Carmen Finley Obituary

Dr. Carmen Joyce Finley
March 9, 1926 - July 16, 2025
Carmen has gone to meet her ancestors! She died July 16, 2025 after a short illness. She was born March 9, 1926 in Santa Rosa, California, the only child of Perry and Ardith (Bobst) Finley and was the fourth generation of her family in Sonoma County. Her great grandparents John and Keziah (Head) Finley came here in 1852 and settled near Bodega. Carmen attended Santa Rosa schools, performed in the Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra at age 12, and continued playing through high school. She received her teaching credentials from the University of California and taught mathematics at Porterville Union High School from 1948 to 1951. Carmen attended Columbia University for her Masters and Doctorate in Psychological Foundations, Educational Measurement and Evaluation. She returned to Santa Rosa to work in the Sonoma County Schools Office, as a School Psychologist, a Consultant in Administrative Research and the Director of Research and Data Processing. In 1968 she spent a semester in Sweden at the European Seminar on Learning and the Educational Process, sponsored by UNESCO Institute of Education. During 1968-1971 Carmen was Assistant Director, then Associate Staff Director at the National Assessment of Educational Progress in Ann Arbor, MI and Denver, CO. The 70s brought her back to California, working at the American Institutes for Research in Palo Alto. She was also a consultant in Planning and Evaluation for the San Mateo County Schools Office and taught at Sonoma State University 1976-1983.
Carmen was the author of many publications about educational and psychological measurement and was active in professional organizations. After her retirement, she began to research her family history and became nationally respected in that endeavor as well. She was active in the beginning years of RootsWeb, one of the first internet sites to offer genealogical searchable databases, mailing lists and web space. In 1994, Carmen collaborated with the Ruben Salazar Library at Sonoma State University to create the Finley-McFarling Genealogy Collection to preserve her extensive research findings and make them available online. In 1988 she established one of the first endowed chairs in the History Department. She was an active member of the Sonoma County Genealogical Society, serving as President and other offices, as well as directing the many compilation and transcription projects. She worked with Doris Dickenson to publish books and videos about Colonel Armstrong and Parson Jones, related to her association with the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. Carmen was also a donor to Canine Companions and proud to be an official Dog Walker.
In 1965 Carmen designed and built a beautiful home in the Montecito Heights area of Santa Rosa, and lived there until 2017, when she moved to the assisted living facility Brookdale Chanate, less than 2 miles from her home and still among the redwoods. She made many friends there and enjoyed learning new games to play in the afternoon. Carmen moved to Villa Capri in 2023 and was reunited with several of her favorite staff members who had come from Brookdale. She continued to enjoy the dining options and the afternoon activities.
Carmen was respected by people from all over the world, from all walks of life. She will be missed by everyone she touched. Our many thanks to the wonderful staff at Villa Capri, and especially her long time caregiver Akesa.
Per Carmen's request, private services will be held.
Donations in her memory may be made to Canine Companions, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, or the Sonoma County Genealogical Society.