So for my online writing class, I had to write my own obituary; it is below.
Cara Hawkins-Symmonds, known best for her unrelenting efforts in making the sport of track and field one of the most popular sports in the U.S., died Saturday at home in Eugene, Oregon. She was 82.
Her husband, former Olympic 800 meter runner Nick Symmonds, reported to the Eugene press that she died in her sleep after her weekly long run. She had remained active still organizing and competing in local road races.
Mrs.Symmonds spent her childhood in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated with honors from Carson-Newman College where she was a division II runner participating in cross country and the 3k steeplechase. She received her Master’s in sports marketing from the University of Colorado. She began her career working for a sports marketing firm representing athletes while there she met her husband, Nick Symmonds.
From there she moved to Eugene to become one of the original employees of Flotrack, the all running network. She became vice president of communications. While there, she helped Flotrack become one of the most popular sports network with the buying of the rights of all collegiate running events and Olympic track and field events.
Upon retirement, she began the grassroots organization, Running for love. The organization provided shoes and food for needy children from Africa to the U.S. She was active participate in the local running community with organizing road races and coaching along with her husband local high school athletes.
Mrs. Symmonds is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Pam Hawkins. She is survived by her husband, Nick Symmonds; her sisters; Savannah Kennedy and Victoria Hawkins-Beckham; her two daughters, Henley Williams and Emerson Thoreau; her five grandchildren, Aubrey and Jennifer Williams, Laura, David and Henry Thoreau.
A race will be held in her honor May 15, 2069 at Hayward field. Memorial services will follow in the infield. Visitation will be from 3-7 at Evergreen Funeral home on May 14, 2069. The spreading of her ashes will occur at a later date.
