Noel E. Carlson

Noel Elizabeth Carlson (Boothe), age 77 of Cherry Valley, passed away Saturday August 3, 2024 after a year of illnesses. Born February 5, 1947 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, to James W. & S. Catherine Boothe.

Her family moved from Arkansas to Rockford in the early 1950’s. She attended Franklin Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School and then graduated from West High School in 1965. She was active with Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement and played the violin.

In her younger years she was a babysitter for the entire neighborhood, she sold newspapers with her brother Walt in the lobby of the Gas & Electric building and worked at the Robin Drive In Theatre with her dad and brothers Walt and Jim during the summer. Later, she worked for Illinois Bell, Rockford Surgical Service, Saint Anthony Hospital and she retired from Swedish American Hospital in 2015.

She met her husband Charles “Chuck” Carlson on a blind date, Halloween 1966. They were married on July 3, 1968 and just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary last month. They lived on 24th street in Rockford before moving to Cherry Valley in the spring of 1979. Daughter Theresa “Tracy” Marie was born in June 1974 and son Matthew Charles was born in July 1978.

Noel enjoyed spending time with her family here in town and at their cabin, entertaining and party planning, cooking enough food to feed an army, reading, word puzzles, Hallmark Channel movies, keeping up with friends and family through Facebook and going to lunch with her former classmates and co-workers.

Noel cherished her Irish heritage and kept in contact with her relatives in Ireland via Facebook. She had the opportunity to meet her Irish relatives in 1997 when she traveled to Ireland along with her children, sisters and niece.

She attended Salvation Army church and Emmanuel Episcopal church where she also taught Sunday School. She was a member of Broadway Covenant Church and most recently Faith Wesleyan Church.

Survivors include her husband Charles “Chuck” John Carlson; children Theresa “Tracy” (Matt) Wagaman, Matthew “Matt” Carlson; grandchildren Owen Wagaman, Sarah Carlson, Ella Carlson; siblings W. Walter Boothe, James W. (Karen) Boothe, Patricia “Teda” (Dave) Riggins, Rose (Charles Dale) Johnson, Michael (Mary) Boothe; sisters-in-law Lilian Johnson, Bonnie Christensson, Connie Kurth; nieces and nephews through 4 generations 100+; predeceased by her parents James W. & S. Catherine Boothe, brother David Boothe, many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nephew Shannon C. Boothe, nephew Steve Carlson, great nephew Danny Fehlhaber, great niece Kelsey Lynne Kurth and niece Sandy Fehlhaber who passed several hours after her also on August 3, 2024.

Pallbearers for Noel will include her son Matt Carlson, son-in-law Matt Wagaman, grandson Owen Wagaman, brothers Mike Boothe and Jim Boothe, nephew and godson Nathan Riggins, and friend Greg Schwankee.

A visitation will be held Friday August 9, 2024 at 1:00 PM with service to follow at 2:00 PM, with Pastor Jaci McNeil of Faith Wesleyan Church in Rockford, IL officiating, at Sunset Funeral Home. After the funeral service and internment, a luncheon will be provided at Sunset Funeral Home.