Carol L Slavens

Carol L. Slavens, adored mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 8th at the age of 92. She was always eager to offer support, wisdom, and unconditional love to family and friends. The family will carry wonderful memories of her family meals around the big octagon table – with lively discussions, awesome food and always followed by some of the best homemade pies made anywhere. She loved music and sewing and had a fondness for horses all her life. A long-time member of the community in Gualala, CA Carol spent her later years as a resident of Friday Harbor, WA. She was most at home near the ocean.
Carol was born in Santa Barbara on 1/29/1932 to Howard and Grace Brentner. She was then raised by her mother, who was a civilian worker on a naval base in the Canal Zone and spent many a youthful summer with grandparents Puddy and Ethel Miller on their dude ranch in Guatemala.
After graduating High School in 1949, she went to fashion design school in San Franciso. She did that for a year but then decided to do something more practical with her life. She then went to the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in home economics and found her first teaching job in St. Helena, CA. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leland K. Slavens. After their marriage in 1956, they relocated to the California coast where she operated a fabric store and was able to share her love of sewing with her customers. She taught at several schools in the area and faithfully served as pianist at the Gualala Baptist Church, for several decades. After moving to Friday Harbor, she enjoyed attending Islands Community Church with her daughter and she loved watching all the town and harbor activity from her home on the hill.
Her memory will be honored by her sister, Lisa, children Jennifer (Steve), Jerry (Cheryl) and Jason (Beth), grandchildren, Josh (Jackie), Rachael, Katie (Stephen), and Brie (Cameron), great grandchildren Remi, James, Caleb, Charlie and Benny, along with countless friends who felt her warmth and generosity and were encouraged by her faith.
She was predeceased by her parents, brother Lowell, her husband, and beloved basset hound Lily.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.