Jerry Keith Carlson

Jerry Keith Carlson

Jerry Keith Carlson passed away surrounded by family late Wednesday night, February 23, and is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jerry was born in Monroe, Washington on May 21, 1938 to Roy and Vera Carlson.
He loved to be around people and made friends easily. When he wasn't busy at home cleaning the chicken coop, picking apples from the orchard for pies or stacking firewood, he could be found with all the neighborhood kids playing until it was too dark to find the last baseball smacked into the cornfield. By the time Jerry was a sophomore in high school, he had sprouted to 6' 4" and played on the varsity basketball team. Monroe had dreams of multiple state tournament runs with their talented sharp shooting center as their foundation but the town's collective hearts were broken when he moved with his family to Camano Island, WA the summer leading into his junior year.
Jerry would have told you he enjoyed his sport's memories at Twin City High School but the highlight of moving to Stanwood, WA was meeting the love of his life his junior year at the new school. While Jerry helped Twin City win basketball games, a pretty, auburn haired song leader was winning his heart. Jerry fell in love with Anita Olsen and they were married on June 29, 1956.
He worked briefly for Hamilton Lumber, Boeing and the Stanwood Water Co. before being hired on by his father, Roy, to help establish his father's fledgling milk hauling operation started in 1959. Roy passed away in 1971. With the help of his brothers, Roy N. Carlson Inc. began to experience unprecedented growth by diversifying beyond just hauling milk. In the early 1980's, the company expanded into hauling edible oils, honey, vinegar, sugar and flour.
Jerry truly cared for his many employees and their families and they felt his compassion toward them. Jerry felt the grind of driving trucks for many years and later managing a growing business which demanded so much of his time. He desired to spend more time with family and friends but often said, "Cows never take a day off so I can't either."
The opportunity to be able to spend more time with his friends and family finally came when he retired in 1999. He loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events and afterwards taking them out to pizza or a hamburger. He was now able to practice his golf game and enjoyed playing with family and friends. He could now stay awake after a Christmas dinner and loved to play cards and board games knowing he didn't have to get up early the next morning. He looked forward to his morning walks with his neighborhood buddies. He and Anita joined Camano Chapel and felt blessed to renew his relationship with his God. He loved his wife, his family and his friends and lived by the Golden Rule to "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Vera Carlson; and his grandson, Davis Carlson.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anita Louise Carlson; his children, Terry Carlson (Karen), Jana Hudson (Dale) and Garry Carlson (Merry); his grandchildren, Katie Kelley (Jason), Jaymi Lee (Matt), Michael Carlson (Signe), Kelsey Hudson, Tyler Hudson, Emily Hudson and Taylor Carlson; four great-grandchildren; his brothers, Royce (Corky) Carlson (Sharon) and Bruce Carlson (Doris); his sister, Sharon Schultz (Norm); and numerous cousins; nieces; and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., March 5 at Camano Chapel on the west side of Camano Island.
Memorials may be given to either the Davis Carlson Memorial Foundation, in care of The Stanwood/ Camano Resource Center, at 9620 271st St. Stanwood, WA 98292; or to Camano Chapel at 867 S.W. Camano Dr. Camano Is., WA 98282.
Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.