It is with deep love and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Carla Bales Tuttle, a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, on July 14, 2025, surrounded by the family she cherished.

Born on September 23, 1957, to Charlie and Gene Bales in El Centro, CA. Carla’s life was a testament to kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for those around her. Known for her clever wit, warmth, and understanding, she had a rare gift for making people feel seen, heard, and valued. She touched countless lives with her compassion, whether by lending a listening ear, offering a helping hand, or sharing a moment of laughter.

Carla spent most of her childhood and early adulthood in El Centro, California, graduating from Central Union High School in 1975. She spent time in San Diego, California and later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, before eventually settling in Santa Maria, California, in 2018 to be closer to her father and family. Throughout her life, she remained a creative soul and a connector, expressing herself through photography, writing, and what she fondly referred to as her role as a “domestic goddess.” Her home was a reflection of her artistry, and her innate gift for intuition meant she could always connect with others in the way they needed most.

Her joys were many—playing Scrabble, savoring Mexican food and iced sun tea, reading, and, above all, listening to music. Music was more than a pastime for Carla; it was the thread that tied her to her memories and a bridge that connected her to the people she loved. She created the soundtrack to her children’s lives, always eager to share songs that meant something to her. Whether singing along in the kitchen or dancing through her day, music was her constant companion. Some of her favorites included Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Billy Joel, and The Who. She also delighted in surrounding herself with the people she loved, finding joy in deep conversations, studying the moon, exploring astrology, and understanding people on a soul-deep level. Orange, her favorite color, reflected her radiant spirit, while autumn, her most cherished season, spoke to her soul. Carla believed in savoring the rare, beautiful moments hidden in the everyday and lived by the mantra to never be afraid of one’s true self.

She had many dear friends and was deeply grateful for the people who cared for her in her later years including Joy, Phyllis, and her caregivers Sarah, Aida, Jade, and Aubrie—each of whom held a special place in her heart. She loved them all dearly.

She was also a devoted steward of animals throughout her life, never hesitating to rescue and nurture back to health a wounded or sick creature, and even escorting spiders and bugs safely back outside. She often named and fed her house spiders, including a daddy longlegs she lovingly called Wolfgang. Carla held a special place in her heart for cats and dogs, birds—especially cardinals—as well as the quiet magick of bats and foxes. 

Carla especially treasured her role as a grandmother, pouring her love and energy into creating lasting memories with her grandsons. Her family was her pride and joy, and her legacy lives on through them.

Even in the face of life’s deepest challenges, Carla carried within her a fierce and unshakable strength. She had the rare ability to be a phoenix, to rise from the ashes, gather the pieces of her life, and rebuild with determination and grace. When she set her mind to something, she pursued it with unwavering focus, proving time and again that she was both formidable and resilient. This inner strength was not only her own compass but also her gift to her daughters, whom she raised to be strong, independent, intelligent women. Through her example, she taught them that strength is not the absence of struggle, but the courage to rise, again and again.

Carla is survived by her father, Charlie Bales; her daughters, Gina James and Renee Lizarraga; her stepchildren, Melissa and Jason Tuttle; her sisters, Charlotte Roberts and Christi Younghusband; her nieces, Corie Bales and Jennifer Hylton; nephew Paul Roberts; grand-nieces Alexa, Emily, Audrey, and Abigail; grand-nephew James;  and her beloved sons-in-law, John James and Joseph Doherty. She will be deeply missed by her adored grandsons, Roman, Atticus, and Charlie. She was preceded in death by her mother, Gene Bales, her partner, Michael Stellato and her beloved cat and familiar, Pancho. 

Carla leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and wisdom. Her kindness will continue to ripple through the lives she touched, and her memory will remain a light for all who were blessed to know her.

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