Carol Jensen Gatewood

Walla Walla resident Carol Jensen Gatewood passed away May 19, 2024, peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.

Carol was born on November 30, 1946, in Logan, Utah, to Rodney Claine and Coy Mendenhall Jensen. During Carol’s youth, she and her family moved around the Northwest for her family’s logging and restaurant businesses. When Carol was in the sixth grade, they moved to Walla Walla, where Carol attended Berney Elementary School and Pioneer Junior High. In the ninth grade at Pioneer Junior High, she met the love of her life and future husband, Paul Gatewood. Following Junior High, her family moved to St. Maries, Idaho, where Carol graduated from St. Maries High School in 1965. Following graduation, Carol moved back to Walla Walla and reunited with Paul. Carol attended and graduated from Walla Walla Business College and was employed as a secretary at the General Adjustment Bureau.

On June 22, 1968, Carol and Paul were married at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Walla Walla. After spending Paul’s senior year at Central Washington in Ellensburg, they returned to Walla Walla. Carol worked in the financial aid office at Whitman College, where she worked until they adopted their two children, Rodney Russell and Ginger Ann. Carol was a stay-at-home mom until their children started school. She ran the office from home for their business, Gatewood Construction. She also spent her time crafting, refinishing antiques, and decorating the homes that they built. Every year, she, her sister, and friends had a booth at the Southeastern Washington Fair, where they sold their arts and crafts.

Carol’s love of crafting spurned her own business, Something Extra. She sold Something Extra and purchased Scrapbook Heaven, as Ginger and Estella (Rodney’s wife) had fallen in love with scrapbooking photos and preserving memories. They renamed it Scrapbook Elements and moved three times to larger locations.

Carol was also active as a real estate agent for over thirty years, starting at Jeffries Agency and then Lloyds and Coldwell Bankers until she retired.

Carol was always a creative person, always on the go. She was always busy, but she always found time to spend with her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother and loved making it to their events and games, from Forks, Washington, all the way to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. The only time Carol was sitting still was watching her “soaps.” She also played in the same Bunco group for over fifty years.

Carol was a cancer survivor of two types of cancer. She was very active in the Cancer Relay for Life each year. Carol was a member of the Mormon Church, PEO sisterhood, Walla Walla Board of Realtors, and past Women’s Board President at the Walla Walla Country Club.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Rodney, and her sister Patricia. She is survived by her husband Paul, son Rodney (Estella), daughter Ginger Aguilar (Ricky), grandchildren Daniel, Ciarra, Alexis, Isaiah, Hayden, and Maxson, her sister Lana Muller (Roger), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Though she will be greatly missed, she will never be forgotten.

Our family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Walla Walla Hospice for all the support and care they gave to Carol and her Family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 4, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Wine Valley Event Center.

Memorial contributions can be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice, St. Mary Regional Cancer Center, or the Alzheimer’s Association through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are also invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.