Carol Ann Stokes, 81, of Federal Way, Washington passed away at home on January 25, 2026. While her health had been declining in recent years, her passing was unexpected.

She was born to George and Elizabeth Schwitzke in Detroit, Michigan on November 10th, 1944. She attended school at Sacred Heart Catholic through 11th grade and moved with the family to Western Washington as a teenager, graduating from Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines.

Carol was part of the Denny’s wait staff in various locations around Seattle as well as in the Los Angeles area, where she lived for a short while. She spent a brief time working for Sears in Seattle and would eventually return to serving tables, spending several years at Rose’s Hi-Way Inn in Des Moines before finishing her career at Grumpy’s Restaurant in Renton.

Carol met the love of her life on a blind double date in Auburn and they were married in November of 1976. She and Jerry (Red) Stokes were inseparable until his death in 2024.

She was active in her church, serving as Eucharistic Minister among other volunteer activities at Holy Family in Auburn and St. Vincent de Paul in Federal Way, and truly exemplified the command of Jesus to love one another. She happily cheered on Seattle’s sports teams, especially the Mariners and Seahawks, and loved a good mystery – be it in a book, film, or TV show (often while snuggling with her cats). She enjoyed bingo, slot machines and horse racing, often taking road trips with family to casinos all over the West Coast.

Carol spread love and joy throughout her life. During the Christmas season she was nicknamed ‘Christmas Carol’, doing her best to have gifts for as many people as possible. If you were part of her life, she went out of her way to make sure you knew you were loved. It’s no surprise that she was loved by many and will be sincerely missed.

She is survived by her sisters – Helena Vaerewyck and Laura Cain; 3 sons – Ed Johnson, Raymond [Angela] Johnson and Fish [Libby] Johnson; 3 daughters – Diane Smith, Linda Temple, and Cynthia [Daniel] Couture; 12 grandchildren – Jeffery Wilson, Jeremy Wilson, Ian Hughes, Edd Smith IV, Ryan Smith, Kirk Temple, Katie Temple, Naomi Baucom, Stefani Baucom, Cassaundra Johnson, Jordan Johnson Drew, Brennan Johnson; 8 great-grandchildren – Malachi, Samara, Caleb and Colin Wilson, Edd Smith V, Hazel Henson, Royce Smith, Skylar Martel, and Auden Hughes; 1 great-great-grandson – Ondre’ Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Jerry and Joseph, and her beloved husband of 48 years, Jerry (Red) Stokes.