Caryl Lee Simpson June 21, 1947 – May 29, 2015

A memorial party will be held to celebrate Caryl’s colorful life in July. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or flower, smile at a stranger or practice a random act of kindness.
 On Friday, May 29, 2015, at 8:50 A.M., the world lost a little bit of its sparkle. Caryl Lee Simpson lost her battle with cancer and we lost a mother, sister, nana, confidante, friend, cheerleader, artist, entrepreneur and a piece of our hearts.
 Caryl was best known as the creator of Gilroy’s first gourmet food line, Garlic Festival Foods and as the force behind the Garlic mural in downtown Gilroy, however her creativity didn’t stop there. A longtime fixture in Gilroy, she owned several businesses including an advertising agency and screen printing shop before making the transition to her passion for food which also included becoming one of California’s first certified Olive Oil tasters, a cookbook author and owner of the highly regarded Café Aromas restaurant in Aromas, CA.
 Caryl was always involved… in her community, in her businesses and with her friends but most importantly, as a single mother, she was deeply involved with her children and their friends. Her home was always filled with kids, friends, pets and projects. She was an amazing mentor, teacher, counselor and friend.
 Life will be a little dimmer without Caryl. Those closest to her will remember her amazing parties, delicious food, her beautiful home and garden, her creativity, determination, strength, drive and devotion to those she loved and her belief that your day would be just a bit better with a fresh coat of lip stick. She certainly made the world a more beautiful and vibrant place.
 Missing her are her two children, Heather of Hollister and Ted of San Jose, their awesome spouses Greg and Janda, her beloved granddaughter Hannah, her sister Cheri, of San Francisco and countless friends and associates.