Carol Ruth (Hovik) Nelson was born April 20, 1936 to Roy and Charlotte Hovik in the family home in Lakewood Washington. Carol was the older of the two Hovik girls. Her younger sister, Phyllis, arrived when Carol was 4 years old. Carol grew up enjoying the many activities that the Lakewood and Marysville communities had to offer. She loved to tell stories about raising her bandy chickens and picking strawberries in the local fields. She enjoyed family outings and spent many days with her numerous cousins and friends, especially enjoying her times at Spee-Bi-Dah, where she would eventually occupy the family home built by Roy and Charlotte in the late 1960’s.

She attended Marysville High School and graduated in 1954. She briefly attended WSC and always enjoyed being a “Coug”. Carol met and married Richard Nelson, and they had four children: Brett Richard Nelson, Keith Roy Nelson, Duane Peter Nelson and Andrea Carol (Nelson) Hougan. Making sure that her kids were always busy was quite the task and her life’s work. Carol’s love of the local area and its people led her to become the family historian. If she met you, she could remember your name, where you were from, what you did, who your family was related to, your likes, dislikes and you were officially in her “collection” of friends. Carol loved crafting. She could knit you a handbag or scarf, make you a fleece blanket, create jewelry, color picture or paint you a picture. She could do it all and had the supplies to outfit several studios. She always had a camera at hand and was a master scrap booker. Above all else, the most important people to Carol were her family, especially her grandchildren. They are Heather and Drew Nelson; Garrett Nelson, Spencer Nelson (and his wife Lisa Marie Hanning) Walker Nelson; Haily Nelson; Chelsea Hougan; and Evan and Hans Hougan. They were all special in her eyes, and she knew everything about their school lives, their activities and their interests. She always made sure every grandchild received something special for every holiday and birthday. She was at her happiest when she had a full house. This was especially so with the addition of daughters-in-law Lois Nelson, Alyson Nelson and Tonia Thrift; and her granddaughters of the heart Megan Thrift and Kacie Little. Also celebrating any occasion with her sister Phyllis and brother-in-law Paul McCoy; nephews Douglas McCoy and his wife, Monica, Tyler McCoy and his wife, Jennifer, and Phyllis’s grandchildren – Langlie Morgan, Kendall Kent, Ahnna, Brady and Joe McCoy.

Carol was a true Northwest treasure. She lived her entire life in the Western Washington communities of Lakewood, Marysville, Mercer Island, Birch Bay/Blaine and Bellevue, at the Beach in Spee-Bi-Dah and in Granite Falls. She lived a full and rewarding and loved life. She passed peacefully after a short illness, surrounded and comforted by her family on August 4, 2018. There will be a celebration of Carol’s life at one of her favorite places, The Park at the Beach in Spee-Bi-Dah, Washington on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Service begins at 2 p.m. Use the address of 10632 Birch Dr. NW, Tulalip, WA 98271 for directions.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Carol’s name be made to the Marysville Historical Society, P.O. Box 41, Marysville, Washington 98270.