Carrie Shaffer Ward-Willis of Danbury, Conn., passed away on February 21, 2021. She was 55.
Born on August 13, 1965, in Evanston, Ill., she was the youngest of Carol and Brad MacKimm’s three daughters. She grew up in Rye, N.Y., where she attended Midland and Rye High schools. She graduatedfrom Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass.
Growing up, she loved playing tennis at ManursingIsland Club, and enjoyed waterskiing and outdoor activities as both a summer camper and counselor at Camp Norway in Ely, Vt. She was a member of the Rye School of Dance and, for many years, sang in the Christ’s Church Rye Girls’ Choir.
She remained an avid and vocal tennis fan her entire life. Possessing a prodigious memory, she had an encyclopedic knowledge of every U.S. Open player’sbiography and statistics.
In 1987, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Ohio University in Athens. After college, she worked with pre-school children before beginning a career in retail. She worked for The Limited and Lord & Taylor (in Stamford and Chicago) and managed Jacadi, a premium children’s clothing store. She loved all things feminine: pink, sparkly, and soft.
In 1997, she married Mark Ward-Willis, and they lived in Danbury, where they raised their son Trevor, who was born in June 2000. A devoted mother and wife, she was supported by a closely-knit and extended family. She loved creative cooking projects, reading, Snowball, their cat, and family activities.
In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by her mother, Carol MacKimm of New Canaan, Conn. and Bonita Springs, Fla.; her sister, Leslie McCarthy (Mark) of Darien, Conn.; her brother-in-law, Cliff Masch of Aurora, Ohio; and eleven nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Brad MacKimm, and her sister, Cathy Masch.
Donations in Carrie Ward-Willis’ memory may be made to Danbury Grassroots Academy, which improves lives of promising students through education, tennis, and health(Danburygrassrootsacademy.org)., or to the Myotonic Dystrophy Association, 663 13th Street, #100, Oakland, CA 94612.
