CAROLINE LOUISE PETTIT
MARCH 5, 1943 - JANUARY 23, 2022
Please click here for information on Caroline’s Celebration of Life Planned for August 28, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington
Caroline Louise (Olson) Pettit was born into this world in March 1943 to Richard T. and Virginia Rae Olson in Little Rock Arkansas. Traveling with the Military at the time, Mom and Caroline spent the first few years with grandparents in Montana. She moved with family to Seattle in 1946 when her father returned from Europe. Educated at Laurelhurst, Nathan Eckstein, and Roosevelt High School, she spent her first two college years at Smith. Upon completing the Math program at Smith, Caroline returned to Seattle and the Univ. of Washington. Caroline joined Pi Beta Phi sorority in 1963 and has been eternally grateful for the lifelong friends she made with sorority sisters and their families in the many states she lived. Caroline graduated in Math (the only female in her class) in 1965. She took a position as an actuarial student at Milliman and Robertson after graduation.
Caroline on December 9, 2021
In February 1966 she married Rich Pettit and began a circuitous route that spanned work, motherhood, and a lifetime of volunteering. Moving to Los Angeles in 1966 for Rich’s Ph.D. she worked at Hughes Aircraft as a Systems Analyst using machine language until 1969 when Scot Richardson Pettit was born. That fall they moved to Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. Erin Christine Pettit was born there in in 1971. Caroline and Rich always loved the places they lived and the neighbors they had. Those homes were in Philadelphia, Lafyette Indiana, Seattle, Houston, back to Seattle, and then back to Houston. They lived cumulatively 30 years in Houston, where Caroline worked for 15 years as a realtor. The second move to Seattle sealed our commitment to the area with the purchase of a Puget Sound beach cabin and a yard to match her love of flowers with a garden to grow them. Upon retiring to the Seattle area in 2007 for the birth of their twin granddaughters, Caroline and Rich settled into condo living in Edmonds and boating in Puget Sound, and still gardening at the beach cabin.
Caroline and Rich hosted Susi, an AFS Intercultural Program student from Austria, for 10 months in 1988-89 as our “permanent” daughter. Caroline continued with AFS as volunteer Area Coordinator in greater Houston for most of 80’s and 90’s. Advising, sorting, allocating, moving, and sometimes returning AFS exchange students and their families. And, sometimes, taking students into her home to deal with problems caused by conflicts or just mismatched personalities. Over the years we have temporarily hosted students in our home for days or months from Norway, Italy, Columbia, and elsewhere. After returning to Seattle, Caroline volunteered with Washington Kids in Transition. And in 2008 she started, and managed with others, a food drive from her condo complex of 250 units for the benefit of the Edmonds Food Bank. This effort contributed more that 25,000 pounds of food and more than $12,000 to the EFB over 12 years.
In every location and in every pursuit, whether work, volunteering, or raising kids, Caroline and Rich found loving and lasting friendships with 100’s of friends that they have continued to visit, travel, and play with. Caroline is survived by Rich, her husband of 56 years; son Scot and spouse Ginny and granddaughters Alyson (14) and Katelyn (14); daughter Erin and spouse Jonathon and step- granddaughter Sophie (11) and grandson Elliot (17); exchange student daughter Susi and her family; brother Tom Olson, and numerous cousins.
Caroline died too early at 78 from cholangiocarcinoma. This is a rare but pervasive cancer related to cirrhosis that was, in her case, caused by hereditary hemochromatosis - the disease causes vital organs to accumulate excess iron.
Please hold the flowers and consider donating to
Inspiring Girls Expeditions at Oregon State University (Inspiringgirls.org) or
the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (cholangiocarcinoma.org) to support research into this deadly disease.
From Erin: Mom’s Influence on my life.
Katie, Aly, and Caroline on Christmas 2021
We will miss you Caroline/Mom/Mimi.
Thank you for being there for us always.
If you would like to leave your thoughts, please do so in this form.
We love hearing your memories and thoughts.
We had a small graveside service for family and close friends on February 12 at 11am at Mt Pleasant Cemetery. Thank you to all who came, it meant a lot to us.
We will host a larger celebration of life in August when some of the flowers she loved are in bloom.
Thank you, Rich, Scot, Erin, and all of Caroline’s family.
“Caroline, thanks for being my Mom during my great exchange experience way back in 1988-89 and staying part of my life ever since. I’ve always appreciated your endless love, curiosity and positivity.
You would have been a great Grand Mom for Iris in her exchange experience.
Rich, Erin, Scot and your families - I send you my love.”
“We are so sorry for your loss. Caroline was a bright light that will be missed. We enjoyed her sense of humor, her smile, and her always welcoming spirit. Our hearts are with you all.”
“Pettit Family,
Caroline was and remains such a light to so many. She was an engaging woman, full of beauty and grace. The few times I had the pleasure of spending time with her were very special to me. She felt like family immediately. Praying for peace for each one of you.”
“So very sorry to receive this sad news. She was a smart and interesting gal and always a great contributor to our Pageturner’s book club. RIP Caroline.”
“I join you in grieving for her with her family and friends.”
“Dear Pettit family,
What a loss of such a lovely bright wife, mother, grandmother and friend. And what an amazing woman of many talents. Having loved her mom Rae Olson for many years at Christ Episcopal Church I was delighted when Caroline and Rich retired back to Seattle and glad to get to know her a bit mostly at coffee hour and most often about Houston as we have a daughter who lives there. I send love and prayers to all who miss her.”
“We are so sorry for your loss.
In my mind’s eye I can see Caroline peddling her kayak past our place with Rich. A good memory.”
“I loved seeing Caroline around our condo building as she was always so positive, gracious, up and always looked like she just stepped out of Vogue. I will surely miss her.”
“Reed and I were saddened [to hear the news about Caroline]. Although we were aware of Caroline’s illness it still was a bit of a shock. We both send our deepest regrets to you and your family. We are sure they all will be a great comfort to you though out this difficult time. Caroline was such a bright spot on the Aspen trips and we enjoyed the time we spent with you both. She will be missed greatly in the group and as well among her many friends.
Since departing from the Aspen group we have not seen very many “Aspenites” but we are sure they will be another circle to surround you in this time. Please feel free to ask for any help during this time. I’m thinking of Reed who is on his feet again after his accident last year and is now well-recovered.
Many condolences from us to you and your family.”
“Caroline was a gracious lady. We knew well for far too few years, but those interactions were wonderful in our young lives.”
“Caroline was an inspiration to all that knew her! Staying positive & enthusiastic whenever you were around her!
She shall be missed!”
“You dear and very special family: I cannot find the words to aptly express how deeply I sorry I am. And shocked. No I hadn’t heard for a bit, nor seen Caroline’s usual delightful posts on Facebook and thus had been telling myself it was time to send a personal email — it had been too long.
Having been her friend since first grade and stayed close and shared life’s experiences, I am at this moment trying to sort out my head. Whenever a span of time did keep us apart, the reunion was one in which we had the gift of trust and intimacy to embrace our relationship as if it had been only two days that we had been apart. Quite remarkable. Rich, Scot and Ginny, Erin and and Jonathan, dear Aly and Katelyn, and Tom. My heart goes out to you. Caroline was a treasure. We shall cherish the endless and rich memories she created.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our close friend of 45 years. Who would have imagined meeting a lifelong friend, another native of the Pacific Northwest, in faraway Houston, and that we would spend our retirement years only a ferry boat ride way. Caroline was such a special friend, and we will always remember the things we shared. Sandy and Caroline were both Realtors together in Houston, we lived in the same neighborhood for 24 years, shared Thanksgivings together, were members of the investment club that Caroline started, and later shared the weddings of each others’ children. Caroline loved to travel, and we have wonderful memories of Cozumel, and our visits together in The Netherlands and Madrid. When it was time to retire, Caroline was there for us, and a guiding light, inviting us to use their Key Peninsula home while we searched for our own new home in “Pugetopia.” In over 20 years of retirement we have shared boat rides, trips to Lake Quinault, and countless annual dinners and parties with old friends from Houston, during what was affectionately know as “Camp Bainbridge.” Caroline was part of our family, and will truly be missed, but never forgotten. Our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with her family.”
“My heart goes out to you Rich, Scot, Erin, and all of your family....
what a beautiful gift Caroline has left with her legacy in the way she loved and cared for so many people. I have been blessed with Caroline and Rich’s friendship for over 50 years ....including some fun memories of a trip to Bermuda.
May our Lord give you the strength, comfort, and peace that you will in the days ahead.”
“Caroline smiles came through her beautiful mouth, eyes, and heart. She befriended me when I first moved to Point Edwards, and I enjoyed working with her on Landscaping committee and Charter Club renovation. My heart is sad to lose her and I’ve done a lot of walking these past days thinking of her and the family grief journey. Great talks we had around the grounds here and Tucker leaning in. Our community here is mourning Caroline.”
“Our deepest sympathy and prayers to you and your family. Rest In Peace Caroline. ”
“Feeling so sad for the loss of a dear friend. Grateful for the opportunity to know this special person and to have had so many wonderful experiences with her over the 40 years I have known her. For over 20 years Caroline was a “Camper” - a group of 6 women that came to Puget Sound in the summer for our version of a fun Camp. Caroline helped organize many fun adventures for us and we loved coming to her beloved beach house on the Key Peninsula. She excelled at cooking wonderful dinners and making beautiful flower arrangements. She was so creative and artistic. She happily shared her March 5th birthday with her twin granddaughters Katy and Aly. Thank you Caroline - you are much loved and sorely missed.”
“We have very fond memories of time spent in Lakewood Forest with friends and also time spent in Galveston … Caroline always made her friends feel special in her lovely home…”
“Caroline inspired us as young girls to have a sense of adventure, a willingness to try new things, and the ability to laugh at ourselves. I have so many fond memories of childhood that she was apart of; getting my first tennis trophy, swim meets, driving to tennis matches in that big van, Helping us earn our Girl Scout badges, the Worlds Fair Adventure, AFS fun, the Galveston House and my Houston bridal shower just to name a few. I will remember her laugh, her hospitality, and her love of always knowing what we were up to at each stage of life. I am grateful for life to have brought the Pettits to Houston not once but twice and grateful to Scot and Erin for sharing their Mom with me.”
“We are sorry to hear about Caroline passing. We will keep the memories of our family times together in our hearts. Our times at the beach in Galveston were priceless. Swim team times and trips to hill country were great too. Caroline was one very special person to us and to many others too.”
“My heart is breaking for you, Scot and Erin. With Caroline gone, the world is a less brighter place. Since receiving your sad news, I have been thinking about our days at Wharton. As younger faculty we had great camaraderie, spending time together at dinner parties or coffee hours with our children tagging along. Caroline plays a big part in those memories. It pleases me so much that Marshall and I kept our relationship with you and Caroline after you left Wharton. Caroline’s Facebook says it all. Her FB posts give witness to what a full and happy life she lived. Her pride in Erin’s career, her thrill of having Scot and Ginny relocate in Seattle, her joy of spending time and doing fun things with Alyson and Katelyn. Caroline’s time here on Earth was a life well spent. Take solace in the memories of all the happy times you spent together. My deepest condolences to all the Pettits. You are in my thoughts and prayers.”
“Will miss her so bright smile, her infectious laugh and her incredible ability to find truthful information. She was the best! From pulling teenagers out of bushes at prom nite activities to pulling golf balls out of places they shouldn’t be we had great fun. Caroline will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to Rich and family. ”
“You dear and very special family: I cannot find the words to aptly express how deeply I sorry I am. And shocked. No I hadn’t heard for a bit, nor seen Caroline’s usual delightful posts on Facebook and thus had been telling myself it was time to send a personal email — it had been too long.
Having been her friend since first grade and stayed close and shared life’s experiences, I am at this moment trying to sort out my head. Whenever a span of time did keep us apart, the reunion was one in which we had the gift of trust and intimacy to embrace our relationship as if it had been only two days that we had been apart. Quite remarkable. Rich, Scot and Ginny, Erin and and Jonathan, dear Aly and Katelyn, and Tom. My heart goes out to you. Caroline was a treasure. We shall cherish the endless and rich memories she created.”
“Dear Erin, Rich, family biological and chosen. What a lovely biographical note. How grateful to have met Rich and Caroline at Christ Episcopal Church where I had, before I joined, met Caroline’s memorable mother, Rae Olson. We share another path to friendship through Seelye Martin, sea-ice oceanographer and Erin, and our daughter, expeditionary artist Maria Coryell-Martin. Maria worked and traveled several season with Girls on ice and Erin. Caroline and I always delighted in trading news of our ventures, some in cold regions with mountains, ice and seashore. This is sad news indeed, but inspirational for Caroline’s gifts, friendships, love - vividly embraced!
”
“She was my carpool buddy during elementary and middle school. She was an amazing women, very accomplished. I am so sorry about her passing. Huge loss to her family, friends and community.”
“I too am saddened by Carolyn’s passing. I wish she was still at your side where she belongs. I shall miss her.”
“My heart goes out to you Rich, Scot, Erin, and all of your family....
what a beautiful gift Caroline has left with her legacy in the way she loved and cared for so many people. I have been blessed with Caroline and Rich’s friendship for over 50 years ....including some fun memories of a trip to Bermuda.
May our Lord give you the strength, comfort, and peace that you will in the days ahead.”