Gladys Carrier

GLADYS EILENE CARRIER

August 25, 1931 – December 14, 2024 

Saturday, December 14, 2024, Gladys Eilene Carrier, passed away peacefully at home, at the age of 93 in Ridgefield, Washington. Gladys was born on August 25, 1931 in Alta, North Dakota to Forest and Josephine Ackley. Gladys and her family moved from North Dakota to Tacoma, Washington in 1940. Shortly after, her family settled in Ridgefield, Washington where Gladys remained throughout her life. As a resilient and strong young woman, Gladys spent time with her late husband, Bob Forsberg, gillnetting on the Columbia River. Gladys retired from the Washington State Department of Transportation after 29 years and began driving semi-truck with her husband, Don Carrier. Gladys loved the outdoors, deer and elk hunting and fishing on the ocean. She was an expert shot, outshooting Don and the rest of the boys. She enjoyed time at their Long Beach property, digging clams, shopping and running rummage sales and gatherings with her family and friends. She enjoyed growing flowers, especially red roses, horses, cooking and canning. She and Don were known for hosting family gatherings and celebrations, where all were welcome. Gladys had a strong Catholic faith and was the family matriarch, kind and patient, loved by all. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lorraine Wray, brothers Melvin and James Ackley. Gladys is survived by her husband of 51 years, Donald Carrier, her step-son, Paul Carrier and his wife Tamara in Vancouver, WA, her step-daughter, Brenda Westwood of Helena, Montana. She has 5 grandchildren, Jason Steiner in Montana, Tabitha Chamberlin in Colorado, Paul Carrier, Jr in Germany, Brandon Carrier in Texas and Natasha Arrasmith in Washington, and 8 great grandchildren. Gladys took a supportive role in helping raise her sister, Lorraine Wray’s children, Rick, Rhonda, Larry and Danny and is survived by many nieces and nephews. 

Services will be held at St. Mary’s of Guadalupe Mission in Ridgefield, WA on Friday, December 27, 2024. Viewing will be held at 10:30a Mass at 11a. Graveside service at 12p to be followed by reception at the St. Mary reception hall. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or to Hope through Horses, Inc. a non-profit that provides funding to enable individuals to access transformational healing with horses, https://www.hopethroughhorses.com/