Edith Jacqueline Thornton Carroll's Obituary
Edith Jacqueline Thornton Carroll passed away peacefully with family by her side on April 30, 2014. She was born the fifth of seven children on December 12, 1921, in Gallitin, Montana to Charles Miller Thornton and Mary Ann Clair. During her childhood, she and her family also lived in Parawan, Utah and south Los Angeles, California until they settled in Tacoma, Washington in 1931. Edie attended Gault Jr. High where she loved singing in an acappella choir, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1941. During her young adult years, Edie worked as an usher at the Rialto Theater and at Mannings Café in downtown Tacoma. She married her high-school sweetheart, Hugh Smith Carroll, on April 12, 1941. She and Hugh built a home next door to his parents where they remained for over 60 years. They shared an extensive gardening space with our grandparents, Charles and Sally Carroll. It was there that Grampa Carroll tutored Edie on the science and wonders of gardening. It became one of her major pastimes and loves which also contributed to another amazing talent for cooking.
Edie was very well known for her beautiful flower beds that were in bloom from spring time though fall. Fresh produce from the garden was used for delicious meals or frozen or canned for later use. Family favorites included just about everything she cooked especially raspberry jam, green beans, fried chicken, fried potatoes, and a variety of cookies and pies. It was always a treat to go to Gramma Edie’s house. She loved to cook for her family whether at home, camping, or deer hunting. Edie had a great love for the out-of-doors; be it ocean beaches where we often played or dug for clams, rivers where Grampa Hughie fished, or mountain forests. Her enthusiasm and appreciation for those places made it fun to be with her while there. Among her other talents were entertaining, flower arranging, sewing, and crafts. She loved Christmas. Her holiday tables were always lovely and filled with delectable treats.
Edie was active in the Women’s Railroad Lodge where she served in various positions. After her children were older, she worked part-time in a pharmacy and as a cook for Tacoma Public Schools. But one of her proudest achievements was earning a degree in Master Gardening followed by many volunteer hours at the Washington State Farm Extension green houses.
Edie was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh, her parents, one sister, Gertrude, and four brothers: Edwin, Charles (Bud), Leslie, and Lloyd; one nephew and one niece. She is survived by her two children: Dan (Mary) Carroll of Lakewood, Washington; Marianne (Glenn) Mower of Pleasant View, Utah; one sister, Margery Hondel of Tacoma, Washington; three Grandsons: Danny, Matthew, and Nathan; four granddaughters: Terese, Julianne, Heather, and Ashley; a step-grandson; Ben, a step-granddaughter, Mary; five great-grandsons, eight great-granddaughters, two great-great-grandsons; one great-great- granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews.
Edie was a beloved grandmother. She delighted in each new baby that came and is fondly remembered for her sweetness towards her grandchildren and her willingness to teach them the skills she had refined.
For reasons we cannot comprehend, Edie had to suffer the effects of Alzheimers. It may have taken her mind, but it didn’t take her spirit. She retained her sweetness throughout the length of her illness and was the favorite of all her caregivers. We all look forward to seeing her again in the next life.
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