Carol Ruth Taylor

Carol Ruth Taylor

To Know Carol Was to Feel Loved

June 18, 1942 – July 25, 2026

Carol Ruth Taylor, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, daughter, auntie, cousin, musician, counselor, and treasured friend, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2026, at the age of 84.

Born on June 18, 1942, in American Falls, Idaho, to Ruth Maxine Boyles Petrasso and David Francis Petrasso, Carol lived a life defined by love, kindness, generosity, faith, and meaningful connection. Her warmth filled every room she entered, and she had an extraordinary gift for making people feel seen, valued, and at home. The impact she had on the lives of others cannot be measured.

Carol spent her later years in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where she remained the bright light she had always been. Whether you knew her for a lifetime or had just met her, chances are you walked away feeling better for having crossed her path.

A Life in Music and Service

Carol built a remarkable career that reflected both her many talents and her unwavering commitment to helping others. A gifted violinist, she performed professionally with the Portland Ballet and Opera Orchestras, sharing the beauty of music with audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest. She also taught private violin lessons for many years, inspiring generations of students while forming lasting friendships with their families.

Alongside her musical career, Carol devoted herself to counseling and education. Most notably, she served as a school counselor at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon, where she provided guidance, encouragement, and support to young people during some of the most formative years of their lives. Whether through music or counseling, Carol’s life’s work centered on helping others discover their strengths, navigate challenges, and believe in themselves.

Family

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth Maxine Boyles Petrasso and David Francis Petrasso; her beloved sister, Lorely Jean Petrasso Zgonc; and her devoted husband, Robert Eugene Taylor.

She is survived by her sister, Janet Jeanine Petrasso Craswell, and her brother, Richard David Petrasso. As the oldest of four siblings, Carol was the one the others admired, learned from, and turned to throughout their lives. She led with love, wisdom, and strength. Her guidance remained a constant source of comfort and encouragement.

Carol is also survived by her two children from her first marriage to David Neal Qualls: her daughter, Kimberly Ruth Qualls King (Jerry), and her son, Darin Neal Qualls (Tony).

Through Kimberly and Jerry, Carol became the proud grandmother of Justin, Lindsey, and Kayley, all of whom are married and blessed her with five adored great-granddaughters: Kamryn, Andie, Paisley, Loraena, and Everleigh.

Her family circle also included countless cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and dear friends who became family, including Esmail and Mariam Astanboose, their children, and grandchild. Carol’s capacity for love knew no boundaries. To Carol, there were no outsiders. She welcomed others with an open heart and effortlessly turned friends into family.

The Woman She Was

If you ever met Carol, you already know there will never be another quite like her.

She never met a stranger. Every person who crossed her path was greeted with a warm smile, a heartfelt hug, and genuine curiosity. She remembered details, asked thoughtful questions, and had a remarkable ability to make others feel at ease and truly cared for.

Carol practiced a kind of hospitality that was rare and remarkable. Her home was a gathering place, her table always had room for one more, and no holiday, birthday, or special occasion passed without thoughtful gifts, delicious food, and a celebration planned with love. Giving brought her joy, and she shared her time, talents, and heart generously.

She loved deeply and laughed often. She was funny, playful, quick to tease, and always ready with a story. She found joy in life’s simple moments and had a way of turning ordinary gatherings into cherished memories. Family celebrations simply were not complete without her at the center of them.

Carol loved music, books, travel, beaches, exercise, tennis, and, perhaps most famously, baking pies that became the stuff of family legend. Yet what made her truly extraordinary was not what she did, but who she was. She was compassionate, loyal, empathetic, and unfailingly kind.

Her faith shaped the way she lived. She saw beauty in people, places, and everyday moments, often recognizing the good in others before they saw it in themselves. She approached life with wonder, gratitude, and grace.

Her friendships spanned decades and distances. From high school and college friends to fellow musicians, students, neighbors, and workout partners, Carol built meaningful relationships everywhere she went. She possessed a rare gift for connection and nurtured those friendships faithfully throughout her life.

She was a bright light, a safe place, and a source of encouragement to so many. Her absence leaves an immeasurable void, but her spirit will live on in the countless lives she touched, the family she cherished, and the memories that will continue to bring smiles and laughter for generations to come.

A Special Note From Her Grandchildren

To her grandchildren, she was “Grams” or “Grammy Cracker.” To her great-grandchildren, she was “GiGi.”

We thought everyone had a grandma like ours. As we’ve grown older, we’ve realized how rare she truly was.

She was our biggest cheerleader, our safe place, and one of the greatest examples of unconditional love we will ever know. Some of our favorite memories are the simple ones: sharing pie around her table, walks on the beach, laughing together, and spending afternoons at the zoo. She especially loved the elephants and never missed an opportunity to stop and admire them.

Grams had a deeply spiritual heart and a gift for seeing beauty in everything around her. She approached life with wonder, gratitude, and faith, and inspired those around her to do the same.

We are profoundly grateful to have been loved by her and will carry her kindness, generosity, and joy with us always.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held on Saturday October 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The service will be held at Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 Southshore Blvd., Lake Oswego, OR  97034.  All are invited to stay for lunch at the church directly following the service.

This celebration will be exactly the kind of gathering Carol would have loved: filled with stories, laughter, music, family, friendship, and the many people whose lives were made brighter simply because she was part of them.”

In Lieu of Flowers

The family welcomes donations to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org), doing business as “Alzheimer’s Disease Research Foundation”, a 501(c)(3) public charity with federal tax ID #52-2396428.

Thank you and Gratitude

A big thank you and unmeasurable gratitude go to the professional staff at Mary’s Woods Memory Care facility (Caritas) that helped and supported Carol in the last 2 years of her life.  The compassionate care they provided was a blessing and meant everything to our family.  We are deeply thankful for every smile, every gentle moment, and every act of kindness they showed her.