SUQUAMISH — Corinne Dawn Rock, a former Suquamish court clerk who helped in the publication of a history of St. Peter’s Church, died Jan. 25. She was 81.
She was known to many in the community as Carrie and to many more as “Mom,” Grandma Carrie or Auntie Carrie.
She was born May 11, 1931 to Bennie and Martha George, the ninth of 10 children. She was raised in Suquamish, attended local schools and graduated from North Kitsap High School in 1949.
She attended secretarial school in Bremerton and worked for Blossom Brothers in Suquamish prior to her marriage to Charles R. Dryden in 1951. She traveled as a Navy wife throughout the United States, returning to Suquamish in 1963.
Her working career included the state Employment Security Department, Kitsap Para Transit and as a court clerk in the Suquamish Tribal Court. Upon her retirement in 2002, the Tribe named the courtroom in her honor. The Archdiocese of Seattle credited her assistance in its publication of the “Saint Peter’s Church — 150-year History.”
Her life in retirement was eventful. She was proud to be a Suquamish Tribe elder and valued Native traditions. She enjoyed traveling on elder trips throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and once to Alaska. She took pleasure in attending Native American basket-weaving classes, encouraged others to pursue traditional activities and especially took pride in the weaving skills of her granddaughter, Alyssa.
“Anyone who knew Carrie knew better than to interrupt her ‘Wheel of Fortune’ show,” her family wrote in an obituary, “And during sports season, she could be heard cheering louder than anyone for her much-loved Mariners, Huskies and Seahawks teams.
“She may have been small in stature, but her heart was gigantic to anyone in need. Carrie could be counted on to visit those in hospitals, nursing homes and home recuperations. She provided a sympathetic word for family and friends suffering extreme losses [and] she could be counted on to encourage young parents admiring their newborns.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bennie and Martha George; brothers, Bennie, Cecil and Lyle; sisters, Evelyn and Marjorie; and husbands, Charles R. Dryden, Gus Makris and Franklin Rock.
She is survived by her children, Charlene Renquist (George) of Buckley, Charles D. Dryden of Suquamish, and Cathlene Norris (Rob) of Suquamish; grandchildren, Charles F. Dryden, Brandon Dryden, Brady Norris, Alyssa Norris and Devin Norris; brothers, Ted, Bob and Ron; sister, Regina Rambo; honorary grandchildren, Shilo Kumpf, Saraid Schram, Chelsea Forsman, Cheyenne Todd, Tyler Arneson, Josh McDonnell, and a multitude of other children over the decades; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was an avid pet owner to a menagerie of animals (dogs, cats, birds and turtle) throughout her lifetime, and she will be sorely missed by her beloved dachshund, Shultzie.
“Carrie will be remembered for her easy smile, wry wit, strong opinions and her feistiness,” her family wrote.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled on Feb. 1, 2 p.m., at the House of Awakened Culture in downtown Suquamish. Memorials may be made to the Suquamish Food Bank and the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue.
— Family of Corinne Dawn (George) Rock
