Carolyn Ann Spence
Carolyn Ann Spence passed away peacefully among family in Florida after a rapid and unforgiving battle with an atypical form of Parkinson’s disease. In just over a year, the illness took her independence—but never her spirit. Those who knew Carolyn might say she didn’t lose the battle so much as she met it on her own terms.
Carolyn lived a life defined by curiosity, courage, and reinvention. She built a successful decades-long career in publishing, where she brought stories to life and contributed to a world of ideas, creativity, and scientific literature. Even after being laid off from a 20-year chapter in the industry, she refused to see it as an ending—instead, it became the beautiful beginning of something far more aligned with her soul.
In her early 60s, Carolyn did what many only dream of: she packed up her life in Florida, drove cross-country with her beloved 93-pound German Shepherd, Tink, and moved to Friday Harbor to pursue her dream. There, she created a life rooted in nature, community, and wonder. She became deeply connected to the rhythms of the island—spending her days immersed in its beauty, studying whales, observing wildlife, and embracing the quiet magic of the natural world on her island drives.
Carolyn was, in every sense, a pioneer woman. A biologist at heart, she was endlessly fascinated by animals—especially apes, elephants, and whales. She always said that she learned the most from marine life. She was also an artist, an avid reader, a writer, a dancer, a builder, and a lifelong learner. She could fix or create just about anything with her own two hands. She lived by instinct, not convention, earning her the affectionate title of “No Rules Nana.”
To her family and friends, she was a force. Someone who lifted you up and made you believe your wildest dreams were not only possible, but worth chasing. She carried humor, grit, and deep kindness into everything she did. She showed those around her what it looks like to choose a life that feels true, even when it’s unconventional.
Her time on the island wasn’t just a chapter—it was the culmination of who she had always been: independent, whip smart, adventurous, and deeply connected to the natural world. It was her dream realized.
Carolyn is survived by her loving daughter, mother, sisters, nieces, nephews, those call her No Rules Nana, dog, and a circle of friends whose lives are forever changed by knowing her.
In honoring Carolyn, we reject the limitations of her illness and instead celebrate the fullness of her life. She did not want quiet mourning—she wanted stories, laughter, music, food, and a place filled with love.
A memorial potluck will be held on Jackson Beach in Friday Harbor on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 4pm through sunset, for any who knew her.