Edith James Karas passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 13th, surrounded by her immediate family. Always a star, she was a truly gifted and brilliant individual. Edie was born in Monterey, CA to Edgar and Florence Ball James.
A third-generation Monterey resident, she graduated from Monterey High School and earned degrees in piano and voice from San Jose State College.
While earning a secondary credential at Stanford University in 1943, she met and married Sam Karas, a Greek from Chicago, stationed at Ft. Ord during WW II. Following the war, they settled in Monterey and raised three daughters-Penny, Judy, and Rachel.
Edie taught briefly at Monterey High School in the early 50’s, then began a long tenure as instructor of English and the Humanities at the Monterey Peninsula College. She greatly enjoyed being part of the MPC teaching staff. An exceptionally articulate and stimulating teacher, she helped found MPC’s popular Gentrain program and co-authored the original Gentrain syllabi and three college English textbooks.
A voracious reader and student, she led tours to England, Ireland, Greece, and Italy. With husband Sam, she traveled widely throughout Britain, Europe and Eastern Europe, making friends everywhere she went. Ball’s Green House, their home in the Cotswolds with a beautiful garden created by Edie, is remembered fondly by many friends who visited there. Blessed with a surplus of energy and a love of the theater, she and Sam appeared in numerous plays on the Monterey Peninsula. With close friends Morgan and Louisa Stock, they opened the New Wharf Theater in
Monterey in the 1970’s. Politically active, Edie & Sam worked hard to elect Democratic candidates to office. They participated several times as election monitors in Bosnia in the 1990’s and spearheaded a UNA-USA
Adopt-a-Minefield fundraising campaign in Monterey County.
Edie had a wide range of interests and a zest for living that drew people to her. An accomplished pianist, she belonged to numerous cultural, educational and civic organizations but always found time for friends and family. She loved to entertain and was happiest when she had a party to look forward to.
Edie is survived by daughters Penny (Lynn) Lockhart, Rachel (Wally) Holz, and Judy Karas, as well as grandchildren Sarah Lockhart and Tara,
Celeste, and Grant Holz. Donations in Edie’s name can be sent to the Big Sur Health Center, 46896 Highway One, Big Sur, 93920, Monterey Public Library Trust Fund, 625 Pacific St., Monterey, 93940, and the MPC Foundation, P.O. Box 203, Monterey, 93942. Memorial Services will be held December 14, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. in
Lecture Forum 103 at Monterey Peninsula College with reception following.
