Carmie Lynn Toulouse
Carmie Lynn Toulouse, lifelong resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 78 years old. Carmie was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend.
Carmie was a lifelong learner. Graduating at 16 years old from Highland High School, she followed a love of history and archaeology that led her on digs from New Mexico to as far away as Hell Gap, Wyoming. Carmie stayed in Albuquerque to raise her children Jeremy and Tamaya, and spent her life serving her state.
She spent 30 years as a civil servant in the NM Human Services Department, her favorite project was working with IBM to transition from paper food stamps to EBT cards. After her retirement from state government, Carmie dedicated herself to furthering education in New Mexico. She was elected to the CNM Governing Board and served 12 years before being elected to the Public Education Commission where she served 15 years. She shared her talents on many boards and volunteer positions including Las Adelitas, KNME Community Advisory Board, Southwest Ballet Company Board, Albuquerque Indian Center Board and many others.
Carmie loved reading, travel, education, history, archaeology, astronomy, car racing, opera, cooking, New Mexico politics and most of all, her family. Her six grandsons and many “adopted” grandchildren and friends were the light of her life, and the reason she lived as many years as she did. She was known as someone who would fight for a good cause and was happy to teach anyone who would listen. Carmie mentored many young professionals, especially women. She also dedicated years of her life to her daughter’s dance classes, loved to hear her son sing and watch him play soccer, and was a proud New Mexico Democrat. She was a loyal friend and loved her family without limits, and they will miss her immensely.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, sisters and extended family. Her son Jeremy Alan Toulouse, his wife Jenny Toulouse, their three sons Harrison, Hayden and Cullen and her eldest grandson Christian Toulouse and his mother Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Her daughter, Tamaya Lynn Toulouse, her partner Christopher Pope, her sons Sean Wiener and Sebastian Wiener, and their father Mark Ivan Wiener. Her sister Samantha Patricia Schwack and husband Art Schwack and her sister Leigh Anne Toulouse and her partner Thomas Raymond Candelaria.
Carmie was preceded in death by her parents James Raymond Toulouse and Charlotte Mae Johnson Toulouse, and her sisters Charlotte Mary Toulouse and Laura Lee Megah.
Carmie’s Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 6pm at CNM Smith Brasher Hall, 717 University Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Central New Mexico Community College Toulouse Memorial Scholarship Fund at www.shorturl.at/uHT07 and the Albuquerque Indian Center, 105 Texas St SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.