Carol Avent was released from the travails of life on Earth on Dec. 6, 2012, and her soul has begun its journey through the infinity of Space and Time.

Carol was born in Cambridge, Mass., on Dec. 16, 1940, graduated from New England School of Nursing, in 1962, moved west, and worked in the medical field in Denver, Colo. She attended the University of Colorado where she obtained a graduate degree in 1965.

In 1966, Carol migrated farther west and became a faculty member in the Department of Nursing at California State University in Fresno, California. At CSUF Carol met her future husband, Jon Avent, a professor of Geology. After numerous skiing, hiking, camping and bicycle trips together, Carol and Jon were married in 1969.

It was during a bicycle trip to Acadia National Park in Maine in 1975 that Carol and Jon decided to visit the San Juan Islands to look for a place to call home.

On their visit to Lopez Island by bicycle, Carol declared, “This is the place!” whereupon the Avents purchased land overlooking Swift Bay.

After many summers camping on Lopez Island, and hiking throughout many of the mountainous parts of the world, Carol and Jon retired from teaching, built their dream home, and have been permanent Lopez residents over the past thirteen years.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Contributions in Carol’s memory may be made to the Catherine Washburn Medical Association and/or the San Juan Preservation Trust Stewardship Fund. Carol was active in both of these philanthropic organizations as well as the Lopez Lions Club, the Lopez Golf Club, and the Lopez Lions-sponsored 4th of July Fun Run. The Avents have also taken many service trips around the world to help people in other countries.