Carolyn Grant Lewis – Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on October 23, 2013.

Carolyn Olive Grant was born January 22, 1931 in Hackensack, New Jersey to Stanley Otto Grant, a carpenter and builder, and Edna Randall Grant, a first grade teacher. After school, in her hometown of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, Carolyn attended West Virginia Wesleyan College with a major in Economics and minors in Chemistry and Physical Education. Carolyn met Leroy Luther Lewis Jr. after college, while working at General Motors, and they were married in June of 1956.

Carolyn’s sons were both born in Pittsburgh, PA, Leroy III in 1957 and Paul in 1959. Lee, Carolyn, and the boys moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1959 and then to a small farm in Upperco, Maryland in 1964 where they lived until 1979. Carolyn raised the boys and worked as an H&R Block tax preparer while Lee worked as head trust officer for Maryland National Bank. For many of those years Carolyn served as the head of the Women’s Association for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra organizing many “Show House” fundraising events, and was instrumental in the creation of the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Carolyn was awarded a Congressional Commendation for outstanding community service to the people of Baltimore by Clarence D. Long in 1978.

Carolyn tended a large garden and orchard at the farm in Upperco. She was active in sports; playing tennis, coaching girl’s basketball, and horseback riding. Carolyn had a horse of her own, a Pasafino named “Rosie”, whom she adored and rode for many years. The family spent summers boating on the Chesapeake Bay, at Lake Wallenpaupack, PA, and on the eastern shore of Maryland.

Always supporting her husband, when Lee accepted a position at Seattle Trust in 1979; Carolyn moved permanently from Maryland to Mercer Island with Lee Jr., son Paul, and horse Rosie. Leroy III moved to the NW shortly after college. Carolyn became involved with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, worked for the Washington State University Small Business Development Center in Seattle, as a financial analyst, as a tax preparer, and became a Certified Financial Planner. Carolyn was an active member with leadership roles in the Women’s University Club and Insider’s Investment Club for many years. Carolyn has served in leadership positions in a variety of volunteer organizations on both east and west coasts; sitting on both local and national boards primarily symphony related.

Carolyn was a longtime Seattle Symphony Orchestra Board member, volunteer, and ardent supporter. She joined the SSO Board in 1980 and served a total of 26 years before being elected a Lifetime Director in 2008. During those years Carolyn wore many Symphony hats, and was involved with Soundbridge, Holiday Musical Salute, Sympatico, Crescendo, Musical Legacy Society, and the Seattle Symphony Volunteers, in addition to her duties as a Board member. Carolyn loved music and performance of all kinds attending many seasons of The Seattle Symphony and events at the Seattle Opera, Fifth Avenue Theater, and the Seattle Repertory Theater. She also loved the music of Willie Nelson and Kenny G.

Boating and travel were passions for Carolyn and Lee. They cruised the waters of Puget Sound, the islands of Northwest Washington and western British Colombia on their boats, and travelled to many countries throughout the world.

In June 2006, Carolyn and Lee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family at gatherings on both west and east coasts. Carolyn’s husband for over 56 years, Leroy Luther Lewis Jr., passed away on January 17, 2013. Carolyn was a person of deep faith, an active member of Bellevue Presbyterian Church, and “The Women at the Well” bible study and support group. The 23rd Psalm was her guiding light.

Carolyn is survived by her sons Leroy Lewis III and Paul Lewis, her daughter-in law Betty Hames-Lewis, and her grandson Grant Daniel Lewis.

A memorial service will be held in the Seattle Symphony Recital Hall on November 17, 2013 at 2 PM with reception following. In lieu of flowers or gifts to the family please consider a donation to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra: Seattle Symphony, P.O. Box 21906, Seattle, WA 98111-3669 https://donate.seattlesymphony.org

To make contact with Leroy and Paul to share messages or to make inquiries please go to: http://caringbridge.org/visit/carolynlewis