Carolyn June Burchfield

Our precious mother, Carolyn June Burchfield, passed away peacefully at home on June 3rd, 2026, on Bainbridge Island, Washington at age 94 surrounded by her cherished family. Carolyn was born in Portland, Oregon on March 4th, 1932, to George and Ada Stone. She graduated from Vancouver High School in 1949 and resided in the Vancouver area for nearly 90 years. She was married in 1954 to Walter "Vern" Hill who preceded her in death in 1983. She later remarried Robert Burchfield, who passed away in 2002. Carolyn was a beloved mother to Mark Alan Hill, 69, of Vancouver, Washington, and Kristi June Baker, 66, of Bainbridge Island, Washington. She was also grandmother to Kevin Baker, Karl Baker and Marilyn Golden, all of the Seattle area. Carolyn was also blessed with six great grandchildren, Isabel, Harvey, Freya, Emma, Aurora and Jack, whom she absolutely adored. She was extremely proud of her family and closely followed all the events of their lives, always asking about each one, cheering them on and showering them with love. Ever the life of any gathering, she loved the beach, walking along the seashore, digging for clams, watching the waves and savoring the fresh air. Our family had so much fun together on many, many camping trips, often in the early days with Carolyn's treasured brother, Jerry Stone, his wife Ruth and their children, Eric, Katie, and Karen, singing, barbecuing, playing cards, and storytelling. A genuinely gifted musician endowed with perfect pitch, Carolyn could play any piano composition by ear without sheet music and in any key! No family get-together or holiday was complete until she performed her familiar repertoire of songs, inevitably resulting in much laughter, merriment and singing. Carolyn was employed in the banking industry for many years in Vancouver. She began at the First Independent Bank's Vancouver Heights branch, worked most of her career at Seattle First National Bank downtown, and continued in the banking business until her retirement. She loved her work and won numerous accolades and awards for her efforts. Through those many years, she came to know just about everyone in town, and all who encountered her always enjoyed Carolyn's cheerful and positive outlook. During the last eight years, Carolyn lived with her daughter and son-in-law in their home, first in Portland, and then on Bainbridge Island. She enjoyed watching the news, was always up to date on current events, loved reading spy novels, and was an expert at jigsaw puzzles. We are so thankful to have had Mom with us these last years where we could hear her piano playing at any time. The sounds of her love, laughter and music truly added great joy to our lives. The silence left by her passing is profound and she will be deeply missed.

Carolyn June Burchfield

March 4, 1932 - June 3, 2026