Caronell (Bartgis) Majors, our loving mother and grandmother, went home peacefully to be with our Lord Jesus on March 14, 2017

Born March 2, 1936 in Oklahoma City, OK to Raymond and Irene Bartgis, she leaves her two daughters Melissa  ( Ken ) Brown and Marcie ( Bill ) Solomon,  Grandson Kenny ( Jennifer ) Brown and Great Grandson Kristofer Brown, and her long time friend and companion Les Ballinger  who cared for and loved her deeply.

Caronell was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Irene Bartgis, brothers Gary Bartgis and Jimme Bartgis, sister Sue Watts and grandson Christopher James ( CJ ) Brown.

Caronell graduated from Turlock High School in 1953. She later drove a school bus for Turlock Schools and was commonly known to students simply as “Miss Majors” or as the “Hat Lady who drove the Apple Bus”. She transported students daily to school and hundreds of special events.  Her heartfelt compassion and the many secret acts she did to help vulnerable, needy or underprivileged children will never be fully known but her loving care and anonymous gifts of shoes, gloves and clothing absolutely helped change the direction and lives of many deserving children.  Caronell retired with 31 years of service having logged over a million miles without a preventable accident.  One of her proud accomplishments was driving the news media bus for personalities covering the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Caronell was a very loving and protecting Grandmother and Great Grandmother.  From childhood she had a great love for horses having owned and treasured three at various times, Frosty, Blaze and Butch. She took great delight in watching and attending various horse centered events.  Roy Rogers and John Wayne were her lifelong models and heroes. She was a regular attendee at the local library being an avid reader who would easily read several books per week.  

We praise God that Caronell’s faith and assurance since childhood was in her Lord Jesus Christ and that she is now resting in His loving arms.

A Celebration Service will be held at CPN Nazarene Church located at the corner of Monte Vista and Waring roads in Denair at 11:00 AM on Friday March 31, 2017 with a luncheon to follow.  All friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or Salvation Army.

Please share your memories at www.AllenMortuary.com