Lori Zimmermann

Lori Ann Zimmermann Ojai, CA Lori Zimmermann, a resident of Ojai for 24 years, passed away peacefully at home on May 7, 2011, after a battle with liver (bile duct) cancer, otherwise known as cholangiocarcinoma. She was with her family when she passed, at age 51. She is survived by her devoted husband Mark, her son Kyle of Ojai, daughter Lianne of Santa Barbara, parents James and Coralynn Watkins of Oxnard, brother Mark Watkins of Ventura and sister Jennifer Watkins of Parker, Colorado. Lori grew up in Dublin, CA and attended UC Santa Barbara for college, obtaining a BA in Political Science. She moved to Ventura County in 1984 and eventually settled in Ojai in 1987. The rest of her family, including brother, sister, and parents, eventually followed based on Lori’s advice that Ventura County is “where you want to live.” She worked as a paralegal, an events planner, and a technical writer for Kinko’s and wrote technical manuals for many local companies after establishing her own company, LZ Communications. She was always a very talented writer, but in recent years discovered her passion for art and became very active in the local art community, teaching classes, showing her work, and working with other local artists at Made in Ojai. She described herself as “an empty nester diving deep into the world of arts and crafts.” A creative and exploratory Ojai Artist who loved working in multiple mediums, she was an inspiration to her family, many friends, and the children and adult students she taught in her classes. She touched many lives through her art, her passion for life, and her warm personality. Lori was most proud of her children and their accomplishments and potential in life. Her friends and family will remember her for her warm heart, her welcome ways, and her wonderful spirit. She will live on in her art and children, a gift to all. A celebration of her life will be held at Ojai Woman’s Club 441 East Ojai Avenue Ojai, CA, 93023 on Sunday, June 26th at 2:00 pm . In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South #510, Salt Lake City, Utah 84096 www.cholangiocarcinoma.org or to Livingston Memorial Foundation 1996 Eastman Ave # 101 Ventura, CA 93003 www.lmvna.org.