Carol Larson
Carol Larson passed away peacefully on Friday, January 5th after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Carol was born in Vallejo, California to father Bill and mother Rose. She was the oldest of four including her late brother, Jim (2017), and sisters Linda and Lisa. As a child, Carol loved roller skating and in high school she began her lifelong role as a cheerleader, always ready with an encouraging word and her signature megawatt smile. Carol graduated from Vallejo High School in 1969, and after earning her associate degree, began working as a legal secretary.
While living in Davis, Carol met her late husband Gene (2023), the love of her life, at a college party. Gene swept her off her feet with grand gestures and adventure throughout their courtship and long, happy marriage. The couple was engaged on Christmas Eve and then married on Valentine’s Day in 1976.
Carol and Gene settled in the Bay Area, spending their days working and their evenings and weekends roaming around in their Alfa Romeo, sometimes even chartering a plane, the sources of many tales for their daughters later in life. In 1982, Carol gave birth to daughter Jenni and officially assumed the title of “Best Mom Ever”. The family of three relocated to Washington in 1984 and a year later, the family was complete with the arrival of daughter Jess.
Carol often said the best years of her life were spent raising her family in Timberline. Carol was a favorite amongst all the neighborhood kids and pets, always offering a snack such as her homemade pumpkin bars, a fresh box of Cheez-It, or a dog treat for a four-legged friend. She busied her days driving carpools and spending time with her girls. Lazy picnics at Pine Lake, hours spent waiting during ballet lessons and recitals, rainy afternoons cheering from the sidelines during fall soccer, and patiently hand holding during countless orthodontist appointments, Carol was an ever-present and always cheerful mom. Her special touches included hand-sewn Halloween costumes (the Care Bear and Raggedy Ann were favorites) and heart shaped notes in school lunches. These are just a few examples of the many ways that Carol showed her abundant daily love to her family.
Beyond her own family life, Carol was a volunteer with the Fred Hutch Guild, an avid member of the neighborhood book club, a confirmation leader and active member of Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church, and a regular volunteer and later employee of her girls’ school, Redmond El., where she met lifelong friend, Janice. Carol played golf and tennis with her husband and other couples, walked every morning with dear friend Jennifer, and even dabbled in Jazzercise (sometimes on a video cassette in the living room with her girls).
Always full of surprises, her husband Gene took a job in Warsaw, Poland where the couple lived for several years. Being based in Poland allowed the couple to take many European adventures, several of which included their daughters and one soon-to-be son-in-law, even going as far as to visit parts of Asia and later, New Zealand.
After a few years abroad, the two came home to spend more time with their daughters and to sail the Puget Sound. During this time, their family grew to include two sons, both of whom Carol doted on as if they were her own. Jenni and Ryan were married in a lovely Hawaiian oceanside wedding that turned into a favorite family trip in 2007. In 2008, Jess and Charlie were married in Woodinville during the holidays, a special evening that Carol loved planning with Jess. In the years that followed, Carol beamed during regular “Sunday Dinners” with two additional chairs at the table and loved cooking big meals with lots of second helpings for her kids. Many of these family dinners ended with games, most of which Carol won. A lifelong lucky lady, Carol was known to have asked “What happens when you run out of bonus Yahtzee on your score card?!” which yielded eye rolls from the kids and quickly ended all the games. Always ready for a round of Kings in the Corner and a lot of laughter, Carol was the heartbeat and soul of the Larson-Baldwin-Wickers family.
In more recent years, Carol enjoyed spa days with her girls, weekends away in Bellingham, Cannon Beach, or Napa, sailing adventures with Gene (often venturing off the grid and out of cell reception much to the girls’ chagrin!), and movie nights on the couch with Gene and their beloved dog, Gracie. Carol was a lover of holiday traditions and always made Christmas especially joyful.
A constant smiling and positive force, many were not aware or would quickly forget that Carol was a warrior. She endured a nearly two-decade-long battle with cancer navigating more than anyone could imagine. Never fazed, her strength and smile made her a quick favorite of any and all medical staff, winning them over by asking about their lives and remembering details from visit to visit. The family is incredibly grateful to not only the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington Medical Center (specifically the ICU and oncology staff), but also to all her friends who stepped in to support Carol throughout this journey.
2023 was a difficult year for Carol as she lost her husband and lifelong best friend, Gene, to a swift battle with pancreatic cancer in March. Yet, Carol soldiered on to be able to meet her granddaughter who was born that summer, becoming a doting Grammy. Carol was a light to all and will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the in Carol’s name.
A memorial service is planned in Carol’s honor on Saturday, February 10th at 2:30 pm at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Kirkland with a reception to follow. All family and friends of the Larson Baldwin Wickers families are invited to attend the service. The family welcomes you to sign the virtual guest book by sharing a favorite story about Carol. Whether you are able to attend the service or not, Carol’s family also invites you to honor her in one of the following ways:
- Watch a Nancy Meyer’s Rom-Com or an episode of Blue Bloods with a bucket of popcorn and a cozy blanket.
- Curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.
- Be a cheerleader for someone you love who needs support.
- Have dinner with your family around the table.
- Play a game of cards (and win).
- Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.
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