Obituary

Eudene "Deene" Carlton

January 20, 1950–March 18, 2024

Eudene Louise Carlton, 74, died peacefully in Idaho on Monday, March 18, 2024.

Deene was born on January 20, 1950, the oldest of three children of Eugene and Frances Louise Stearns-Clausen. Growing up, she split her time between Dayton, Wash., and LaGrande, Ore., and graduated from Dayton High School. One of her fondest childhood memories was being a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She cherished the lifelong friendships she had made during that time, along with her special Rainbow Bible.

Deene met Robert (Bob) Carlton while attending Dayton High School. They married in 1969 in Dayton, Wash., and celebrated nearly 55 years of marriage. While Bob attended Eastern Washington University, they lived in Cheney, Wash. After graduating, they returned to Dayton to raise their family. Upon their return, Deene attended beauty school in Walla Walla and became a licensed beautician with two of her good friends.

Deene enjoyed several jobs over the years, from reporting the snow conditions at Ski Bluewood to bookkeeping for Christy's Realty, receptionist at Valley Vision Eye Clinic, and lead bookkeeper for Bridgeport Place Assisted Living in University, Wash. She had a talent for bookkeeping and a special gift for connecting with older people. While she did enjoy her various jobs, it was always the people she worked with that she loved most. She knew everyone, and they knew her. She was not a fan of heights, loud noises, or the ski patrol practice ride down the mountain, and she was not afraid to tell you. She was always proud to be part of Ski Bluewood.

She was devoted to her husband and children, and her family formed the core of her life. She found joy in her hobbies, such as cross-stitching, painting, coloring, and button collecting. Anything with a sparkle or rainbow brought a smile to her face. Her love for her children was fierce, and her grandchildren were the sun that rose and set in her world. She was an avid sports fan, loved watching golf, basketball, and football, and spent many weekends cheering for her favorite teams. Earlier this year, she enjoyed her 74th birthday with family.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Carlton, Star, Idaho; two children, Angela (Travis) Skidmore, Austin, Tex., and Robert (Nikki) Carlton, Eagle, Idaho; and her three grandchildren, Jonah (22) and Quinn Skidmore (15), Austin, Tex., and Jaxson Carlton (7), Eagle, Idaho. Sisters Kay (Bill) Pyle, Keizer, Ore., and Sharlene Boggs, Keizer, Ore., also survive.

Deene was preceded in death by her parents and first child, Doug. Following cremation, Deene will reside at the Dayton Cemetery alongside her firstborn, Douglas Robert Carlton.