Carolyn S. Peake

Carolyn Sylvia Peake, 82, of Ashland, Oregon passed away on August 1, 2025. She was born on July 3, 1943 to Neil and Frances Day. Carolyn could recite Shakespeare before she could read. By age eleven, Carolyn started taking classes and performing in shows at the Civic Theater in Portland, Oregon. Favorite roles included; Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet," Juliette in "Romanoff and Juliette," and Alma in "Summer in Smoke." Carolyn received her B.A. in Theatre, then her Masters in Library Science, from University of Oregon, and became a Children's Librarian. Her first job was working in a bookmobile where she got her pseudonym, "The Story Lady," in rural Lake County, CA. She returned to Oregon, working in Corvallis, Downtown Portland, Gregory Heights, and finally in 1979, Lake Oswego, where she eventually became the Assistant Director. During the 1980's, Carolyn was president of the Oregon Library Association and served on its executive board for many years. Peake retired and moved to Ashland in 2000, became an OSF member and served on the Tudor Guild for 15 years and for two terms as it's president. She embraced the town of Ashland with gusto. She took water aerobics, continued her work for local library reform, was the co-chair of the AAUW's OSF Play Reading Group, and was a group leader of on the reading committee of Ashland Plays New Plays Festival. Carolyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017. Up until six months ago, while she might not recognize her daughters, she could still recite Juliet's part in the balcony scene of "Romeo and Juliet." Now, "the rest is silence." Carolyn is survived by her daughters; Katelyn Gleason Klapper of Fort Collins, Colorado and Moira Elizabeth Gleason of Ashland, Oregon, and her grandchildren; Meghan Wilson, Conlan Klapper, and Erin Klapper. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Carolyn, please visit our Tree Store.