Carolyn Wilson

March 2, 1949 – January 12, 2024

Carolyn Leigh Hagoes was born in Portland, Oregon on March 2, 1949 to Betty “Lorraine” and Charles Clifford Hagoes. She grew up with an older brother Charles “Wayne” Hagoes and a younger sister Nancy Louise Hagoes on 170th off of Division in SE Portland. She attended Lynch Elementary School and Centennial High School. 

In high school she was on the freshman rally squad, sang in C Notes choir and was a baton twirling majorette. It was here that she also met her future husband “Jimmie” known around campus as “Tex”. She graduated with the class of 1967.

During these years, Carolyn joined Bethel #19 in Gresham of what was then called the International Order of Job’s Daughters. She was crowned Honored Queen in 1966.

Interested in nursing, Carolyn took a job at The Portland Clinic in downtown Portland where she worked for several years. 

On August 24, 1969 she married James Edward Wilson at St. Therese Catholic Church in Portland. 

Their first child, Jennifer Leigh Wilson was born on February 4, 1971 in Portland. They relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1973 while Jim worked for Bob Farrell to open and manage Farrell’s Restaurant & ice cream parlors. Their second child, Matthew James Wilson was born on August 7, 1973 in Milwaukee. Another relocation with Farrell’s took the family to Oklahoma City in 1974 and back home to Portland in 1975. 

Carolyn was a “Tupperware Lady” for over 25 years managing her sales unit Carolyn’s Crew for Soaring Sales. That work took her on trips to Tupperware’s annual Jubilee, the Tupperware production factory and an earned vacation to Acapulco, Mexico. 

On July 20, 1982 Angelina Louise Wilson was born in Portland completing the Wilson family.

Carolyn became an active Bethel Guardian Council member at Bethel #19 in Gresham when her daughter Jennifer joined in 1982. She went on to become Bethel Guardian and a Member of Honor.

She also worked with Bethel #7 in Portland where her daughter Angelina joined in 1993. Carolyn served as Bethel Guardian there as well. She is a Member of Honor, a recipient of The Degree of Royal Purple and The Oregon Rose Award. Her love of Job’s Daughters remained constant throughout her life. In 2016 she became Grand Guardian of Oregon, realizing a longtime dream by leading the organization on the state level.

Carolyn loved her grandchildren Chyanne Louise Marie Wilson, Tabitha Leigh Ann Wilson and Rhionna Paige Wilson dearly and was very active in their lives. Especially in the last 10 years while all living together. Her great granddaughter, Scarlet Marie Rose was born into the Wilson Women & Wubsters in May of 2016 and has had her Nana wrapped around her tiny little pinkie finger ever since. 

Carolyn loved having fun. She loved the beach. She loved The Wizard of Oz. She loved Mexican food and margaritas. Her favorite color was red. She loved Diet Pepsi. She loved Nicholas Sparks novels. Her favorite restaurant was Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen. Her favorite movie was Beaches. She loved a hot Coffee Nudge after special dinners out. 

Carolyn had a big heart. Literally. An enlarged heart discovered in 1982 led to eventually having 8 stents put in over time. She endured two open heart bypass surgeries as well as a valve replacement. Another valve had issues recently so two clips were added to her rebuilt heart. Those tiny fixes in October would give us one last holiday season, one last Christmas together as a family.

To quote the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz “Now I know I have a heart…because it is breaking.”

Carolyn is survived by her sister Nancy Adams, her daughters Jennifer and Annix, her son Matthew, her granddaughters Chyanne, Tabitha and Rhionna, her great granddaughter Scarlet, her sister in law Marilyn Hagoes and her nephew Phillip (& Sheri) Hagoes of California. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Carolyn’s honor to the American Heart Association.