Carol Jean "CJ" Pendleton

Carol Jean (CJ) Pendleton, 84, of Tampa, Florida unexpectedly died peacefully in her sleep on July 10, 2022. She was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, the daughter of Gerald Wilton Olson and Frances Elizabeth Olson and was a graduate of Iron Mountain High School.

When her children were young, she was a homemaker and later re-entered the workforce as a bookkeeper and junior accountant. CJ retired with 25 years of service with the Federal Government. At the time she retired, she was a Grants Management Specialist with the U.S. Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) agency. Previously she worked for U.S. Customs.

After her retirement CJ moved to Tampa to be near her grandkids, Katy and Pen. CJ had a very active social life, loved playing cards and Mah Jongg, and was a member of the OWLS group in Northdale. She was an excellent cook and loved watching cooking shows, reading cooking magazines and collecting recipes. She was also an avid NFL fan. There were several quarterbacks that she always watched over the years, and she became a Bucs fan upon moving to Tampa. (Unfortunately she never became a Tom Brady fan.)

If you looked up the phrase “dressed to the nines” there would be a picture of CJ – you never saw her without a superbly coordinated outfit, her hair perfectly coiffed, full makeup, nails beautifully manicured and jewelry that exactly matched her outfit. She loved to laugh, and her laugh was loud and infectious. Many family dinners included a laughing bout that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

Most importantly CJ was a loving, caring and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She loved and missed all of her faraway friends and treasured the new friends she made during the 6 and a half years she lived in Tampa.

She is survived by her son, Nathan Pendleton (Laura); daughter, Elise Leone (Joe); brother, Terry Olson (Joanne); and five grandchildren, Katy, Pen, Phillip, Vincent and Jessica.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 15, 2022 at 2pm at Blount and Curry Carrollwood located at 3207 W. Bearss Ave. Tampa, FL. 33618. The family will receive friends one hour prior.