Carol Anne Gilden was born on September 9, 1958, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Carol was truly a free spirit and a force to be reckoned with. Her passion for all of God’s creations was only part of her many facets. She loved life, and if you were lucky enough to call her friend – you knew she would defend you to the end. She was quirky, fun-loving and – as all her friends will attest to – passionate about nature and art. In her later years she became an avid photographer – focusing on her love of animals and “all things great and small.”

Born to father Robert Caleb Gilden and mother Andree Monique Festeau-Gilden, Carol grew up a military brat, moving and adjusting to the many countries where her dad was stationed. She and her brother Gerard grew up living in France, England, Japan and the Carolinas. Her time at Yokota High School in Japan is where she found her passion for art and drama, and where she made a lasting impact on the friends she made there.

Carol spent many years living near Dallas, Texas before moving to Portland, Oregon with her friend Bill, where they set up roots for the past 16 years. There, Carol’s passion for photography really took off. She was able to showcase her art in several galleries and shops around Portland. She truly came into her own with a new-found passion for creating digital media focused on the various landscapes, flora and animals she encountered. Most recently she had planned to pack up and move to Northern California to begin her latest new adventure. Alas, her journey in this life ended when she contracted bacterial pneumonia and we lost her on March 5th.

Carol was kind, compassionate and loved life, and focused her message and art on positivity. She was the type of friend you would always treasure. Whether close by or thousands of miles away, she would always reach out, at a drop of a hat to be there for you. All it took was a phone call or a smile, and she would be there laughing and crying and sharing memories.

Rest easy Carol. You were loved by so many and your life will continue to live on in your art and in our memories.

Bonne nuit mon chere amie. May you rest in peace in His loving arms.

A Celebration of Life is being held on April 3rd, from 5:30-7:30pm at The Jenkins Estate, at 8005 SW Grabhorn in Beaverton, OR 97007. Flowers can be sent on that day to this address.

Carol is survived by her mother Andree Monique Festeau-Gilden and brother Gerard Gilden, and preceded in death by her father Robert Caleb Gilden and aunt Mirielle Festeau.

If you wish to purchase any of Carol’s art, you can do so by going online on ArtPal at https://www.artpal.com/X-o-C or at Fine Art America at https://fineartamerica.com/pr…

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