Gavin Ann Carlsen

Gavin Ann Carlsen was born on August 24, 1945, to the late Joyce (LaRue) and Leon Van Vlack. She spent her childhood in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she entertained her three sisters with marionette puppets and treats from the corner store. Then known as Gay Ann, she excelled in school, both academically and socially. As a cheerleader and class president, she devoured literature and poetry. She was captivated by fashion, songs, and music, which remained lifelong interests.

The social movements of the sixties left Gavin disillusioned, and she struggled to find meaning and happiness. She married Neil Carlsen in September 1969 in Los Angeles and began seriously studying the Bible. In 1970, Neil and Gavin were both baptized as Jehovah's witnesses. From then on, Gavin's life was shaped by her conviction that the Bible is the one true source of meaning and truth. She searched tirelessly for others who might need the Bible's hope as much as she had.

In 1974, Neil and Gavin moved to a bare section of field near Cheney, Kansas, with their toddler son, Leif. Within ten years, trees and grass covered their property, and they had welcomed three more children - Autumn, Svein, and Aret. In 1989, at the age of 44, Gavin returned to university (Wichita State) where she earned a Bachelor's then a Master's degree in education. She was a favorite schoolteacher of many who took her French and Spanish classes in middle and high school.

In 2016, Gavin and Neil moved to Ontario, Canada. Gavin appreciated the cooler summers in Ottawa and quickly made many good friends. Her final year was spent in upstate New York. As her dementia-like illness rapidly progressed, Gavin remained deeply appreciative of her friends and family around the world. She passed away at the age of 78 on July 27, 2024, surrounded by loving family.

Gavin was predeceased by her son Aret (Daisy). She is survived by her husband Neil and three of her children - Leif (Tori), Autumn (Craig), and Svein (Anais), along with 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by her three sisters, Donna Kesting, Linda Newmark, and Debra Toutain.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1169 US Route 9 Castleton, NY 12033.