Carmen Hudson

Carmen Daryl Hudson was born on January 6th, 1945 in Seattle, WA. His parents. John & Ila Hudson, lived in Metlakatla, AK, but Ila was RH Negative and was sent to Seattle to have her baby. They returned home when Carmen was 2 weeks old in their salmon-fishing boat, The Welcome, which had been Carmen's grandfather's boat and later became his father's. There was a newspaper article about their return in The Ketchika News.
Carmen's dad, John Hudson II, was the youngest child of John & Mary Baines Hudson who were original pioneers to Metlakatla, AK in 1887, arriving with the missionary, William Duncan. Carmen was from a blended family with siblings, Jack, Barbara, Bill Auda (Hayes Hudson), & Robin from his dad's first marriage; and himself, Sandee and Mary from his dads marriage to his mom, Ila. Carmen married Elaine Anderson when he was in his early 20s and they had 3 children. Rochelle, Carmen Jr and Jessica Marie. He also acquired 2 step children, Kim & Matthew. At 27, he married Diane Akins Bohannon and together they had Caryn Jewel. He also added 2 more step children, Cynthia & Julie. In 1962, Carmen joined the Army at age 17. He was an occupational soldier in Korea. He served 3 years and received an Honorable Discharge. While in Korea, a Colonel picked him, because of his size, to accompany him on helicopter trips into Viet Nam, Cambodia & Laos just prior to that war starting. Colonel thought that in case the helicopter went down, Carmen could carry him out. That did happen, and he carried him out but as it was illegal, Carmen never received any credit for it!
Carmen worked on the Bureau of Indian Affairs ship, The North Star for a season, and because of that the BIA sent him to school in NY. Carmen attended Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy in New York where he was scouted by George from Rocky Marciano Boxing Camp and invited him to turn pro in order to spar with pro boxers who were pursuing a title. He was able to spar with several well-known boxers. It didn't last long as it was winter in NY and he had to run 10 miles a day and could have no girlfriends, so he left it all and hitchhiked to Miami to work with an army buddy, Hugh House.
In 1976, our lives changed because of an auto accident Carmen witnessed on the freeway near Northgate in Seattle in the middle of the night. We heard it from our home, and he went down there. As a result of attending the funeral relating to that wreck, we met the preacher, Ken Blue, which resulted in both of us hearing the gospel and the plan of salvation, which we both, in due time, accepted. It changed us & the course of our lives. After 2 years, we moved to the Boise area from Seattle & attended Treasure Valley Baptist Church where that church by Pastor Jim Modlish, and he opened the bible to us and Carmen attended the institute that Pastor Modlish started. After 10 years we relocated to the Olympia area where we helped start a church in Olympia, and the one in Chehalis which is where we are today. Carmen has been in ill health for a few years and had heart surgery and some other health issues. He also lost the ability to walk or to even stand. He longed for a future with God where he would be young again and God answered his prayers.
"His wife of 54 Years says he was unconditionally loved by her. Her heart is broken, but it is well with her soul"
A DVD of Carmen's Memorial service on July 14th, 2025 is available online at Faith Baptist Church, Chehalis WA on the bookstore website. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Carmen, please visit our Tree Store.