Carol Joyce Kiniry's Obituary
Carol J. Kiniry was born July 23, 1941 on the Briske homestead in Slope County, North Dakota surrounded by 640 acres of wheat fields. Carol grew up on the farm until she was 6, when the family moved to the nearby town of New England so she could begin school. In town they attended church and Sunday School at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church and the family grew to 5 children. As her dad still farmed, Carol and her siblings enjoyed lots of fun farm activities on the homestead. During her younger years, the family took many camping trips to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks on their way to visit her grandparents each year in Yakima, WA. At the age of 14, when crops failed at the farm, Carol's family moved to Naches, WA where her father found work and Carol completed her freshman and sophomore years of school. Her youngest brother was also borninto the family while they were there. A few years later the family moved to the Tacoma area when her father started working for Boeing. Carol finished her high school years at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. There, the family attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she enjoyed Luther League and taught Sunday School. Later, the family moved and settled in Midland where they became members of Lutheran Church of Christ the King. Upon graduating from high school, Carol and her sister, Evie, worked as long distance operators for the Pacific NW Bell Telephone Company. When Evie married John, they introduced Carol to Jerry Kiniry, who was John's best friend. That was the beginning of over 5 decades of love for Carol and Jerry who were married on June 6, 1964. During a thunder and lightning storm, Carol and Jerry drove off for an exciting honeymoon to Niagara Falls. They planned their life together along the newly opened trans-Canada highway, crossing all the way to New York and looping back through the northern half of the United States until they arrived back in Tacoma, WA where they settled. The four newlyweds, sisters, and friends (Carol, Jerry, Evie, and John) spent the early years of their marriages traveling up to the Elwha River and camping every weekend. Carol proved her hearty stock and love of adventure while camping, hiking, roasting trout over the campfire, and playing games. Carol then filled her weekdays working as a secretary at Lutheran Church of Christ the King. Carol and Jerry were blessed with 2 beautiful children. After 7 years of prayers for children, a phone call on June 3, 1971 about a baby girl answered their prayers. They brought Kari home soon after. Then in July 1974, Carol gave birth to their son, Jeremy. Their family was complete. Their lives became busy raising their children, close family activities surrounding them, and Carol's continuing work at the church. Family, friends and being present in everyone's lives was the most important part of life for Carol. To her 5 siblings and their spouses, her parents, her two children, and 12 nieces and nephews, Carol spent the 1970's, 80's, and 90's being a pivotal part of their days, serving as the forever planner, family communicator, potluck inviter, and holiday hostess. Carol was happiest when everyone was together, and "the more the merrier". To Carol's delight, Kari married her husband, Dana, in 1996 and Jeremy married his wife, Lindsey in 2000, expanding their family even more and adding more extended family. The loves of Carol's life; her grandchildren, started trickling in starting with Curtis (2002). Curtis was followed by Travis (2005), then Parker (2007), Everly (2009) and Ireland (2015), totaling 5 loving grandchildren in all. Carol's grandchildren were the highlight of her life, filling her days with babysitting, playing card games, attending sports, and hearing about all of their adventures. Carol's life provides us with a string of meaningful legacies. Her love of the Lord and her example as a disciple of Christ was evident to all she met. She taught us to include everyone and there was always and extra seat at her table. She taught us that just showing up is sometimes all that was needed. She showed us her unending devotion to her grand kids through her tender playfulness and her occasional heckling at their sports games. She showed us the meaning of a true love story through 54 years of marriage to Jerry. She taught us the strength of family bonds through her close relationships with her brothers and sisters. And she taught us to approach everything in life with kindness, love, and an encouraging word. Carol is survived by her father, Lawrence, husband, Jerry, daughter, Kari and husband Dana Christianson, son, Jeremy and wife Lindsey, and five grandchildren (Curtis, Travis, Parker, Everly, and Ireland). She is survived by her siblings Evie (John), Dwight (JoAnn), Elaine (Richard), Gary (Jane), and David (Pam). She is survived by 12 nieces and nephews, 20 great nieces and nephews, and 1 great great niece. She is preceded in death by her mother, Alice Briske, and sister in law, Diana Briske. Carol's Celebration of Life Service will be December 8, 2018 at 3pm at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 4519 112th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446. Memorials can be made to Lutheran Church of Christ the King In Memoriam Fund 1710 85th St E, Tacoma, WA 98445.
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