Carol Joyce Olson, 80, of Windermere, FL quietly passed away at home on July 26, 2019 after battling cancer for nine months. She was born on August 13, 1938 in Ellenville, New York in the Catskill Mountains, as the second daughter of Gurnsey and Margaret Slater who lived in the neighboring town of Kerhonksen.
Carol graduated from Kerhonksen, NY High School in 1956 and from the School of Nursing at the Albany Medical Center in New York in 1959. She was married to Horace Gorton for six years. After five years as a single mother of two children, she married Merlin Olson in 1975 and they celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary on April 25, 2019. After completing her nursing education, she lived in New York City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Houston, New York City a second time, and in two suburbs of Orlando.
Carol had successful professional careers in three different fields. During the 1960’s, she served as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines and TWA in an era when international carriers included at least one nurse among their flight crews. She spent most of her professional life as a nurse specialized in obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics at three teaching hospitals: The New York Hospital in NYC, the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis; and the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. In this last medical center (KUMC) she served as an Assistant Director of Nursing Services. After her significant nursing and administrative experience, she assumed chief marketing officer positions at hospitals in Denver and in Houston. Carol chose early retirement at age 55 and she and Merlin enjoyed more than 20 years of nationwide and international travel with frequent trips to each of the fifty states and to countries in Europe, Africa, South American, Mexico, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.
Carol was a true lady with an impeccable sense of class, good taste, and manners. She was the epitome of her frequently referenced book, Emily Post’s Rules of Etiquette. She demonstrated a personal lifestyle appreciated and emulated by other women of all ages. In 1999, she received a Points of Light Award signed by President Clinton in recognition of her commitment to secure for all Americans, especially young people, the fundamental resources needed to lead a productive life. She was always kind and supportive of people and set a fine example of genuine caring and generosity toward others. She often said, “I feel my best when I am doing something good for someone else….for family, friends or strangers.”
Survivors include her first husband, Horace Gorton, and her current husband, Merlin Olson; her son, Bradford Gorton and her daughter Catherine (Gorton) Romano; and her five step-sons, Mark Olson, Michael Olson, Matthew Olson, Martin Olson, and Mitchell Olson; and her beloved granddaughter Alexandra Romano and nine step-grandchildren, Losha Olson, Galina Olson, Matthew Olson, Jennie Olson, Nathan Olson, Nichole Olson, Quinten Olson, Shannon Olson, and Dylan Olson.
A private celebration of life service will be held. Interment will be held in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 N. Main Street, Chamberlain, South Dakota, 57325 (1-800-341-2235)
Share your memories and send condolences to the family at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com
She is in God’s hands now…but will always be in our hearts.
