Carolyn May Howat Myers

January 30, 1942 - January 28, 2021

Posted

Carolyn May Howat Myers died at home in Spokane, Washington surrounded by love after a lengthy battle with cancer throughout which she maintained her zest for life and a resilient attitude.

Carolyn was born Jan. 30, 1942 to Alec and Lucy Howat in Seattle. She was soon joined by brother Duncan and sister Lynn as they grew up in a wonderful neighborhood on Beacon Hill in Seattle and spent memorable time at the family cabin on Case Inlet, Puget Sound (“Camp”).

After second grade, she moved with her family to the Yakima Valley where brother Bill joined the family and she attended school in Grandview through ninth grade and then completed high school in Sunnyside, forming lifelong friendships wherever she was. In high school she was a cheerleader and homecoming princess and in 1960 served as a Washington State Dairy Princess; her friendly, outgoing personality always on the go.

She attended Washington State University where she met her future husband, David Myers, during her freshman year and they were married in 1961 beginning an almost 60-year partnership of love and respect. While Dave taught in nearby Palouse, Carolyn completed her degree as she commuted to Pullman while being a new wife and soon mother to their first born, Caroline Lucee.

From the very beginning, Carolyn ensured their home was filled with beauty and fresh flowers and was welcoming to friends and family. Carolyn completed her degree in Speech Therapy and the family moved to Lynden, Washington where daughter Kristin Alexandra joined the family. Carolyn and Dave then designed and built a log home on Lummi Island where son, David William, completed the family with a special midnight run of the ferry boat off the island.

In the summer of 1973 the family moved to Poulsbo, where they lived for the next 25 years with Carolyn retiring from North Kitsap High School in 2000 having worked primarily as the lead registrar.

In retirement, Carolyn and Dave split their time between their cabin at Beckett Point near Port Townsend and their rock home designed by Kirtland Cutter in Metaline Falls, Washington. In Metaline Falls, Carolyn opened and operated a small home and garden gift shop, Carolyn’s on 5th Avenue, continuing her lifelong passion for supporting the arts and promoting beauty and connectivity. Ultimately, Dave and Carolyn made a final retirement move to Spokane to be closer to Kristin’s family and medical facilities.

Carolyn immersed herself in every community in which she lived, volunteering and promoting the causes she believed in. She served on the Poulsbo Parks Board during a pivotal time that saw the construction of the Anderson Parkway along with being a leader of the North Kitsap Arts and Crafts Show. In Metaline Falls she served on the Board of Directors of the Cutter Theater and as President of the North Pend Oreille Lions Club.

Carolyn loved art, architecture, interior design, fashion, and people. Each home she and Dave owned featured unique architecture and/or views and was impeccably decorated and maintained yet always welcoming. She and Dave travelled to more than 45 countries together and Carolyn’s focus was on the culture, the people, the buildings, and the artisans; bringing home unique and pretty souvenirs. Her impetus for getting her first job in high school was to be able to afford stylish clothes; fashion remained important to Carolyn as she always dressed and accessorized in a stylish, one-of-a-kind way.

Throughout her life, Carolyn was a huge patron of the arts — theater, museums, music, artisans — filling her life and that of her family with beautiful experiences and creations. Most important to Carolyn were “people” — she never met a stranger; cherished friends and family; and was the ultimate hostess. To her grandchildren, she was “Nana” and filled their lives with unconditional love, unique adventures, and special memories, including at their summer cabin on Davis Lake, along with modeling the values of hard work, strength, and worldly perspective.

Carolyn is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dave; children Caroline Nielson (Ron), Kristin Nester (Mike), and David Myers (Karen Ramsahai); grandchildren Emily and Bella Nielson, Michael and Lucy Nester, and Libby, Lexi, and Levi Myers; brothers Duncan Howat (Gail) and Bill Howat (Linda Roberts) and sister Lynn Howat; along with a large extended family of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Al and Lucy Howat.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held in Port Townsend this summer after COVID. Cremation and private scattering of ashes to occur.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poulsbo Historical Society online or mailed to Poulsbo Historical Society, PO Box 844, Poulsbo, WA 98370.