Obituaries

Carolyn Carey

Carolyn Ruth Carey, age 97 years, of Prairie Home, Missouri, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2012, at her home with her loved ones by her side. Carolyn was born on March 29, 1914, on a farm just outside of Prairie Home, Missouri, the daughter of Frank and Bertha (Sabel) Langkop. She was one of seven children in her family. She graduated from Prairie Home High School and was a lifetime member of the Clarks Fork Trinity Lutheran Church of Boonville. Carolyn married R. A. Carey Jr. and they resided on their family farm in Prairie Home where Carolyn was a homemaker, caretaker and shared responsibilities at Langkop's Drug Store where her brother, Carl D. Langkop, was a pharmacist for 45 years. After R. A.'s death Carolyn moved into town to her present home where she also took care of her sister, Esther, for fifteen years. Carolyn will be remembered for her "love of life". Certainly, many of you have heard her say when asked how old she was, "I want to stay on the face of this earth as long as the Good Lord will let me!" This last month she showed everyone, with determination and strength, her strong desire to live as she fought congestive heart failure and pneumonia. She loved cooking, quilting, sewing and working outside in her flower gardens. Family and friends were very important to her and did she ever love her town of Prairie Home. Carolyn never had children of her own, but dearly loved her niece and nephews and their children. She spent countless hours at ball fields, concerts, graduations, birthday parties and holiday gatherings throughout the years. In the last few years she enjoyed spending time with her great and great-great nieces and nephews, watching and feeding the birds, reading, taking drives through the countryside and her frequent visits from Pastor Herman. Carolyn always looked forward to springtime with the smell of lilacs and the sight of hummingbirds and monarchs outside her window. The simple things in life meant the world to Carolyn. Her beautiful smile and kind personality is something that will be truly missed. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bertha (Sabel) Langkop; husband, R.A Carey Jr.; three brothers, Herbert, Wilbur and Carl D. Langkop; and two sisters, Josephine (Langkop) McClanahan and Esther Langkop. Carolyn is survived by one sister, Beulah Kuester of Prairie Home, Mo.; a niece, Donna K. Morris of Jefferson City; three nephews, Everett Kuester and wife, Ann, of Prairie Home; Don McClanahan and wife, Linda, of Jefferson City and Carl W. Langkop of Springfield, Ill.; four great-nephews and niece, Tyler Morris and fiancÈe, Brooke Sweaney, of Jefferson City; Brian Kuester and fiancÈe, Jessica Derke, of Prairie Home; Chad Kuester and fiancÈe, Cassy Kumna, of Jefferson City; Mont McClanahan and wife, Paula, of Jefferson City; and Andrea Estes and husband, Kris, of Blackwater; four great-great- nephews and niece, Chad McClanahan of Jefferson City; Dakota and Madilyn Kuester of Prairie Home; Aden Estes of Blackwater; and Josh Bayte of California, Mo. Visitation and funeral services are under the direction of Thacher-Wood Funeral Home in Boonville, Missouri. Services will be held at Clarks Fork Trinity Lutheran Church of Boonville on Saturday, February 4, with visitation from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Luther Herman and Rev. Lewis Odneal officiating. Interment will be at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville, Missouri. To leave condolences please go to www.thacherwood.com.

Published February 2, 2012