In Loving Memory of
Jamie Jo Carlson
Virtual Celebration of Life was held on November 14, 2020 at 9:00 AM Alaska Time / 10 AM Pacific Time
Jamie Jo Carlson, age 59, of Wasilla, Alaska, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. Her loving and devoted husband, Brad, and her daughter, Mandi Jo, were by her side.
Jamie Jo was born on June 2, 1960, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Shirley and James Severson. She grew up on the family farm and went to elementary and high school in Kindred. After graduation, Jamie moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where she developed her love of flower arranging, gardening, and decorating while working for many years for Shotwell Floral. She learned she had a fabulous sense of color and appreciation for the beauty of nature.
She followed her soulmate, Brad Carlson, to Anchorage, Alaska, in December 1982. They married in December 1983 and their adventure together began! She and Brad welcomed daughter Mandi Jo into their family in 1986. Jamie loved Alaska, not so much the cold and dark parts, but the beauty of the mountains, lakes, and rivers. The life they enjoyed together included some pretty sophisticated camping (she may have been the first “glamper”!) in Alaska’s wilderness. She loved tootling around the lakes and ocean glacier hopping. She and Brad especially enjoyed good food and great friends evidenced by 27 years in their Halibut Dinner Club.
Jamie attended Charter College in Anchorage and graduated with a degree in accounting, which helped her begin her 24-year career with Providence Alaska. She had so many roles at Providence that her husband could not keep track of them all! Her final role was senior financial Information Technology (IT) analyst when she retired in October 2019. Jamie, not only believed in the mission and core set of values of Providence, she lived them every day. She will be sorely missed by all her coworker friends and clients.
Jamie loved traveling. Some of her favorite places were St. John US Virgin Islands and Kauai, Hawaii. Vacations there were just that – relaxing, relaxing, relaxing! Watching ocean waves, breaching whales, geckos, sea turtles, dolphins, and all the different birds Hawaii had to offer, even the wild chickens! There were no agendas for Jamie and Brad when on vacation, just sitting by the pool, reading mystery novels, visiting with friends and family, and feeling the warm sun on their faces.
Jamie was Brad’s best friend and soulmate for 38 years. They thrived in their life together by loving and respecting each other and always communicating. Their friends and family wondered what they could possibly talk about so much every day. The answer was everything and anything. They were apart a lot during Brad’s travels for work but they still managed to talk every day without fail. Jamie and Brad moved to Wasilla in 2019 and together created their dream home. Jamie had the vision and Brad was the guy to make all her visions become reality. The motto “Together We Are Home” is not just part of their home décor but how Jamie lived her life. Jamie adored Mandi Jo and Mandi’s daughter Ann, who could make a bad day disappear with one smile and a “Hi”.
Jamie is survived by Brad Carlson, her husband and soulmate; her daughter, Mandi Jo (Brian) Moore; her granddaughter, “Miss” Ann Smith, and her sister, Brenda (Paul) Benedict. She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather (Alfie).
Brad & Mandi are planning a virtual celebration of life November 14, 9AM Alaska time
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Jamie was an amazing person kind caring and such a big heart for everyone. She and I were co-workers at shotwell floral in Fargo we had so much fun together reviving plants that everybody else had said were dead. We would take them home and soak them in our kitchen sinks. We just couldn’t throw any plants away, we always wanted to give them another chance. She was also my neighbor across the hall where I lived and she and I shared some good times. She and Brad were his beautiful match definitely made in heaven. God definitely knew and had a great plan for what he was doing when he had those two cross paths and forever share their lives together. Which was like a beautiful story that people could only dream of having found with another person on this Earth. It always makes me smile when I think of her coming across the lawn and shouting up to me on my balcony ,”I’ll be right over or give me time to get inside and then let’s talk.” Such a beautiful soul, she’s no longer in any pain but that doesn’t mean she’s not still missed every day here on Earth by those who knew her. Forever in my heart friend from long ago. ✌️🌱🌳🍃
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It took me a long time to write this. If I faced this I would have to admit she is gone, and not just think she is on vacation or my turn to call! I miss you Jamie & our 2-3 hour phone calls. My dear friend, I will miss you, forever & a day.
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The love Jamie have for Brad and daughter granddaughter is indescribable. Loving devoted wife and mother grandmother. She did not miss a beat. She was kind funny honest loving. She had integrity. You will always be with us in spirit and memories. Debora Hoke
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I will miss you a lot, Jamie. I was really, really touched when you called me a day before my lasy day at Providence on August 2, 2019 to wish me good luck . That was our last phone conversation. Thank you, for your friendship. I am sure we’ll see each other again in heaven. For now look down on us and bless us.
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Lots of great memories, lots of great times, you’ll be missed!
Andy & Robin Lindahl