Caroline Wickett Dern Oliver, 86, of Oak Harbor, Vero Beach, FL, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004 after an extended illness. Born June 26, 1918, Berkeley, CA, daughter of Frederick A. and Caroline S. Wickett. Graduated with degree in Art from Bennington College, VT 1940. Married James George Dern (1915-1978) of Salt Lake City, UT in 1941. Remarried to Paul Winthrop Oliver (1909-1998) of Northfield, IL in 1978. Mrs. Oliver resided in Winnetka, IL, until moving to Vero Beach, FL in 1979. Mrs. Oliver was a highly respected horticulturist, who made significant contributions to the Winnetka Garden Club, the Garden Club of America, the Chicago Botanic Garden, for which she was a patron and trustee, and the McKee Botanic Garden of Vero Beach. She profoundly appreciated the arts, especially music, serving as President of both the Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Women’s Association of Symphony Orchestras, and avidly supported the Ravinia Festival, plus the Art Institute of Chicago. Extremely athletic, she excelled in the sports of golf, swimming and diving. She had a lifelong fascination with the game of Bridge and the art of needlepoint. Mrs. Oliver is survived by four children, James G. Dern Jr. of Morganton, NC, Caroline Dern Johnston of Vero Beach, FL, George H. Dern of Delray Beach, FL and Mary Wickett Dern of Salt Lake City, UT; four grandchildren, Caroline Johnston Woloson, Cory Johnston, Emily Dern Reynolds and Christine Dern; two great-grand-children, Caroline and Dodge Woloson; three stepchildren, Paul Oliver, Elizabeth Oliver Kelly and James Oliver; three stepgrandchildren; and one great-stepgrandchild. Her family and numerous friends celebrated her life during a beautiful memorial service held at Trinity Church Chapel, Vero Beach, FL and following reception at Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club on Feb. 19, 2004. The family gratefully requests in lieu of flowers, to please direct donations to the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022.
