In Memoriam: Charlotte (Carr) Kanemori ’69

Charlotte (Carr) Kanemori ’69 died Jan. 28, 2022, at age 74. She was born in Orting, Wash., on April 20, 1947, to Albert and Viola Carr and lived most of her life in Washington. She was the salutatorian of her Orting High School graduating class, lettering in basketball and track, playing powder puff football, and taking part in drama productions. She earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in speech from Pacific and then entered graduate school at the University of Louisiana-Baton Rouge. While conducting research for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, she worked in a low-income school in Galveston, Texas. She returned to Washington after graduation, and worked as a speech-language pathologist in the Bethel School District in Spanaway.

She married Ray Kanemori in 1979 and they welcomed their only child, Aimee, in 1983. The family resettled in the Seattle area and lived in Kirkland, Wash., for 27 years. 

Kanemori was a strong, intelligent, and compassionate woman of faith. A believer in the power of civic duty and progressive values, she was an active member of the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women and could often be found calling local politicians about issues close to her heart. She was involved in the life of the churches that she attended, particularly Lake Washington United Methodist Church in Kirkland, where she served as a trustee and attended the crafting and women’s groups. Most recently, she was involved with Kent United Methodist Church, where she and her husband became members after they moved to Wesley Homes Des Moines. She loved tole painting, gardening, traveling, and eating gourmet food with her loved ones. Her friends and family remember her generosity fondly, especially her care packages full of home-baked cookies and thoughtful gifts.

Kanemori is survived by her husband of 42 years, Raynard (Ray); daughter, Aimee; brother, Bruce; aunt, Leona Fiedler; and uncle, Karl Knaack.