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BORN
1936
DIED
2025
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Carolyn Folden Obituary
May 8, 1936 - July 4, 2025
Tacoma, Washington - Carolyn Elizabeth Folden, "Lal," passed away peacefully in Tacoma, WA, on Friday, July 4, 2025, at the age of 89. Carolyn was born in Tacoma on May 8,1936, to George and Edna Fijalka. Educated at St. Leo Grade and High Schools, Carolyn excelled both academically and musically, playing the piano beautifully throughout her lifetime. On New Year's Eve, 1953, she met the love of her life, Arthur, "Art," her partner until his death in 2023. They married in 1955, and together, raised four daughters, Laurie, Karrie, Sallie, and Jaimie.
She and Art resided in Spokane, Chehalis, Raymond, Olympia, and most recently, Tacoma. A homemaker, she was active in her daughters' schooling and in her community. She returned to the workforce in both Chehalis and Raymond, and in Olympia, she served as Vice President and manager of the downtown branch of Olympia Federal Savings, a job she loved, retiring in 1998. Passionate about civil rights and equality for all, she was also actively involved in Senior Services and the YWCA. She loved traveling with Art, especially to the British Isles, where they took numerous trips. The consummate hostess, she loved entertaining and was a gifted baker who enjoyed sharing her confections with others.
Carolyn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, family member, and friend and will be greatly missed. She will be remembered as outgoing and gracious, always generous with smiles and hugs.
Her beloved husband Art, her parents, her siblings - Ron, Donna, Jim, and Maryann, her grandson, Kristian, and her infant great-grandchildren, Kristian Mateo and Lucy, preceded Carolyn in death.
Surviving her are daughters - Laurie (Richard) Betts, Karrie (Paul) Ferguson, Sallie (Don) Shortt, and Jaimie (Jim) Evens, beloved sisters Pam, Marilyn, and Andrea, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
To continue Carolyn's legacy of grace and kindness, please consider sending a card, baking a batch of cookies, or sharing a compliment with someone you love.
Many thanks to Hospice and to the PEAK unit at GenCare - Point Ruston, for the excellent care they provided Carolyn in her final days.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Carolyn Folden
Sponsored by Gaffney Funeral Home.
5 Entries
Eileen Twohy Stokman
July 12, 2025
I will always remember Mrs. Folden's cookies which I enjoyed as her daughter's roommate in college. I especially remember snickerdoodles! Wishing her family peace and comfort.
Juliann Roewe Isaacson
July 12, 2025
Wonderful woman with a great family! So sorry to hear of your loss.
Marilyn L. Beale
July 10, 2025
My sister Carolyn also had an incredible sense of humor, making up funny songs while dancing across the living room. Her intellect was incredible, due to illness skipping 8th grade and still getting straight A's in the 9th grade. Most of all she loved her four younger siblings, guiding us, tending our needs, and entertaining us as second Mother-In-Command when our mother went to work. She will be sorely missed and so will her cookies be missed, too!
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