Carolyn Anne McGuire Gross

November 11, 1951 –  September 9,2025

Carolyn “Carrie” McGuire Gross passed into eternity on September 9 in Mission Viejo, California, at the age of 73.

Carrie was born in Glendale, California, the daughter of Adeline and Ronald McGuire. Growing up in various communities in Orange County, Carrie graduated from John F. Kennedy High School.

During those high school years she was chosen female Speaker of the Year and was a ballerina in a semi-professional company. She was the first college graduate in her family, graduating from UCLA in 1974. Following her graduation, Carrie applied her flare for convincing speech and creative art working in interior design and sales.

In the late 1970s this career took her to Philadelphia where she continued to work, married and began raising her family before returning to her beloved southern California a decade later where she resided in Pacific Palisades for 28 years.

Carrie was a devoted mother, sister, aunt and friend whose love for life was as boundless as her heart. Online, she was known as “Carriedaway”—a fitting reflection of how she lived every day: fully, passionately, and often joyfully carried away by the things and people she loved most.

She cared deeply for everyone who was lucky enough to meet her, and brought laughter, light and excitement into every chapter of her life. Those who knew her will remember her generous spirit, infectious energy and ability to make any moment brighter

Carrie was the quintessential classroom mom, team mom and playhouse mom for her children’s great variety of Palisades activities. Her home became the gathering place for her children and their friends, especially if they knew her incredible Philly cheesesteaks or classic tacos were on the menu.

Carrie is survived by her three children, Alexander, Lindsay (Joe) and Matthew, her granddaughter Charlotte, her brothers Scott and Steve McGuire, husband Allen Gross and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother Ronny and her parents.

Carrie will be deeply missed.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on November 21 at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 Sierra Highway, Newhall, CA 91321. Please visit Carrie’s page on the McCormick & Sons website (mccormickandson.com) to share a favorite memory or, if you wish, to make a contribution to one of her favorite charities.