Chuck and I were fortunate to go on many tours with Carol and Marvyn Roy, first starting in Kansas and Texas. On these little tours, Carol would often come to our motel room in her robe and slippers with some excuse or other about the next day’s shows. But I knew it was really to play with our little rabbit.

Marvyn and Carol, Chuck and I would all go out to eat after the days’ performances. Carol loved her glass of wine. But in these little towns, a good bottle of wine was very hard to come by. Many times Boone’s Farm or Reunite would be all that was available!

Then we took our illusion show to New Zealand for the first time; Marvyn and Carol would be the support act. I had a crazy idea to bring a little bit of Kansas with me to Auckland. Unknown to anyone but Chuck, I had carried a bottle of the “not-so-good” stuff from the States in my dance bag and brought it into the restaurant with me. Carol, anticipating some of the finest wines New Zealand had to offer, looked over the wine list and picked a beautiful bottle of red. The steward nodded approvingly.

I searched out the wine steward. I had a little “trick” up my sleeve... or rather in my dance bag! I returned to the table and engaged Carol in conversation just as the wine steward approached with Carol’s selection neatly encased in a crisp white napkin. He explained that our selection was unavailable, but he had chosen a substitute that he hoped would appeal to Carol’s astute wine sensibility. He ceremoniously unwrapped the bottle in front of her, while the look of appreciation on Carol’s face quickly changed in horror. In his hands was a bottle of — as Carol screamed across the restaurant — Reunite! It was worth schlepping that $2.50 bottle of wine all the way from LA.

Marvyn was ready to send it back when Carol, wanting her glass of wine, said, “Marvyn, if that’s all they have…”

I’ve loved every minute of knowing Carol Roy. Her laughter, her stories of past shows, her frustration and anger when thing didn’t go the way she had liked, her headaches, her footaches, her backaches. This was a woman I was very blessed to call my friend. She will be with me always in my heart; we became almost like sisters. She may no longer be with us, but her soul is in my soul. She will always be with me.

Go beautiful lady with the other incredible women of magic who have preceded you. Rest in much Peace (you deserve it). I will see you again when God sees fit.

I love you and I’ll never forget you!

Jan Jones