Carla Ann Pulliam died in her home in Elkhorn at Sun Valley, Idaho, on her 52nd birthday, Jan. 9, 2007.
Carla was born in Monrovia, Calif., in 1955 and spent her early childhood in Pasadena. In 1960 her family moved to San Clemente where she enjoyed summers at Camp O'Ongo in Running Springs and in winter they would travel back to Pasadena to gather together for the Rose Parade. She met and married Jim McGugan, and they had a daughter, Creighton.
In the late 1970s they moved to Hailey, Idaho, and were later divorced. Carla then met Brandt Howell and they had a son, Tucker, together. Carla, Creighton and Tucker enjoyed life in the Wood River Valley with the snowy winters and the beautiful summers. She moved, like so many of us, to have other life adventures, but always was drawn back to the mountains. Each time she returned she would be taken back in by China Panda Restaurant, where she was a waitress for many years. This last year she also worked at Jane's Paper Place where her fun personality and sense of humor drew her fellow employees to her.
She had various talents and enjoyed painting and beading, making her own jewelry. She also wrote, whether it was journals, writing letters or poetry. One of her poems is included in her Memorial folder.
Carla always kept track of old friends and popped in and out of their lives like she had never been gone. Even her camp counselors responded with sadness to the news of her death. She touched many lives; of her family, of her friends old and new and especially the children in her life. She will be missed but leaves us with many fond memories.
Carla is survived by her daughter, Creighton Pulliam of San Francisco; son, David Tucker Howell of Gibbons, Ariz.; father, Carl (Ramona) Pulliam of Loreto, Mexico; brother, Dan (Poo) Pulliam of Hailey, Idaho; step-brothers Rosendo and Angel, step-sisters Marisa and Andrea Ramero of Loreto, Mexico; Aunt Louise Pulliam, cousin David and son Jordon Pulliam of Hailey, Idaho; cousin Sally Pulliam and daughter Katy, Uncle Joe and Aunt Ethlyn Pulliam and cousins Paul and Mary of Arcadia, Calif.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Mae Pulliam; grandparents, Mary and Paul Pulliam and Mary and David Neufeld; uncle, James Pulliam; cousin, Nancy Pulliam; and step-brother, Mario Ramero.
A memorial service was held in Hailey, Idaho, on Jan. 20, 2007. A second memorial is being planned for her home town of San Clemente, Calif., in the near future.
