Mary Carol Myers Heywood
August 31, 1935 – April 29, 2022
Mary Carol Myers Heywood passed away unexpectedly on April 29, 2022.
She was born to Chauncey Elihu and Edna Mae (Kenyon) Myers on August 31, 1935.
She proudly grew up in Carmel, Indiana, and spent her childhood riding horses, farming with Percheron draft horses, raising Chester White pigs on her family farm, and participating in 4-H club competitions at county and state fairs. Mrs. Heywood graduated from Carmel Schools in 1953 and attended Earlham College, where she graduated with a degree in biology in 1957. At Earlham, she met her husband, Dave, whom she married on June 22, 1958.
Mrs. Heywood enjoyed recounting fond memories of her childhood in Indiana and though she spent most of her adult life living in Washington State, she always felt most at home on the farm in Indiana. Her favorite stories included “beating the boys” in a pony race and driving a team of horses as she helped her father around the farm. she enjoyed taking her children and grandchildren for summer visits to “the farm.”
Mrs. Heywood and her husband moved to Bellevue, Washington, in 1964 and to Kirkland, Washington, in 1970, where she and Dave raised their children and where Carol remained living in their family home for almost 52 years. She maintained a lifelong connection to horses, riding on trails in nearby Bridle Trails State Park for over 40 years with her children and, later, grandchildren. The Heywoods were also longtime members of Eastside Friends Meeting, a Quaker organization in Bellevue, Washington.
Mrs. Heywood was a proficient downhill skier, a sport she learned as an adult, and enjoyed spending weekends skiing at Steven’s Pass with her family. She was a skilled teacher and, after retiring from school teaching to raise her children, took up ski instruction at Steven’s Pass for many years. She and Dave also traveled widely through Europe and to Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Kenya, and China. Most recently, she enjoyed returning to Alaska with her extended family.
Her grandchildren were her true joy and they are grateful to have been raised with “Gramma’s” devoted care and attention. As a grandmother, Mrs. Heywood instilled in her grandchildren the importance of clear handwriting and excellent grammar in lessons she referred to as “Gramma’s Grammar.” She especially loved doing puzzles and playing word games with her grandkids. Mrs. Heywood and her husband were also known to be the most dedicated fans at their grandchildren’s wide array of sport competitions and musical performances. In recent years, she developed a passion for Gonzaga University basketball while two of her grandchildren attended the school.
Mrs. Heywood was the keeper of the family history, recording and remembering all birthdays, on both sides of the family. She will be missed by her family and friends, particularly for her wisdom, countless stories, and many talents as a gardener, seamstress, and baker, as well as her loving devotion to her family.
Survivors include her brother Alan (Barbara) Myers; her three children, sons Steve (Carolyn) and Alan (Marianne) and daughter MaryAnne (Lee) Standeford; and eight grandchildren John, Julia, Paul (Cori), Joanna, Louisa, Anne Marie, Kimberlee and Krista.
She was predeceased by her husband, David (“Dave”) Heywood (1933-2017); and sister Alice Myers DeBlase.
Two memorial services are scheduled to be held. The first service is scheduled to begin with a visitation from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by the service at 3 p.m., on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Gray Friends Church, 4810 E 146th Street, in Noblesville, Indiana. The second service is scheduled to be held at 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, at Eastside Friends Meeting, 4160 158th Ave SE, in Bellevue, Washington.
Remembrances can be made to Eastside Friends Meeting, Bellevue, WA (quakercloud.org/cloud/eastside-friends-meeting); Bridle Trails Park Foundation, Kirkland, WA (bridletrails.org); or Gray Friends Church, Noblesville, IN (grayfriends.org)
Online condolences may be made at www.randallroberts.com.