Carol Jo Lowery

Carol Jo Lowery

Carol Jo Lowery

July 21, 1942 — July 16, 2021

After a life spent intensely loving her family, her first-graders, and her community, Carol Jo passed away peacefully from natural causes on July 16th with family at her side, in the care home where she lived the last years of her life. Carol modeled graceful acceptance of life’s difficulties, sacrificial love, and the importance of facing it all with a sense of humor, a cup of tea, chocolate, and a good book. She will be deeply missed.

Carol Jo was born July 21, 1942, in Denver, Colorado, to Charles Joseph McFarland and Lillian Aretta Walker. Her family moved frequently when she was growing up, and she sometimes attended multiple schools in a school year.

Carol finally found stability and home with her husband, Howard Lowery, whom she met at Colorado State College when just a 17-year-old freshman. After college graduation in 1963, Howard moved his “city girl” bride to Alaska in 1964, traveling up the highway in a beat-up VW Bug, tent camping the entire 28-day trip.

They began their teaching careers in the village of Bethel, Alaska. A few years later they moved to Wasilla, Alaska, where they spent more than 40 years teaching and raising their family. By her own estimate, she taught nearly 1000 children to read, primarily at Wasilla Elementary and Iditarod Elementary.

Carol was a fierce, lifelong advocate for teachers, children and childhood education, and a frequent author of passionate letters to the editor in support of those issues. She was also a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla. She and Howard were deeply grateful for the love and care of that church family and the community of Wasilla upon the loss of their son, Scott, at the age of 26 in 1997.

Carol and Howard didn’t take in stray animals, but they did take in stray people. Over the years they found themselves mentoring and informally parenting many young men and women who needed extra love and guidance. After retirement, Carol and Howard spent several fun years RV’ing in the Lower 48, sometimes with granddaughters in tow. Carol also enjoyed quilting, reading, and visiting with friends.

Carol and Howard moved to Oregon several years ago to be near their daughter Tara and her family, and to help raise Scott’s daughters. She was widowed in 2014, after 54 years of marriage.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Tara Rolstad and husband David; grandchildren, Crystal, Kimberly (Josh Tomac), Laura (Tim Otnes), Connor, Aidan and Finn; and great-grandchildren Matthew, Lydia, Howard, Spencer and Grayson.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Howard Gene Lowery, her son Scott David Lowery, and her parents.

A memorial service was held August 21st at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The service can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=l1axva63aGs

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Book Bank, Portland Oregon, or the Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry.