Carol Pettibon, 78
Carol Pettibon, 78, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away peacefully Nov. 21, 2017, after a brief illness.
Carol was born May 11, 1939, in South Greenfield, Mo., to Leo and Lela Young. She was raised in a farming family and was a member of the Dade County 4-H, but her true passion was education. Carol excelled in school and was the Lockwood High School class valedictorian at age 17. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in education, and while in college, she was recognized on the Who’s Who Among Students, and was a member of Alpha Psi Omega.
Carol taught high school near St. Louis before marrying Bob Pettibon in 1962. They moved many times with his civil engineering job before settling down in Boise in 1972, where they raised their son Brett and daughter Beth.
In Boise, Carol shifted her career to claims adjusting, and she was Idaho’s first female licensed claims adjuster. She worked at Safeco, Mutual of Enumclaw and Intermountain Claims, covering many miles around Ada and Canyon counties. She enjoyed her job, and always had a story to tell at the end of the day! She spent the latter part of her career as an adjudicator for the state of Idaho.
Carol was a creative person, and helped design their home in Boise; she also sewed clothes for her and her daughter (and dolls!). Carol played the piano, listened to jazz, and encouraged her children to appreciate music with lessons and concerts. Carol skied at Bogus Basin with her family most winter weekends, and in the summer she could water ski with the best of them! The family hosted several exchange students, Hans, Ann (who visited this spring), and Connie. Carol and Bob traveled to Europe, New England, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and other places before including their grandchildren on yearly adventures.
In 2008, Carol and Bob retired to Sandpoint to live closer to family, and Carol attended nearly every one of her grandchildren’s school performances, sporting events, art shows and graduation ceremonies. Their home overlooking Lake Pend Oreille is close to her daughter’s house, and everyone loved being able to walk to grandma’s for Sunday dinner, morning coffee, or just to borrow a cup of sugar. Carol also visited her grandson in Seattle, most recently attending his college graduation. In addition to family time, Carol enjoyed the Festival at Sandpoint (she attended five concerts in August), cooked for soup kitchens, volunteered in her grandson’s classroom, attended Geezer Forums, and was a member of North Idaho Federated Republican Women.
Her legacy of family and love will live on in her grandchildren, and we are comforted knowing that she is reunited with her son, Brett, who has always been missed. Carol leaves behind her husband of 55 years, Bob; daughter Beth and husband Bill Hawkins, grandchildren Dalton, Delaina, Caroline and Will Hawkins; grandson Jordan Pettibon and wife Destiny McCoy; daughter-in-law Terrie Pettibon and mother Irene Barnes; brother Roger Young and family Sharon, Arletta and Alan; sister-in-law Marilyn Rowlette; sister-in-law Martha and husband Gary Walker; plus extended family and lifelong friends in Kansas, Missouri and Idaho.
Because Carol loved beach barbecues, we will be honoring her with a summertime get-together at Sunnyside — a beautiful remembrance for a woman who meant so much to us.
Family and friends are invited to sign Carol’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.