Carol June Donovan

Carol June Daniels was born in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 11, 1943, to Mildred and Harold Daniels. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, attending Peninsula Elementary and graduating in 1961 from Roosevelt High School. Carol attended Portland State University.

She started her working career at the FBI, applying for a job at the age of 19 and returning daily to sit in the lobby until they finally offered her a position. She was the first person in Oregon to hear about the assassination of John F. Kennedy via the FBI’s teletype machine.

Carol married Patrick Green. They had two children, Jerry Michael Green (1964) and Jennifer Michelle Green (1966). Carol and Pat moved to Seaside, Oregon, soon after the birth of their daughter, where Carol began her involvement in the local community. As life goes, Carol and Pat parted ways, and in 1975 Carol met and fell in love with Dr. John E. O’Donovan (Doc).

Carol was a bright, savvy businesswoman with a strong, open heart and a wonderful sense of humor. These qualities made her a success in the business world and a champion in the community. She successfully built and managed the O’Donovan Clinic and Emergency Care Facility, and together with her husband, Doc, opened Serenity by the Sea, an alcohol and drug treatment facility in Seaside.

In 1977 Carol was instrumental in securing the necessary votes to approve the build of the Seaside pool. She then worked endlessly to ensure it was landscaped and open and running properly. She was a strong advocate for community programs, insisting they were accessible to children of disabilities and those struggling with poverty. When Carol took a stand she was the heart and soul of that stand, which made her all the more a community champion.

Carol volunteered for several years with the Ms. Oregon Pageant, and served as member and eventual president of the local Soroptimist club, a volunteer organization of professional women. In later years, when Doc developed Alzheimer’s disease, Carol researched an alternative to state-run facilities and, realizing there was nothing that provided the care and compassion Doc deserved, she opened her own care facility, Doc’s Place, focusing on Alzheimer’s and dementia. She cared for Doc and others until his death in 2002.

Carol was never one to sit idle, and with time on her hands she rejoined Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District as an elected member of the board of directors. Her activity and enthusiasm for district activities and ensuring that the district mission was delivered was often an example to other board members and staff.

She assisted in numerous special events and task forces as a result of her service on the board. Those opportunities included helping with the Sunset Park & Recreation Foundation’s event, “A Sweet Affaire,” and most recently on the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District Scholarship Task Force. Carol served two different times as the board vice-chairwoman, and that was her position at the time of her passing.

Carol was an enthusiastic University of Oregon Ducks football fan, a devoted friend, a 35-year member of the legendary Birthday Club, and a most dedicated and loving grandmother. She loved her grandchildren dearly, and often said the best part about having kids was the grandkids.

Carol is survived by her siblings, Martin of Medford, Oregon, JoEllen of Vancouver, Washington, Norman, also of Vancouver, and David of Redmond, Oregon; her children, Jerry Green of Oregon City and Jenni Miller of Portland, Oregon; and her five lovely grandchildren, Tim, Tyler, Austin, Dylan and Lily.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. at the Bob Chisholm Community Center, 1225 Avenue A in Seaside, Oregon.

Contributions in Carol’s memory can be made to the following organizations: the Seaside Empire Parks and Recreation Center in Seaside, Oregon, or the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon.