Carin Lyn Olson Obituary (2023)

Heaven gained an angel last week. Carin Lyn Olson was born on December 21, 1971, in Laredo, Texas, to Eric and Sue Olson. She passed away on December 14, 2023, at the University of Washington Medical Center, as a result of surgical complications for a brain tumor. Carin was the oldest of four girls. In her early years, she lived in various places, thanks to her fathers Air Force career, including Texas, Washington, and Guam. Carin and her family returned to Yakima to take over the family orchard when she was six years old, and she has been a life-long resident of Yakima ever since. From an early age, Carin was special. She was diagnosed with developmental disabilities and numerous medical conditions that impacted her throughout her life. While this created challenges and obstacles, it never held her back. She was persistent, resilient, and worked so hard for everything she achieved. Carin graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1991, with a general education diploma. This took endless hours of work and tutoring on Carin and Sues part, and she was very proud of this accomplishment. While Carin was not able to work, she found great joy in volunteering at Childrens Village, and was an active volunteer for over 15 years, until the COVID pandemic. She volunteered multiple days a week and loved to help out and visit with the staff. A conversation with Carin was often a bright spot in a busy day! She was a reminder to all who worked and received services at Childrens Village of the value each of us bring to our community. Carins pride and joy were her seven nieces and nephews. She adored them, and they in turn adored their Cha Cha Carin. She provided craft projects to work on together for each holiday. She spent months planning and organizing an epic Easter egg hunt each year. They loved to see the themed earrings she picked out for holidays and the different seasons. She proudly displayed their pictures in her home and shared them with every visitor. Carin had many hobbies. She was a voracious reader of cozy mysteries and love-inspired suspense, and counted the librarians at the Yakima Valley Library among her friends. She looked forward to Book Bingo at the library every year. She was talented at crochet and made countless baby blankets for family and friends. She loved to craft, bargain shop at the dollar stores, and watch Hallmark movies. She was an avid Harry Potter fan, and one of the highlights of her life was a trip in 2019 to California to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As a teenager, Carin was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, by dear friends, the Carlson family. The church became an extension of her family, and she was an active member throughout her life. The church and her church friends were a source of community, support, and love for Carin. She was embraced and cherished by so many, and we are grateful for all the church brought to her life. Carin brought smiles and sunshine to all she met. If you talked with her once, you were considered a friend. She had the best heart, and always looked on the bright side of life. Despite her many challenges in life, she maintained a positive attitude and joyful spirit. Along the way, she taught each of us how to be better, kinder, more joyful, loving people. She was the best of us. Carin is survived by her parents, Eric and Sue, sisters and brothers-in-law, Erika and Greg, Jennie and Benj, and Wendy and Steven, her beloved nieces and nephews, Madi, Ava, Isla, Jane, Bruno, Burke, and Thomas, her best friend and partner in crime, Kim Donahoo, special friends, the Wilsons, Swensons, and Carlsons, and countless friends throughout the community. She had the amazing full life she did because of the care and support of our mom, Sue. She was the biggest caregiver, cheerleader, and champion for Carin her entire life. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 1:00pm, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (4307 Englewood Ave, Yakima, WA 98908). A Reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation made payable to the Memorial Foundation supporting Childrens Village in Carins name, and send to Memorial Foundation or sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936), who is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.