Carolyn Cowley Poindexter

Carolyn Cowley Poindexter will be forever remembered by all who love her for her kindness, warmth, bright smile, and the way she made everyone feel deeply loved. She was born in Jackson, Michigan, on December 19, 1943, to Robert and Dorothy (Durham) Cowley. During high school, her family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona. After graduating from Flagstaff High School in 1962, Carolyn attended Northern Arizona University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1966.

After college, Carolyn moved to Los Angeles, where she received training to become a Medical Technologist at LA County Hospital, and then received her licensure from the State of California. It was there, in 1968, that she met the love of her life, James Monroe Poindexter. Carolyn and Jim married in 1970 and welcomed their son, Steven Todd, in 1972. Together, they created a life filled with love, family, and dear friendships—shaped by a shared love of travel, punctuated by sports car rallies and bowling leagues, and grounded in an active church community.

Carolyn received many accolades throughout her career as a Medical Technologist and Clinical Chemistry Technologist. She was registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the National Registry in Clinical Chemistry for more than two decades. In 1986, the family moved to Newport, Oregon, where Carolyn joined AScI Corporation as a member of the Analytical Chemistry Team of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, the environmental research laboratory housed within the Hatfield Marine Science Center. She was also a Charter Member of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

After retiring in 1997, Carolyn and Jim moved to Kansas City, Kansas, to be closer to the Poindexter family. In 2002, they returned to Oregon, settling in Beaverton to be closer to Steve and what would become another great joy of Carolyn’s life: her grandchildren, Rylee and Carter.

In August 2017, Carolyn underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia. An eternal optimist, Carolyn was profoundly grateful for the eight additional years the transplant gave her with family and friends, even as they came with tremendous health challenges. She faced those challenges with her usual grace, strength of spirit, tenacity, and faith – becoming a hero to her family and friends.

Carolyn passed peacefully on May 24, 2026, from complications following a fall, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Cowley; her mother, Dorothy (Durham) Cowley; her brothers, Donald and Richard Cowley; and her stepson, James “Sonny” Monroe Poindexter Jr.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, James Monroe Poindexter; her son, Steven Poindexter; her daughter-in-law, Brennan Wood; her grandchildren, Rylee and Carter Poindexter; as well as many loving friends and extended family members.

Carolyn made everyone in her world feel deeply loved, and she will be missed beyond words. A Celebration of Life will take place at Portland Christian Center, where Carolyn was a member, 5700 SW Dosch Road, Portland, Oregon, on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Portland Christian Center’s Missionary Fund.