Carol Jahns

Carol Jahns passed from this life peacefully early in the morning of March 11, 2013.

Carol was born in Eugene OR on Dec 6, 1933 to Bernard and Carrie Haas of Medford, OR. She was a majorette for the Medford High Black Tornado and became entranced with live theatre. After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart and had three children.

They lived in Eugene and Medford before moving to Southern California, where she was able to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Acting in local theater groups under the stage name Carol Carson, she received glowing reviews for her roles in Visit to a Small Planet and The Complaining Nun. She also loved to dance; one of our many memories is her joy while she danced; on stage, at parties, even camping. She had such presence.

One day, she saw a skydiver exit a plane and was so intrigued that she went to the Newport Beach airport to investigate. She convinced the local jumpers to teach her to jump. One of the first female parachutist in the U.S, she jumped in exhibition shows as The Pink Lady for a few years before helping found Skydiver Magazine. Her pink parachute still hangs in a restaurant near the drop zone at Lake Elsinore.

Characteristic of her fun-loving nature, she married her husband Jeff at Orange County Raceway; they raced mini-bikes down the strip after the ceremony. They moved to Grants Pass, OR from Newport Beach, CA in 1973. They owned several businesses in town throughout the years, including The Muff Shop, Climate City Motorcycle and Woodcrafters Furniture. They recently celebrated their 45th anniversary.

Carol was a wonderful entertainer with a wide circle of friends. She was known for her garden of roses and lilies, and won several ribbons over the years. She had a true gift for decorating. She helped many of her friends with their important events, weddings, and parties. Her beautiful “fairyland” Christmas was especially loved and admired by all.

Carol is perhaps best known in Grants Pass for her 25 years of involvement with Barnstormers Theatre. As one of her former theatre associates wrote, “She served tirelessly and held this theater together for more than a decade… and she was like the mother, always home at Barnstormers and ready to welcome you with a smile and a cup of coffee.”

Carol was a spectacular Mom and a loyal, steadfast friend to a great many people in all walks of life over the years. She lived by two simple rules: always do your best and always treat others as you want to be treated.

She is predeceased by her parents and leaves behind her husband of 45 years Robert Jeffrey Jahns Jr, brother Jim Haas, sister LeeAnna, three children Wiskie, Jack and Valerie, two grandchildren, Ben and Alvin, three step-children, JoLynne, Phyllis and Jennifer, and their children are Lexi, Tori, Robert, Eva, Canyon and Emily.

A celebration of her life will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Barnstormers Theatre on Evelyn Street, Grants Pass, Oregon.

She will live on in our hearts, and in the hearts of her many friends, forever. Vaya con dios Mommy… dance like we all are watching.