Karol Fern Sample, gone too soon at age 44, will be remembered with a celebration of life this Sunday. Brad Johnson asked us to share the invitation, which includes some information about her life:

(The celebration is planned) on the lawn just outside Colman Pool in West Seattle this Sunday, 9/8, at 2 o’clock, right after the last noon swim of the outdoor season, where fellow swimmers and others … are asked to make arrangements so that you can join us as we celebrate the life of our dear and recently departed Karol Fern Sample, who, after two courageous years of fighting cancer, moved out into the universe to spread her fairy dust, positive energy, and bigger-than-life smile this past Monday morning, September 2nd.

The idea is for this to be a potluck where we share food, but more importantly to share in the warmth of community with hugs and remembrances of Karol’s short but vital, vibrant life. This near fixture of Lincoln Park, dressed typically in a white or green wool hat with ear flaps, either rode her classic bike or walked daily around the paths surrounding this park and pool, her second home, where she could also keep watch over any stranded seal pups or orcas magically appearing out in the sound. But what many didn’t know was that this very creative, bright shining star was a gifted and highly talented visual artist, a painter.

To see much of her work, just go to KarolFernSample.com or go to Bing and type in her full name or find her on Facebook, Karol Fern Sample, where you will also see the obituary written by Kathy, Karol’s twin sister. For those who are so moved by her art work, you can contact the family to see what pieces are still for sale. I promise your time viewing her websites will be a gift to yourself from Karol.

A more formal service is being held in Yakima this Friday, 9/6, at 4 o’clock at Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive. The drive time should be around an hour and a half to 2 hours at most. Reception afterward. If anyone is interested in attending and carpooling, I can be the contact person @ 206-617-0789, as well as a driver.

Both of Karol’s sisters — Fran and Kathy — are hoping to come to this Sunday’s celebration. I know both would very much enjoy meeting Karol’s friends since the sisters live in eastern Washington.

If you are unable to make either celebration but want to send condolences, Kathy Sample’s address is 861 Carroll Road (amazing, no?), Ellensburg, Washington, 98926, or e-mail one or both sisters at either kathysample1@gmail.com and/or Fran @ fharris@fairpoint.net.

If you were unable to find the obituary, one request of the Samples was for those wanting to send flowers to the family to instead send donations to the University of Washington hospital, which incredibly and most graciously covered a significant portion of Karol’s expenses. For those who visited Karol in the hospital, you know the tremendously wonderful care she received. If you would designate your gift with her name attached to it, that would be most appreciated. …

Look upward tonight and see an ever brighter sky, as ‘our Karol’ is now swimming among the other stars.

We couldn’t get a direct FB link to Ms. Sample’s official obituary but did find one on this Yakima news site. The web link mentioned for her work wasn’t working when we tried it, but we did find some of her paintings here.