Carol A. Lucier passed away on November 5, 2022, in West Des Moines, IA in the presence of beloved family.
Carol Jo Adams was born on November 23, 1935, in the Panama Canal Zone to Major General Andrew J. Adams Sr. and DeLellis Adams. A child of a military family, she moved around consistently throughout the country, attended high school in Peru, and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Following her undergraduate education, she joined the Army and trained as a Physical Therapist at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. Here, she met and married Lt. Col. Dr. David G. Reynolds. They gave birth to their first son, Stephen D. Reynolds in 1964 and moved to Rockville, MD shortly after. Douglas S. Reynolds was born in 1965. The next 30 years would be marked with mothering her six children in Iowa City, IA, and then in Boston and Cleveland. While in Iowa City, she became instrumental in the formation of the Iowa City Kickers Soccer Club, which is still active today. Carol married Charles Lucier in 1982 and took great joy in her stepchildren Jim Lucier, Elizabeth (City) Green, Christopher Green, and Jennifer (Mora) Lucier.
In 2000 Carol and Charles divorced, and Carol moved to West Des Moines, IA where she would ultimately settle down. Upon moving into the area, she took a detour on a Sunday that landed her at Lutheran Church of Hope. This set off a lifelong love of the church and a commitment to a relationship with Jesus Christ. When not at church, her family and friends knew her well for her gardening, participation in mission trips, and love of little white dogs. Perhaps her greatest joy, however, was her role as Nana to her grandchildren. Her unshakable love for them was evidenced in her warm-hearted presence and dependable involvement in their lives. She lived to become a ‘Great Nana’ in 2017.
What was Carol like? To know her was to know both a headstrong woman and a remarkably thoughtful, tender-hearted advocate for those that she held close. Carol frequently opened her home to others, loved to dance, was a fabulous cook, and was always learning something new.
Carol is survived by her sons Stephen Reynolds (Sarah), Douglas Reynolds (Judy), stepchildren Jim Lucier (Colleen), Elizabeth City, Christopher Green (Jessica), and Jennifer Mora, grandchildren Katie Gilbaugh (Samuel), Andy Reynolds, and two great grandchildren, her brother Andy Adams Jr. (Liz) and sister Liz Adams. She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew Adams Sr. and DeLellis Adams, and an infant son.
A celebration of life will be held at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines on Friday, November 11, 2022, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made by check to Lutheran Church of Hope (Carol Lucier / Mission Fund in Memo). Checks can be mailed to 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266.