Carol Avent

1940 – 2012

To ensure most of their beautiful Lopez land would remain forever in open space, Carol Avent and her husband Jon donated a conservation easement to the Preservation Trust in 2003, and over time became among our most loyal volunteers and supporters. Carol joined our board of trustees in 2009, and – among many, many contributions – led our successful accreditation effort in 2012. She was a force of nature and a true island character, and we will miss her greatly.

This memory of Carol was submitted to the Preservation Trust by Jon Avent, Carol’s husband:

CAROL LOUISE AVENT

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

Carol was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1940, graduated from Winchester MA High School in 1958, graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Boston in 1961. She obtained her B.A. degree in 1963 at Boston University before moving west where she worked in the medical field in Denver, Colorado. Carol also attended the University of Colorado where she obtained a masters’ degree.

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.

Carol was active in the Catherine Washburn Medical Association, the Lopez Lions Club, the Lopez Golf Club, and the Lopez Lions-sponsored 4th of July Fun Run, in addition to her extensive involvement with the Preservation Trust. The Avents have also taken many service trips around the world to help people in other countries.

from the December 2012 Newsletter