Pauline Shirley Hitchcock Carnes August 2, 1925 - June 22, 2012 Pauline, 86, died at Martha and Mary Skilled Nursing Home in Poulsbo, WA after complications from a serious fall and a stroke she suffered in Assisted Living in Olympia. Pauline was born in Shelton, WA in her maternal grand-parents' home the Whaley's. Her parents, John and Beulah Hitchcock were farmers on Harstine Island. Pauline grew up on Harstine Island with one younger brother Lyle. They worked on the farm helping with the chickens, eggs, and grapes which were all sold commercially. She attended the island one-room school through 8th grade; then began making the long daily commute over on the tiny ferry by foot, waiting to be picked up by bus and taken to Shelton where she finished High School. She attended Business College and began working for the State in Olympia. She met her husband to be at a picnic hosted by her parents on Harstine for island newcomers. Her future in-laws had moved there during WWII and their son Mel Carnes, a sailor in the US Navy, had just returned from the South Pacific. They married and began their life in Olympia, WA. They had three children, Marvin, Randall, and Melanie. The family relocated to Des Moines, WA for Mel's work and Pauline soon began working in the Federal Way School District as a Secretary. She retired in the early 80's after 30 years in the schools, most of them at Totem Jr. High. She spent her retirement years in Olympia where she still has many friends and family. She always loved to travel, went to France with her daughter Melanie for 3 weeks for her 70th birthday, also to Switzerland, Hawaii, Palm Springs and she was an avid camper even up into her 80's! She loved music, played the piano, reading, films, and gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister-in-law and her son Marvin.

Published in The Olympian on June 27, 2012 [Edited]