Carolyn Ann (Dick) Prichard passed away after a short illness on Sunday, August 16, 2020, in Hoquiam, Washington.
She was born Olive Erma (her birth mother’s name, who hoped they could reunite one day) on November 27, 1931, and she was immediately adopted by Roy I. and Loretta Dick of Aberdeen, who changed her name to Carolyn Ann. She graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1949 and Central Washington College in 1953 with degrees in music and education. Her fondest college memories were of the Central Singers under the direction of Wayne Hertz.
She married Paul Prichard on January 1, 1955, and they lived in Renton, Washington, where she taught second grade while Paul finished dental school at the University of Washington. After Paul’s U.S. Air Force service, they moved to Hoquiam in 1958.
Always a teacher, she is remembered by many on the Harbor as a favorite Girl Scout leader, whose lessons were captivating, educational and memorable.
She continued singing and learning throughout her life. She was an active member of the Aberdeen First Baptist Church Choir, Grays Harbor Civic Chorus, Seattle Bach Choir and was the founding force behind the Harbor’s Cantabile Ensemble.
She loved research and joined Monday Study Club in 1975. For more than 25 years, she researched and presented papers on topics ranging from Mesopotamia to emeralds. Perhaps it was her lack of knowledge about her own family tree that prompted one of her favorite research papers on the Prichard Family Welsh roots, presented in the form of a letter to her daughters.
The Daily World editor John Hughes tapped her as the inaugural researcher and writer of its World Gone By column, which she edited for many years. She also became an advisor when Hughes needed to select the top 14 Harbor-related stories for a centennial book, which resulted in On the Harbor: From Black Friday to Nirvana.
Carolyn leveraged her love of genealogy and research to become a beloved 12-year volunteer for Washington Adoption Reunion Movement (WARM). WARM’s mission is to reunite adoptees with their birth families through compassionate confidential intermediaries. Her role was to find the paper trail linking the two parties. Her home office was filled with microfilm, lavender writing paper and her signature cream-colored envelopes.
She is survived by her husband, Paul, of Hoquiam; her daughters, Kathryn Miller (William) of Tijeras, New Mexico and Janet Prichard (Dale Gluck) of Berwyn, Pennsylvania; her grandchildren, Paul Miller, Ann Liu, Zoe Gluck and other relatives.
She did not wish a memorial service, though donations in her memory can be directed to WARM, 5950 Sixth Avenue South, Suite 213, Seattle, Washington 98108 (or on-line at WarmSearch.org) or the music department at Grays Harbor College, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive, Aberdeen, Washington 98520 (or on-lone at ghc.edu/foundation).
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 5th Street in Hoquiam, Washington.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
