The Cloudy Nights community lost our Den Mama - Carol Anderson aka csa/montana on Monday, 20 Jan.
Carol joined Cloudy Nights in 2005 and volunteered for the the moderator ranks in 2007. She moderated my very first post on Cloudy Nights. When I eventually joined the ranks of the mods, it was Carol who mentored me and together, we herded the Off Topic Observatory and Feedback forums for several years.
Carol was a self-proclaimed biker. Riding her Gold Wing, she and her husband toured the United States. She also held a private pilot's rating for single- and twin-engined light aircraft, something she mastered 'because it was difficult". She was an avid wildlife photographer and many of her images can be found on Cloudy Nights.
Carol lost her husband at quite a young age which lead to her moving from Helena to a cottage near Hauser Lake in the mountains of Montana. This was her hard time but she showed her grit and didn't complain. Together with Scott and Diane - Diane is a retired admin - she constructed The Dream Catcher 'Dobservatory' to house her 16". Her cottage was so remote that she had to fetch water - even in the depths of winter when the road to her cottage was iced over. Ken - another retired admin - once described her as "A little lady driving a big truck."
She was still doing this when she was 80.
Carol didn't have kids. Her constant companions were Juneau (a Goldie) and later, Trixie (a tiny bundle of white fluff). Trixie is now in the loving care of Carol's wonderful neighbor, Jane.
Carol's gentleness contributed much to the culture of Cloudy Nights. As I collected memories to write her obituary I realized she had guided many of the current 'staff' through their early days. Cloudy Nights was her family; she was our 'Den Mama'.
Carol Anderson was one tough lady.
She was 83.
We will miss her.
Those who would like to post there personal recollections of Carol will find a thread here,
