Carolyn "Kari" Bowman

Carolyn "Kari" Bowman passed away into the arms of her Lord on Friday, July 28 at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Carolyn Kay Olson was born in 1941 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Kari graduated from Woodrow Wilson High school in Tacoma, Wash. in 1959 and made her home with her loving husband Les and daughter Shelli in Fircrest.  

Kari began her career in the Tacoma School District as a bookkeeper and secretary in 1960 and retired in 1998.  Kari's career spanned over 4 decades and 5 schools in work ranging from administrative assisting to cheerleading advisor, but her greatest joy was working at the school her daughter Shelli attended.  Kari retired after serving as the office coordinator for 11 years at Point Defiance Elementary.

Les and Kari were married for 55 years and enjoyed serving their community as Daffodilians and attending church at Life Center in Tacoma, and later on at Chapel Hill Presbyterian in Gig Harbor.  While attending Chapel Hill, they delighted in getting together with dear friends in their Cove group both socially and while volunteering their time.  Les and Kari also had many fond memories from their years as social members of The Tacoma Yacht Club and Fircrest Golf Club.  In their later years, they also enjoyed trips to Branson, Missouri and Scottsdale, Arizona and spent time with their beloved granddaughter, Evelyn. Kari also loved the Lord and kept her faith strong, continuing to worship after moving to her comforting community at Harbor Place Assisted Living a few years ago.

Kari was a joy and a delight to all who knew her. Her warmth and generous spirit always shined brightly as she would greet you with a warm hug and wanting updates.  Her friends remember her as someone who looked on the bright side of life, was extremely loyal, and cared more about other people than she did herself.  And, she always wanted to help those in need.  

Kari also had a playful side, delighting in playing games like bunco with her neighborhood in University Place and participating in card games at Harbor Place, her home after Les passed away in 2015.  Kari was also known as dressing quite stylishly, loved clothes and matched everything - even down to her shoes!

Kari had many talents including "master gardener" of roses.  Her large rose garden was well known to friends and co-workers as she always enjoyed sharing bouquets from it.  Similarly, Kari was a gifted hostess, cook, and baker, and she not only threw marvelous social events for her friends and family but also had a knack for getting people together.  She was always making plans and getting people connected.

Kari was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Elsie Olson, sister Norma Keller and her husband, Leslie Bowman.  She is survived by her daughter Shelli (Bob) Bordeaux and granddaughter Evelyn Bordeaux.  A memorial service will be held at Harbor Place Assisted Living in Gig Harbor at 10:30am on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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