Careth Yvonne Fontaine's Obituary
Careth Yvonne Fontaine was born on January 3, 1950, in Sacramento, California, to the late John and Ruth Wells, Jr. She was the beloved older sister of John Wells III. On January 28, 2026, Careth peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and generosity that will forever live in the hearts of those who knew her.
Careth came from a remarkable lineage of musically gifted women. Her mother, Ruth Wells, was a classically trained pianist, and her maternal grandmother was an acclaimed concert pianist who served as Professor of Music at Philander Smith College in Arkansas. Her father was also musically gifted and played the piano by ear. Following in their footsteps, Careth learned to play the piano as a child and cherished performing in the “100 Pianos” concerts held at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.
As a young woman, Careth was deeply rooted in her faith. She attended New Hope Baptist Church and Faith Community Church and, in the 1960s, sang in The Voices of Truth choir at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church. She was also very studious and graduated a semester early from C.K. McClatchy High School in 1967. Careth was accepted to Chico State University and briefly attended, but her deep love for and closeness to her family drew her back home, where she continued her education at Sacramento City College.
Careth was married to Isaac Fontaine III November 3, 1986 and would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year. Their union brought together four sons from previous marriages: Careth’s two sons, Bryan and Austin Wilson, and Isaac’s two sons, Elgin and Isaac IV Fontaine. Together, they built a life grounded in faith, devotion, and family. This included countless hours devoted to sports—baseball, football, and basketball—hosting teams at their home, and preparing many large meals. Her pork chops, tacos, and chicken noodle casserole were among family favorites.
Careth and Isaac worshipped at The Supreme Council of the House of Jacob, where her leadership and spiritual character flourished. In 2009, she became President of the women’s auxiliary, The Daughters of God. Under her leadership, numerous church projects and activities were successfully completed. She led with a warm smile and a steadfast determination to see things through. In May 2008, Careth and Isaac were blessed to host the Supreme Bishop and leader of their faith, Father J. Daniel Israel, J.O.G., in their home. Recognizing her spiritual depth and humility, he was led by the Spirit to elevate her to the rank of Elderess. Elderess Careth embraced this role with grace, meekness, and honor, while remaining bold in her love and devotion to God.
Careth enjoyed a full and adventurous life. She loved traveling and exploring the world with her husband and friends. She and her husband visited Japan, South Korea, and many other destinations.
In 1990, Careth and her close friends embarked on their first girls’ trip, beginning a cherished tradition of celebrating birthdays and retirements in destinations such as San Francisco, Portland, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Windsor, Napa, San Diego, Carmel, Monterey, South Lake Tahoe, and the Mexican Riviera.
Careth and her husband also shared many couples’ trips with dear friends to New Orleans, Hawaii, Jamaica, Italy, Spain, and Greece. A planned trip to China was postponed due to the pandemic in 2020. One of Careth’s most memorable adventures was a trip to New York City with friends, where they were delighted to find themselves featured on television outside the Today show.
Careth began her professional career at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) in 1970, initially serving in the Human Resources Department. Over the years, she held various positions before transitioning to the Customer Service Department in the early 1980s. During her tenure there, she served as a Customer Service Representative, Supervising Customer Representative, and Administrative Supervisor. Careth was deeply committed to professional growth and development, and her ability to communicate and connect with staff was widely admired. Employees loved working with her and for her. Her exceptional managerial and leadership skills established her as an outstanding trainer and mentor. In the 1990s, she played a pivotal role on a project team tasked with implementing a new Customer Service technology system, which led to her promotion as Project and Technical Training Supervisor. Her many contributions were recognized throughout her 35-year career at SMUD. In 2005, Careth retired as a Change Management Analyst and Supervisor.
Careth was a beautiful soul, both inside and out. She delighted in visiting with family and friends over a hot cup of tea. Thoughtful and generous, she had a special gift for writing heartfelt poems to commemorate meaningful moments. She never missed a birthday and always took great care in selecting just the right gift. Her loving and kind spirit, radiant smile, and gentle words left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
Her favorite pastimes included visiting yard and estate sales, where she had a keen eye for uncovering beautiful treasures. She enjoyed collecting tea sets, taking walks through William Land Park, spending time with family, and enjoying leisurely drives with her husband.
Careth leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband, Isaac Fontaine III; their four sons, Bryan and Austin Wilson, and Elgin (Candace) and Isaac IV Fontaine; her brother, John Wells III (René); sisters-in-law Rebekah Sipp, Pamela (Leon) Lee, and Jessica (James) Duckens; brother-in-law David Fontaine Sr.; bonus daughter Fanny Chen; and her adoring grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as “Mima”: Ervin, Cassidy, Elgin II, Evan, Charli, and Isaac V Fontaine; and Israya, Anthony, and Samyra Wilson. She is also lovingly remembered by her niece and nephew, Jené and John IV Wells; Lillie Weaver; her cousin Mary Morris (Clifford) and her daughters Pamela Odom and Tonya Davis; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Careth was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth Wells Jr.; her parents-in-law, Isaac and Emma Fontaine II; her brother-in-law Roy Sipp. Her life was a testament to faith, love, service, and grace. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
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