Obituary of Carole Stewart

Carole Jean Stewart was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 27, 1931. Carole and her parents, William and Dorothy (Nelsen) Sheeley, moved to Portland in 1941. Shortly after, her singing career began at age 12 when she joined celebrities Jane Powell and Johnnie Ray on a USO tour.

Carole went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Education at University of Oregon and received a Master’s in Vocal Performance at Lewis & Clark College. She pursued a doctorate at University of Oregon on a graduate student fellowship. Among highlights as a soloist artist, she won the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Oregon and sang with the Portland Opera for several years.

Carole began her teaching career in the elementary schools, and eventually was a professor of voice and music education at George Fox University and voice at Willamette University. She also taught voice for more than 50 years in her studio, launching many students into performance and teaching careers. She served as regional governor and president of the Cascade chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and president of Mu Phi Epsilon’s Portland alumni chapter.

Carole is survived by her sons John and David; grandchildren Nicole, Renae, Jamin, and Sky; and great-grandsons Owen and Evan.

For those that would like to honor Carole, please make a donation to the Memorial Scholarship – National Association of Teacher of Singing, 3923 SE 105th Ave, Portland, OR 97266.