Violet Celestine Carlson, age 97, passed away peacefully in Lynden on Thursday, May 24, 2018.
She was born Oct. 31, 1920, in Olmitz, Ohio, to Frank and Emilienne Guckert. As a child she lived in Ohio, Iowa, Illinois and Paris, France. After moving back to the United States, the family settled in Everson, and Violet graduated from Mount Baker High School.
Violet married O. Irving Carlson on Oct. 5, 1939, and together they farmed on Halverstick Road, first as dairy farmers and then as certified seed potato growers until retirement in 1982. Violet and Irving raised three children on that farm: Bud, Diane and Lynn.
Violet was a caring mother, grandmother and auntie. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, gardening, traveling and camping. She made sure each granddaughter had a quilt that she made. The farm on Halverstick Road always had red and white petunias lining the driveway, and Violet had a love/hate relationship with her huge garden that always needed weeding. There were trips to the Philippines, Hawaii and Portugal, among other places. She and Irving would sometimes take the camper on last-minute camping trips. They also had a lot on Lummi Island for such getaways. She was a lifetime member of Clearbrook Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and, alongside Irving, a Luther League counselor.
Violet was preceded in death by first husband O. Irving Carlson in 1992, second husband Fred Evans in 2011, son Bud Carlson, daughter Diane Fruin, brother Henry Guckert and sister Anna Easton.
She is survived her son Lynn (Judy) Carlson; daughter-in-law Carmen Carlson; grandchildren Vicki (Randy) Lindquist, Debbie Mauer (Steve Rainer), Franklin Carlson, Brandon (Kelly) Carlson and Heather (Chris) Glenn; great-grandchildren Brent, Kelsey, Cody, Brittney, Max, Matt, Liz, Tim and Freya; five great-great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Jim Easton; and sister-in-law Eugenia Guckert.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer. You may share memories with the family at www.westfordfuneralhome.com.
