Carolyn Marie Rosser Knott, 70, of Mesquite reluctantly ceded her battle with cancer on Jan. 25, 2013, in Rockwall with family by her side.

A visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. at Coker Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville.

Carolyn was born Sept. 4, 1942, in Van Nuys Calif. One of four daughters of Blanche and John Glanzman, Carolyn was always artistic and energetic, focusing her attention on competitive diving.

Her dad was in the Navy, so the family moved frequently throughout her childhood; living in California, Massachussets, and Hawaii (traveling by ship), before landing in Bethesda, Md., where Carolyn met her future husband, James (Jim) Byron Rosser. Carolyn and Jim romantically eloped in June 1961 and went on to raise four children of their own, calling both Texas and California home.

Being young parents presented challenges that Carolyn and Jim met head-on. They moved out west with a dream and the clothes on their back. They never hesitated to learn new trades or move to find better opportunities for their children — even living on a campground for a bit in Soledad Canyon to save money with with toddlers and another baby on way.

Carolyn was never too proud to work, but was much too proud for handouts. She worked as a carhop, diving instructor, teacher’s aide, and even took night classes to improve her opportunities.

When the young family moved to Texas in 1976, Carolyn worked at Walker Muffler Plant, then went on to Rubbermaid, becoming the first female injection mold maintenance technician (she was very proud of this!).

After 25 years of marriage and moving back to California, Carolyn and Jim divorced. Carolyn got her real estate license and within a few years remarried.

She followed her new husband to a remote area in Washington state, living at the base of Mount Saint Helens for almost 10 years. Carolyn was always fascinated by American Indians, and immersed herself in the native history surrounding her in Washington.

Within a few years of their return to southern California, her husband of 18 years passed away at home. Carolyn put her gypsy hat back on and relocated to Texas to be close to her children. She lived at the Waterford at Mesquite for the last several years where she made many close friends.

Carolyn dreamed big, smiled bigger, hugged like she meant it, and faced each day with tons of energy and an abundance of optimism with a hat perched jauntily on her head. Our world is a bit dimmer having lost her.

Carolyn’s survivors include her daughter, Beth Lewis and son-in-law Jim Lewis of Greenville; daughter Justine Rosser of Greenville; son James Rosser and wife Joyce Rosser of Holly Lake Ranch, and daughter Heather Ordonez of Rockwall; grandchildren Michael Scogins, Michel Garrison, Seth Lewis, Kelley Swope, Tia Tisdale, Casey Swope, Hannah Rosser, Abigail Rosser and Chloe Ordonez; 14 great-grandchildren; mother Blanche Glanzman; sisters Prissy, Peggy and Kathy; and her dear friends at Waterford, including James Nichol, Peggy, Judy, her nurse Kimmy and last but definitely not least, her friend and nurse Tina Martin who always went above and beyond the call of duty.

Carolyn was welcomed into heaven by her granddaughter, Carolyn Jo Cook.

Memorials may be made to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) in Carolyn Jo’s honor. You may give online at www.rettsyndrome.org and follow the “Donate Now” link, or call 800-818-7388, or mail a donation to IRSF, P.O. Box 706143, Cincinnati, Ohio 45270-6143.

Online condolences may be made at www.cokermathews.com