Written By Dan Craig

“ I always thought of myself as a teacher ,” Peters said . “ All of the students give you something different . I love every minute of it .”

Looking around her studio , a converted garage at her home in west Gilroy , art is everywhere . The cabinetry and furnishings are hand-painted in swirling multi-color patterns . Several brightly colored floral paintings are on display . For Peters , the flowers signify the rebirth she feels since being declared free of cancer in February 2021 after four months of hospitalization and treatment .

“ I use all of my life ’ s experiences , including any illness I have had in the past , as a positive to encourage and motivate people to go on . I want to encourage anyone going through any type of trial to find their inner strength in what they love and focus on that . Count your blessings .”

She remembers getting “ the teaching bug ” when she was in her sophomore year at San Jose State University . Though pursuing a degree in writing , she taught an art class at Forest Street Park in east Gilroy while working for the parks and recreation department . The experience and the unprecedented turnout for her class inspired her to change course , leading to a thirty-year career teaching art at Gilroy High School .

A native of Gilroy with longtime roots in the South Valley , Peters was the first of two children born to Alfred “ Curley ” and Eleanor Tomey . She credits her parents ’ influences with her early interest in creative arts . Her father was a welder by trade but also a singer and artist , known as the “ Cowboy Artist ” for his custom-engraved western tack , branding irons , belts , and ranching supplies . Peters remembers helping with the preliminary sketches of her father ’ s designs .

“ My mom was brilliant and gave me the love of reading , creative writing and [ I remember ] going to the theater in San Francisco . She was my art appreciation teacher ; my dad was my hands-on art teacher .”

In 2001 , Peters retired from teaching , receiving an Excellence in Teaching award from the California State Senate . She credits her late husband Jack , who passed away in 2015 , with encouraging her to try new things .

“ He would make me laugh ,” Peters recalled fondly . “ We had the same sense of humor and he was very supportive of me .”

Since leaving the classroom , Peters has not slowed down : she designed the illustrations for Clauia Salewske ’ s book “ Images of Gilroy ”, served on the City of Gilroy ’ s Arts and Culture Commission for more than nine years , and was a graduate and past president of Leadership Gilroy , receiving the Leadership Alumni of the Year Award in 2007 .

Peters also hosted an art-based educational cable television show titled “ Carol on Creativity ” from 2008 to 2013 , winning two Western Access Video Excellence Awards given by the Alliance for Community Media to honor the best local cable television programs for six western states .

Of all her accolades , Peters said three awards stand out to her . In 1985 , her senior class at Gilroy High School won a national award from Columbia Scholastic Press for copy writing and visual layout for the yearbook .

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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SPRING 2021 gmhtoday . com