Carolyn Ann Nielsen-Smith February 27, 1936 - August 29, 2015

Carol was born in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of three girls born to James and Della McGuigan. The family moved to Portland in the 1940s. Graduating from St. Mary's Academy in Portland, she received her master's degree from Portland State University and taught for 25 years at Shaver Elementary School.

Carolyn and Jim retired to Sisters in 1995 where she pursued hiking, skiing, biking and tennis. They returned to live in Portland in 2015. She loved to travel with family and friends. She was active in church music, playing both the guitar and mandolin. Among her goals reached was running in eight marathons including the New York Marathon, plus biking the San Juan Islands, Cycle Oregon and Holland. Most enduring was her wit, humor, and always sincerely caring about the people with whom she worked and played.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; son, Tim (Leslie); daughter Mary; sister Mary; four granddaughters, Amanda, Abby, Erinn and Briana; one grandson, Lance; and three great-granddaughters, Ester, Isabel, and Amelia.

Carolyn is interred in Portland in the Willamette National Cemetery.

Donations may be made in her name to St. Mary's Academy.