at the Schoolhouse/Blacksmith Shop and establishing, with other volunteers, the Land and Legacy Learning Garden at Catheys Valley Elementary School.

Bower Cave, a sacred site known to the Miwuk people as Ootin, had been part of the Wenger family ranch since 1861. Her lifelong effort to preserve this subterranean garden of ferns, flowers and jewel-like lake has yet to be realized when, with members of the American Indian community, devoted volunteers and the US Forest Service, a gate with Miwuk motif was placed at the entrance and yet to occur full presentation of the Cave's significance provided through the work of Forest Service interpreters of American Indian descent.

Caroline devoted her life to children as teacher, volunteer Mother of the Garden, children's reading programs and working to establish a branch library and hiking/biking trails in Catheys Valley. She was a prolific writer of articles for the causes close to her heart. She edited as fund raisers The Catheys Valey Cookbook and was writing the Bower Cave Cookbook of recipes and stories. Her lifelong study of foothills ecology inspired her becoming a Certified California Naturalist, mentored by Professor Christopher Swarth, retired, of UC Merced.

She is survived by her beloved son, Anthony and daughter in law Valerie, their families Andrew and Erika, children Hunter and Bella, Cristina and son Lincoln, "Love children" Mary Teixera Avila, John Mchael, Earl C. Gordo, Debbie Gordo, "spirit sisters" Almira Gordo Flickenger, Marion Nichols, Alma and husband Bryce Green and their descendants, her cousins, students and dear friends.