Obituary of Carol Ann Hagins

Carol Ann Hagins passed away on Tuesday, December 6th after a long illness. Carol Ann VanArsdell was born on January 19, 1927 in a small farmhouse on Fairview Rd. in Hollister. She and her family soon after moved to the families Prune farm in San Jose, Ca. She was the great great granddaughter of Benjamin Campbe11, founder of Campbell, Ca. Carol attended local schools there and graduated from Campbell High, spending most of her summers back in Hollister residing with the Pete Galli family whom she always considered to be her "cousins". That is how she came to meet her future husband and love of her life Brick Hagins. In 1948 they made their home in Hollister and began a long journey of raising seven children and running a Turkey farming operation. In the early 1970's they became co-founding partners in Ridgemark Golf and Country Club with lifelong friends and farmers. That journey started a whole new chapter when Carol Ann learned to play golf and became a very accomplished golfer in a short time winning numerous awards and titles at the Ladies Golf Tournaments. In the early days of Ridgemark Carol organized the very first children’s Christmas party for the members and residents. Christmas time was her favorite time of year. Her home was always beautifully decorated with the many collectables that she cherished and the holiday themed needlework that she created. Her children and grandchildren will forever be reminded of her love and talent in the Christmas needlepoint stockings and personalized framed needlework she created for each and every one of them along with afghan blankets for every birth. Her generosity didn't stop with her family. Many students of the one room school house her children attended may remember the delicious and unique birthday cakes she used to bring to the school at lunchtime whenever there was a birthday to celebrate. At Easter time for many years she would painstakingly hollow out turkey eggs, and then decorate the inside with creative tiny scenes of Jesus and springtime. She would then take them to Hazel Hawkins Hospital for the patients. She was a very active parent in the Santa Ana 4-H Club and each Christmas she helped with the decorating of the mailboxes. In later years Carol enjoyed spending time in the mountains at her cabin in North Lake Tahoe but her real passion was for the ocean and she loved every moment she spent at her home in Pacific Grove and Capitola. Carol Ann was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. Loved and cherished by her nieces, Cynthia Bolden and Hollis McGill as well as her numerous nephews. The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the staff at Mabie Northside for the care and kindness they showed to our mother. She is survived by her children, Linda (Mitchell) Wright, Terry (Kerry) Hagins, Ross (Bette) Hagins, JoAnne (Jon) Cook, Suzie (Rick) Zgragen, Donna and Leslie Hagins. Grandchildren, Christine Goff, Mark Wright, Lindsay Bolin, Joshua Hagins, Jordan Farnsworth, Jason Hagins, Corinne Sanchez, Elyssa Hagins, Carol Beth Holthouse and Zachary Zgragen. She is also survived by twenty-one great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by husband of 65 years M.C. "Brick" Hagins, her father and mother Dwight and Genevieve VanArsdell, her brother Dick VanArsdell, sister Ethel May Prentice, nephew Steven Smith and niece Hollis McGill. Services will be held on December 17th at 11 A.M. at Grunnagle Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Mabie Northside Patient Activity Fund or the charity of their choice c/o the mortuary.