Carolyn Anita Gunderson

Following a valiant battle with cancer, Carolyn Anita Gunderson passed into her Savior’s waiting arms on Thursday, December 13th while surrounded by family at her home in Independence. While her time on this earth has come to an end her story lives on in the lives of the many people her faith and courage inspired.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Marvin, of Independence, their sons Matt (Kristy), Jeff (Alicia) and grandchildren Porter, Preston and Ryann of Kalamazoo, Michigan, her best friend and sister Gwen Williams, bother-in-law Roy Williams of Salem, her brother Lyle Philip Tyler of Sheboygan, Michigan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Carolyn was born to Lyle and RosaLee Tyler in Ellensburg, Washington on October 5th, 1949. She graduated from Ellensburg High School and earned a degree in Business Education from Central Washington University.

While she was student teaching in the Seattle area Carolyn met Marvin Gunderson, who was attending Northwest University. They subsequently married on June 17th, 1972. That day was the beginning of a journey and an adventure that would take the couple from Washington to Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, and back to Oregon.

Carolyn had a long professional career including stints as school secretary in Utah and Salem where she served as Administrative Assistant in the Personnel Office. She retired in 2008 and spent her retirement traveling and gleaning home design ideas from DIY which she used to impeccably decorate her home. Carolyn was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, amazing sister, wonderful aunt and loyal friend to many.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents Lyle and RosaLee Tyler, her younger sister Carma Dixon and nephew Travis Storey.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on January 4th 2019 at 5:30 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall at Salem Evangelical Church, 455 Locust Street NE (Locust and Broadway just off the Parkway).