Gig Harbor, Washington - Carol Anne Cook (Puls) went with the Lord on October 16, 2020, after a very quick and unexpected illness. She was known for her beautiful quick smile, bright blue eyes and positive can-do attitude. She touched the hearts of many and will be so greatly missed.

Carol was born on July 29, 1940, in Mercy Hospital, Hempstead, Long Island, New York, to Elizabeth (Betty) Gertrude Puls (Leonard) and John William Puls. The younger of two daughters, Carol enjoyed her time on Jones Beach as a child, played the cello and twirled a baton. Carol attended Our Lady of Loretto grammar school, Sacred Heart Academy, and graduated from College of Notre Dame in Baltimore, where she majored in education. Soon after college, Carol married, and with her new husband, Bruce, Carol moved (1) to Richmond, Virginia where she had her daughter, Maureen; (2) to Lynchburg, Virginia, where she had her daughter, Laura; (3) to Carmel, California, where she had her daughter, Sheila; and (4) to Mercer Island, Washington, where she had her son, Peter, all within 5 years. Carol was an incredibly giving and loving mom to her children.

Education was highly valued in the family, as Carol's mother was a kindergarten teacher, and her sister, Jackie, was a teacher. While raising her 4 children, Carol taught remedial reading at John Muir Elementary in the Seattle School District for 20 years, and later obtained her Master's Degree at Seattle University.

Carol was a Mercer Island resident for many years. She loved gardening, her time with St. Monica's Catholic Church while becoming an Eucharistic Minister, raising her family, and later helping to raise some of her grandchildren. Later, Carol moved to Bothell and became involved in St. Brendan's Catholic Church.

After retiring from the Seattle School District, Carol loved spending time in her beach cabin at Grayland, Washington. She treasured her time with family. Carol's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Always a "New Yorker," her family could still detect her Long Island accent later in her life as she spoke about her cherished New York childhood.

Carol is survived by her 4 loving children, Maureen (Keith), Laura, Sheila (Danny) and Peter (Deborah), who absolutely adored her and who are at such a loss without her.

She is also survived by 15 loving grandchildren, Kajsa, Bryn, Siri, Conor, Ricky, Trevor, Quinn, Kai, Delaney, Valencia, Bruce, Allison, Kamela, Peter D and Mary Rose, 4 great-grandchildren, Naiomi, Paxton, Dexter and Scarlett, and 1 on the way, by her loving sister, Jacqueline Maher, 3 nieces, Elizabeth, Catherine and Christina, and their families.

There will be a small family-only funeral at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington, and the family asks that any remembrances be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.