Remembering Carolyn Gibbons

Carolyn Nora Watkins Gibbons, 84, passed away Saturday, September19, 2026, in Olympia, WA.

Carolyn was born September 4, 1942, in Denver, Colorado, the only daughter and oldest child of Thomas Jefferson and Gertrude Alma (Dougherty) Watkins. She moved frequently with her parents until her father retired in 1956 in California when the family moved to Stockton.

Carolyn graduated from Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Stockton,California, attended one year at UCLA, and many years later, through the Army, received a B.Sc. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She worked several jobs in her youth, finally joining the US Army in 1974 at age32. Carolyn served in the Army as a tactical air traffic controller until medically discharged as a staff sergeant in 1985. Subsequently, Carolyn worked at Ft. Bragg Range Control, again as an air traffic controller, until retirement in 1995. She then worked as a medical transcriptionist at Cumberland County Mental Health and at Behavioral Health Care. Carolyn finally retired completely in 2003 and has since continued working with her passion, genealogy. She had been a genealogist since 1966, volunteered at the Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints between 1983 and 2008, and did volunteer genealogical work over the Internet. She was a member of the Mayflower Society (South Dakota Chapter) and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Carolyn has written a monthly column for the Olympia Genealogical Society newsletter since August 2022, written a bi-monthly newsletter for the Mason County (WA) Genealogical Society also since August 2022, and has written a newsletter for the Cumberland County (NC) Genealogical Society from March 2012 until the Society closed December 2024. Since then she has written a newsletter called “The Scribe” covering Cumberland County, and free to all who request it.

Carolyn was also a member of The Fairy Godmothers, a group which knitted and crocheted items for preemies which were then donated to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center NICU.

Though a longtime Christian, after high school Carolyn didn’t formally belong to a church until she joined Peace Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, NC, in December 2007. She remained a member there until her husband Charles Gibbons’ death in 2018. She then moved to Elma,Washington, to live with her son, K.C. Watkins, and there joined Faith Lutheran Church. After the death of her son in 2022, Carolyn could no longer live alone and moved to Woodland Retirement Community in Lacey,Washington, where she remained until her death. While in Lacey, she joined The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in Olympia.

Carolyn was first married to Carroll Hamilton Hoagland III, with whom she had a son, Carroll Hamilton Hoagland IV, born June 9, 1963. He changed his name to K. C. Watkins when he was 13. She married Orlin Earl Dailey, with whom she had a daughter, Sheila Kathleen, born April, 3 1965.In 1971, she married Laurence Edward Space (no children). On September15, 1991, she married Charles William Gibbons, to whom she was devoted until his death in 2018.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Sheila Kathleen (Mrs. Larry) Owens of Claremore, OK; her two grandchildren Kristal Dawn Anderson-Banks and Shon Michael Anderson of Claremore, OK; her two step-grandchildren Charles and Amaiya Owens of Claremore, OK; her brother Michael Thomas Watkins and his wife Suzanne Martha (Kelly) Watkins of Seattle, WA; her two nieces Dawn Michelle Cunningham and Heather Christine (Mrs. David Alexander) Forte, both of Camano Island, WA; a great-granddaughter, four great-grandsons, several cousins and numerous friends. Both parents preceded her in death, as did her granddaughter Emily Kathleen Clark.Carolyn was a loving wife and a good friend. She enjoyed life tremendously. She will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2:00 pm,at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, 1601 North Street SE,Olympia. Gifts in Carolyn’s memory may be made to the Disabled Veterans Association (Olympia), The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, or the charity of your choice.