Caron Marguerite Bartlett, age 78, passed away peacefully with her family by her side Jan. 16, 2015, at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville. She was born at home Feb. 6, 1936, in Los Angeles to Enos and Elizabeth Culver. She graduated from Van Nuys High School and was a classmate of Robert Redford.

Caron was married to John B. Hagey in 1957. She worked as a car hop at Bob’s Big Boy drive-in in Toluca Lake & Van Nuys CA for several years during the 1950s. She and John lived in Van Nuys, Calif. She was a lady before her time. She went to the drag races with her husband and was soon racing with him and eventually taking over, becoming a top racer. She was winning races before Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney, who went on to become the First Lady of Drag Racing, began racing.

Caron was a highly competitive and fearless racer. Her children were able to meet the biggest names in racing and auto customization, such as Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, Ed Roth and Von Dutch.

Caron divorced John and was married to Donald E. Bartlett. Don also had a love of cars, and their enthusiasm for vehicles continued. Don was in the U.S. Navy reserves and served 28 years, retiring as an MCPOC (E-9). He also served for 26 years with the City of Los Angeles Fire Department, retiring as a battalion chief. They lived in Thousand Oaks, Calif., for a time and then moved to Van Nuys.

Don was doing his reserve time with the Navy in 1976 aboard the USS Ranger, visiting Puget Sound and Whidbey Island. He fell in love with Washington, and they decided to retire in Oak Harbor in 1988.

Caron loved animals and rescued many over the years. She maintained a lifelong love of racing, was passionate about her horse, loved music of all kinds and had the radio on all the time at home. Her greatest passion was her family and the friends of her family. She left a great legacy of love and caring. She survived in spite of losing many family members and friends. She was a member of WAIF and the ASPCA.

Caron is survived by three children, son John Hagey, and Kathy, of Lake Isabella, their children, Shannon Hagey, and great-grandchildren, Nick and Mattie Walker, Jonathan Palmer, and Josh Hagey, and wife Amanda, and great-grandchildren Jayden and Jayce Hagey; son, Don Bartlett, and wife Kellie, of Stanwood, Wash., and grandchildren Jessica and Jamie Bartlett; and daughter, Nadine Bartlett, of Hollywood, Calif., and her daughter, Zahn Mandzel.

A Celebration of Life for Caron Bartlett will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, with Chaplain David G. Lura, USN(R) officiating. Cremation was held with private family interment to follow at a later date. Please visit Caron’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences.