Obituary: Russell, Carolyn Stuart
RUSSELL, Carolyn Stuart
July 1926 -
December 2011
Born in Spokane, reared and educated in Oregon, Carolyn returned to Spokane to teach for a time and then to work as a producing artist, at her home in southern Pend Oreille County.
Overcoming chronic illness as a child and a lingering speech impediment, she enjoyed multiple careers and the friendship of family and friends with whom she shared artistic interests.
Carolyn was a supportive member of the Deer Park Art Commission.
On occasion, her teaching innovations, her artisan activities, or her mentoring of special needs children and senior adults, would be featured in articles in local publications.
She organized a stutters’ self-help group that, over a decade or more, helped professional persons overcome, or at least satisfactorily manage, their speech difficulties and the participants and their progress were very dear to Carolyn.
Although adept at working in many media, Carolyn’s favorite was clay, some of which she dug and processed herself.
Being a potter, and sharing her joy and discoveries about pottery production with other potters, was a seminal part of Carolyn’s self expression.
Another enthusiasm she fostered was artistic and affordable housing.
She built investment and private homes with efficient design.
Upon her first “retirement” - from full-time teaching, Carolyn discovered the writings of R. Buckminster Fuller.
After a fire destroyed her gallery and log home, she engaged friends and family to build a sky-lighted dome on her lake lot, where it still serves as home and art gallery.
For the last decade of her life, Carolyn suffered from cancers, arthritis and scoliosis and ultimately succumbed to lung cancer on December 16, 2011 at the age of 85 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stuart of Spokane, two husbands, six siblings and her long-time companion, a beloved large cross-bred dog named “Magic.”
She is survived by her sister Mary Stuart Steinle (Portland OR), her three daughters: Kitty Russell, Christy Russell, Connie Russell Nelson (Spokane area); son-in-law Ed Nelson nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren; plus, numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
Her daughters want to thank their extended family, especially their aunt and cousins, for their kind attention to their mother in her last year.
Carolyn died in peace in her dome home, resting near a picture window overlooking Horseshoe Lake, attended by family and HOSPICE staff.
A gathering to celebrate her life and contributions will be held in late spring.
Those interested in receiving notice of the scheduling or in offering remarks or pictures for that event may send their names and materials to: floramemorial@yahoo.com Carolyn’s ashes reside in an urn she crafted herself featuring bas relief carvings of a potter, a kick wheel and her clay vessels.