Carolyn Esther McCALL

of 58 years, and her daughter Kath by her side. Her son, David, could not be present

since he is currently out of the country.

Carolyn was born 83 years ago in Moline, Illinois, to parents Dr. Harold H. Parsons, a

family doctor and Ellen Parsons, a nurse. She had two brothers and one sister, all still

living, and she and Mac had one son, David McCall, and one daughter, Katherine (Kath)

McCall Petke, both of whom survive her, and she has 5 grandchildren whom she adored.

Carolyn loved learning all her life, obtained through formal school, teaching, individual

study, and a variety of life experiences, which she had in abundance. Among many other

experiences as a youth Carolyn was active in Girl Scouts, and a top student in her high

school class in Moline, Illinois. She worked in Migrant Ministry one summer during

college, taught beginning English at the American College for Girls in Arnavutkoy,

Turkey, taught young boys in Elgin State Mental Hospital in Illinois, taught preschool in

Chicago, did medical interviews for Kaiser Permanente, and worked at Menucha Retreat

and Conference Center for 30 years, nearly all of that time as the Assistant Director. She

also co-led a bicycle group which pressured the two states and the federal government

into placing a previously unplanned-for bike and pedestrian lane on the I-205 bridge

between Oregon and Washington.

As a youth Carolyn loved being outdoors, camping with her family and at summer camps

as both camper and counselor. She always loved music and played violin and French

Horn before settling on the piano. She sang in choirs in churches, in high school, and at

college.

She met Merritt on their mutual first day at Grinnell College in Iowa. They met again

two years after college graduation when Carolyn returned from teaching English in

Turkey and Mac returned from serving in the Army in Korea. They both attended

Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago, and they were married in 1963.

Carolyn loved children and being a mom and grandma. She was the nanny to two of her

grandchildren from birth to age 6, and she volunteered at Portland’s First Presbyterian

Church (FPC) in the nursery and preschool classes. She was also active at FPC in the

Prayer Chain, Disciples study, Women’s Retreats, and was a Deacon and on a variety of

committees.

In 1986, Carolyn became qualified to interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

She continued studying the MBTI all her life and loved to share the ideas. She was a

founding member of the Portland Association for Psychological Type and was active in it

until her health no longer allowed her to do so.

Carolyn lived her life with joy, sharing much love with all around her.

Carolyn is thankful for the support of family and friends expressed through notes, letters,

and emails of prayers and love. She thanks Providence Hospice for the loving care they

gave her during her final illness, liver cancer.

If you would like to make a donation in her honor please give to either First Presbyterian

Church of Portland, or Menucha Retreat and Conference Corporation in Corbett, OR.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/portland-cremation for the McCALL family.