Beverly Stretch Carlson

Beverly Stretch Carlson, aged 91, passed away quietly on Thursday 30 January, 2025 in Seattle, WA.

Beverly was born on 27 September 1934 in New York City, NY to Albert Edward and Roberta Many Longman. She had two loving brothers, Robert Albert (1929-2024) and Rodney K. (1935-2020). She married the Rev. Peter Stretch in 1958 after her graduation from Vermont’s Green Mountain College. Together they faithfully served the Episcopal Church in Lewiston, ID, Moline, IL, and Spokane, WA for over 30 years. Bev and Pete raised three boys, Robert Timothy, James Peter, and William Thomas. Peter died in Bev’s arms in 1995 in Sequim, WA where they had moved and were in the process of building their dream retirement home on Bell Hill.

As an active and creative person, Beverly painted, sculpted, and photographed the beauty around her throughout her life. Following Pete’s death, Beverly finished their retirement home and lived happily for seven years. Bev’s defining characteristic was her nurturing of those around her. She did outreach for the Church and on her own. She founded a grief counselling group to help others in her community to deal with the loss of a spouse. She also delivered meals, conducted welfare checks, and ran errands for the elderly in her community. She kept active with golf and weekly hikes in the Olympic Mountain range with some like-mined friends who referred to themselves as the “Goat Girls”. Members of the group successfully hiked the entire 50-mile West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, BC.; the first all-female, over-sixty group to do so. The accomplishment was newsworthy enough that the Peninsula Day News published a story about it.

In addition to supporting Pete’s work in the church, Beverly worked in the Mead School district in Spokane Washington. She started as an unpaid elementary school arts volunteer and rose to head secretary of Mead High School until retiring.

Beverly met Robert “Sam” Carlson at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sequim and they were married in 2002. Together they spent a 16-years travelling the world including Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Alaska, Antarctica, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the African savanna. The two enjoyed their life and adventures together until Sam’s death in 2019.

Beverly is survived by her three sons, Robert’s wife Graciela Villalobos; their four children, Patricia Ann, Beverly Erin, Peter Andrew, and Robert Timothy, Jr. Her two granddaughters-in-law: Ashlyn and Laura. Beverly has four great-grandchildren, Ezra Daniel and Liliana Marie Cuevas from Patricia and Joseph Robert and Jacob Matthew Stretch from Robert Jr.

Beverly Ann Carlson led a full and happy life, serving others and loving those around her. She never lost her kind heart and warm smile, and thankfully, retained her fond memories of the people in her life. She was loved by those around her. She was adored by her sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She would always light up when her family visited or called. She was able to spend extended time with her sons in her final years, giving her much joy and comfort. Her unquenchable spirt, gentle soul and insightful wit will be missed.

A celebration of her life will be held in Kirkland, WA on April 15, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, the family request you make a donation in her name to your local Episcopal Church.


Below is a letter found in Bev’s files that describes her life and times in her words.

THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF BEVERLY LONGMAN STRETCH CARLSON

> Written by Bev dated June 5, 2015

What a wonderful life I have had thus far. Growing up in Baldwin, NY was always an adventure and a joy for me. My two brothers, Bob ('47), Rod ('53), and I ('52) (Baldwin H.S. graduation dates) had a very strong bond, and still do. The family always came first, whether it was running off to support Bob and Rod as they wrestled for Baldwin High (which made mom a nervous wreck!), or attending football games as Captain Bev led the cheerleaders with encouraging yells! Being the vice president of the class of '52, and a Blue Team Sports Night Captain were highlights for me.

Cooking breakfast at Jones Beach on Sunday mornings, and entertaining large holiday dinners with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were a real treasure. After dinner, mom and all of the kids would go out to our basketball hoop and shoot baskets. The loser of the match would have to do the dishes! Mom never lost, as she used to play intramural basketball when she was young!

After a wonderful high school experience, I attended Green Mountain Jr. College in Poultney, Vermont. My major was fine arts. I loved college and Vermont!

After graduation, I was employed as a draftswoman at Sperry-Rand Corporation on Long Island. Our move to New Jersey required a change of job for me. Hiring women as draftspersons was not allowed in New Jersey at that time; therefore, a new job was created for me. I became an Engineer's Assistant at Curtis Wright Corporation.

In 1955, I had my first blind date, with Peter Stretch, of Garden City, NY. In May of 1958, Peter was ordained an Episcopal priest, followed by our marriage one month later. Nancy Famulare ('52) was a bridesmaid at our wedding.

Our first parish was in Lewiston ID, where our three sons Bob, Jim and Bill were born. During our stay in Idaho, I was initiated in 1965 to P. E.O. (an international philanthropic organization supporting the education of women). Our next parishes were in Moline, IL and Spokane, WA. In Spokane, during the summers, Peter took about 30 kids on canoe trips on Priest and Chelan sakes, and Snake, Kootenai and Clearwater rivers. Later, because of its popularity, we sponsored adult trips.

In Spokane, I worked for the school system for 20 years. At Mead Sr. High School, I facilitated support groups for "Students at Risk", was a counselor at Leadership Camps, and I taught Special Ed students office skills. I was elected to the Executive Board of Directors for the Washington Association of Office Personnel where I served from 1982 to 1987. I taught some night school classes at Spokane Falls Community College. Working as a plumber, I helped build a "Habitat for Humanity House".

Peter loved sailing. His dream was to retire on a sailboat. Not me! For Christmas one year, I decided that I was being selfish, so I treated him to a "learn to sail trip" in the San Juan Islands for a week. It was hard work. He loved the trip, but changed his mind about retiring on a sailboat, and I ended up loving sailing. It was a win-win situation.

Years later, I was glad that I had these sailing skills, as I was invited to join an all-female team in a Sailboat Race for Hospice. We were the only female team, and we won 1st place, two years in a row. Fun experience!

In 1988, Peter and I purchased a beautiful 10-acre parcel of land in Sequim, Washington. Brother Rod and his wife Patti Burgett ('53), helped to support "our dream".

We fell in love with the Pacific North West, and camped on our property every chance that we had. I designed our house, which was completed in 1995; unfortunately, Peter did not see its completion as he died two months prior.

After Peter died, I created and facilitated a "Good Grief" program for widows, and later widowers for my Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Church.

To help me with my grief process, I hiked the West Coast Trail, along the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The hike was a grueling one. It was 8-days long with 45 lbs. on my back (which included food, clothing and my tent)! There were four ladies, no guides. We had to learn to read tidal charts, etc. so as not to get swept out to sea during the night. It was probably one of the best things I ever did for myself. I wanted my kids to know that I would survive despite my husband's death. The task was arduous, yet wonderful, and one that I am very proud of.

In 2001, I had my second blind date. I was introduced to Sam Carlson, a southern gentlemen and an engineer from Mississippi. After many golf dates, boating and crabbing experiences, dinners out, and attending the PA Symphony for a year, we were married in 2002.

Prior to meeting Sam, my international travels included England, which Bob and Rod and their spouses gifted to Peter and me one Christmas and a church conference in Hawaii.

Sam loves to travel and has opened my eyes and heart to travel. We have traveled over parts of the world I never dreamed of seeing: Italy and France (four times). While in France, we rented an apartment with friends for a month. We did our shopping at the marche' d'air ouvert (open air market), and the boulangerie (bakery), for food and French wine. The first awake in the morning was responsible for going to the boulangerie for fresh warm croissants!

We visited La Rochelle, France, from which my mother's family emigrated to New York in 1682. Our travels also include England, Ireland, and Scotland. My love and passion for photography was enhanced by visiting so many countries, their people, and their culture. Social Studies was not my favorite subject in high school, however, I was surprised at how much I remembered! I do love history now that I have been exposed to all of this beauty! What an adventure!

Our blended families include six adult children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and one great grandson, and another on the way. As the grandchildren grew up, they have made summer trips here, learning to crab, clam, navigate the boat, and to play golf. The kids looked forward to strawberry and raspberry picking, and were excited about the treats their moms made from their harvest. They looked forward to all of the good things Sequim offers.

My life, as described above, has allowed me the opportunity to either live in or visit most of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. My travels have also taken me to many parts of North America (Canada, Mexico, Panama), and numerous Caribbean Islands (including Rod and Donna's home in the Bahamas), and Bermuda in the north Atlantic. In South America, I visited Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina (including Patagonia and the Straits of Magellan), Chile (including Easter Island), and Peru. In the Southern Pacific, I took a sailing cruise of the Tahitian Islands and spent a month driving and touring most of New Zealand, including the North Island and the South Island. I made several trips to Europe: England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, and Austria. In 2014 I spent several weeks in Africa, visiting the African school children and adults, and taking safari trips to view the freely roaming wild animals, and beautiful birds. We traveled to The Republic of South Africa (mostly the Cape Town area), Namibia, Botswana, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

For my 80th birthday, Sam and my brothers had a surprise party for me at my brother Bob's apartment on Central Park West in NYC. There were 38 family members and guests. I am truly blessed!