Carol Ann Elvin

We lost our dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt and friend Carol Elvin, this day, Friday, July 28, 2023. She died peacefully at home with her caregiver granddaughter, Cathryn Guider Downs (pictured above) and medical support. At the age of ninety-four and a half years young, Carol had a long and memorable life providing all of us with much to be thankful for. Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Viola Wawirka; her brother, Jack Wawirka; and husband, Joel Anderson 

Carol was born in Kewanee, Wisconsin on January 30, 1929. She grew up on the family mink ranch; the  Wawirka Minkery in Wells Michigan where she learned the basis for her expertise in evaluation of mink pelts and their assembly into fine mink apparel. She attended Bryant University in Rhode Island where she obtained a Business Degree and met her husband, William Robert Elvin. They were married in 1952 and raised Patti Ann Elvin Goin Guider and John Hunter Elvin.  

Moving to Biloxi in 1962, Carol opened La Boutique, a women’s couture dress and mink Fur Shop in the former Edgewater Gulf Hotel. With the demolition of the landmark hotel in 1971, she relocated La Boutique into the adjacent Edgewater Shopping Center and opened a second shop in the Sheraton Hotel.  Carol closed La Boutique in 2002 and continued to live in the family home in Edgewater Park. 

Carol was survived by her children, Patti and John; her grandchildren, Joshua Goin, Michael Guider and Cathryn Guider Downs; great grandchildren, niece; and great nieces and nephews. 

We are children formed by our parents’ responses to the challenges of their time. Carol was a member of the generation that earned the moniker “the Greatest Generation”. We all have large shoes to fill following that era. We ask that Carol’s coastal friends take a moment to acknowledge the members of that generation who are no longer with us and be thankful for the community, friends and family we do have with us. 

We know Carol would appreciate everyone enjoying a Celebration of Life in her honor. 

Carol will be cremated with final arrangements to be private. Carol is sadly missed, loved, and respected by family and we believe by the many members of the Gulf Coast that knew her.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Carol Ann Wawirka Elvin Anderson.