April McKay-Dudsic
Memorial Life Story by her sister April McKay-Dudsic
Carmen McKay sometimes called BodhiShakti was born in Glendale, CA on May 3, 1959. She passed away suddenly at the age of 64 and was found March 10, 2024 and presumed to have passed March 9. She is the CEO of Venus Envy where she held an intimate heart connecting event for lesbians over 50.
Carmen made bold colorful art that was showcased in a museum art show and sold many beautiful renovated art furniture pieces on Etsy for nearly $10,000. She loved rescuing huge pianos and turning them into swimming pool waterfall pieces.
Carmen was co-owners of She She Fun Events with previous partner Annie Albright. They produced single lesbian dance events and festivals integrating their spiritual journeys of meditation and practicing open heartedness with the wise women in San Diego and Guerneville.
Earlier Carmen lived in Baja, Mexico where she was a Handy Ma'm fixing rental properties she ran qnd operated and again produced some Single Wiser Women Lesbian beach get-a-ways for the women over 40.
With her partner Cora Nowell's encouragement she auditioned for "America's Got Talent", where Nick Cannon loved her Elvis impersonation, and she got a call back. She chose a touching Vietnam Vet character monologue and that did not win a spot, but she got to show her huge range.
Seeing all the homeless dogs in Baja she started an ongoing food drive with the local ex-pat Baja Mama's Cafe, and most importantly, she started an Animal Shelter in Mexico that continues to this day helping dogs get fed and find a home.
Prior to that, she delved into Landmark Education's transformative education and even worked for the company on staff for four years where she met her partner Debbie King. From there, she launched into her own dreams and became a transformative corporate comedian consultant in Silicone Valley to the top tech companies such as Intel, Adobe, Cisco, Motorola, Nortel, hp, Nokia, Kaiser, hospitals, and more. She worked many years as a consultant for her friend Rayona Sharpneck's company Women's Leadership.
She was given a Governor award for the work she did producing a Homeless fundraiser show. She directed real homeless people to tell their dramatic stories with dignity on stage. She gave them a voice.
In her younger years she was a mail carrier in Santa Rosa and bought her first house on the Russian River. She suddenly got a debilitating unknown illness that 10 years later became known as Epstein Barr or CFS. This was a lifelong struggle.
She turned to the River Repertory Theatre and met her lifelong partner in merry crime Tiana Lee. They acted in Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean and Man in the Moon Marigolds. She debuted in her own one woman show she wrote. She was also famous for her singing Elvis impersonations promoted as Elvis' Dyke Daughter.
She produced huge 3 day Women's Weekend festivals for many years in Guerneville and was given an award by the Chamber of Commerce for the huge financial contribution her events made to the community. She lived in Guerneville for over 20 years over her life.
Carmen made bold colorful art that was showcased in a museum art show and sold many beautiful renovated art furniture pieces on Etsy for nearly $10,000. She loved rescuing huge pianos and turning them into swimming pool waterfall pieces.
Carmen was co-owners of She She Fun Events with previous partner Annie Albright. They produced single lesbian dance events and festivals integrating their spiritual journeys of meditation and practicing open heartedness with the wise women in San Diego and Guerneville.
Earlier Carmen lived in Baja, Mexico where she was a Handy Ma'm fixing rental properties she ran qnd operated and again produced some Single Wiser Women Lesbian beach get-a-ways for the women over 40.
With her partner Cora Nowell's encouragement she auditioned for "America's Got Talent", where Nick Cannon loved her Elvis impersonation, and she got a call back. She chose a touching Vietnam Vet character monologue and that did not win a spot, but she got to show her huge range.
Seeing all the homeless dogs in Baja she started an ongoing food drive with the local ex-pat Baja Mama's Cafe, and most importantly, she started an Animal Shelter in Mexico that continues to this day helping dogs get fed and find a home.
Prior to that, she delved into Landmark Education's transformative education and even worked for the company on staff for four years where she met her partner Debbie King. From there, she launched into her own dreams and became a transformative corporate comedian consultant in Silicone Valley to the top tech companies such as Intel, Adobe, Cisco, Motorola, Nortel, hp, Nokia, Kaiser, hospitals, and more. She worked many years as a consultant for her friend Rayona Sharpneck's company Women's Leadership.
She was given a Governor award for the work she did producing a Homeless fundraiser show. She directed real homeless people to tell their dramatic stories with dignity on stage. She gave them a voice.
In her younger years she was a mail carrier in Santa Rosa and bought her first house on the Russian River. She suddenly got a debilitating unknown illness that 10 years later became known as Epstein Barr or CFS. This was a lifelong struggle.
She turned to the River Repertory Theatre and met her lifelong partner in merry crime Tiana Lee. They acted in Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean and Man in the Moon Marigolds. She debuted in her own one woman show she wrote. She was also famous for her singing Elvis impersonations promoted as Elvis' Dyke Daughter.
She produced huge 3 day Women's Weekend festivals for many years in Guerneville and was given an award by the Chamber of Commerce for the huge financial contribution her events made to the community. She lived in Guerneville for over 20 years over her life.
Her first live-in older girlfriend nicknamed Leemer aka Lois lived in Livermore and collected ornamental frogs. Carmen adored her, and though she denies it, she cooked delicious gourmet meals regularly. They remained friends till her unexpected passing.
In her college years in Lancaster, CA, she starred in many productions but was long remembered at AVCC for her embodiment of the Lucy character in Charlie Brown. Her fatally smitten straight co-star Linus wrote about this time of life years later passionately and humorously in his novel on Amazon called, A Son of the South Bay - Part 2 Ready To Launch by Chris Lawler. Carmen's short story is called The Vortex aptly.
She graduated from Evergreen High School in Everett, WA at only 16 years old. She moved back to CA and worked in a 7/11 at 17 on the night shift where she bravely stopped a robbery.. She was known as Super Woman, so donned that costume often. Her favorite hobbies over her lifespan were motocycle riding, horseback riding, and owning cool cars.
She is survived by: her mother Sandy Haynes, her siblings: April McKay-Dudsic, Tom McKay, Alex McGarry, Sharon Friend, Sandy Lilienthel, and Shelby Cheek and many, many long devoted friends.
In her college years in Lancaster, CA, she starred in many productions but was long remembered at AVCC for her embodiment of the Lucy character in Charlie Brown. Her fatally smitten straight co-star Linus wrote about this time of life years later passionately and humorously in his novel on Amazon called, A Son of the South Bay - Part 2 Ready To Launch by Chris Lawler. Carmen's short story is called The Vortex aptly.
She graduated from Evergreen High School in Everett, WA at only 16 years old. She moved back to CA and worked in a 7/11 at 17 on the night shift where she bravely stopped a robbery.. She was known as Super Woman, so donned that costume often. Her favorite hobbies over her lifespan were motocycle riding, horseback riding, and owning cool cars.
She is survived by: her mother Sandy Haynes, her siblings: April McKay-Dudsic, Tom McKay, Alex McGarry, Sharon Friend, Sandy Lilienthel, and Shelby Cheek and many, many long devoted friends.
