A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Sunday July 23, 2023 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Carol died Saturday July 15, 2023, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital
She was born April 16, 1952 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, the daughter of Ralph and Virginia (DePlue) Nelson. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1970 and attended Nursing School not long after high school. She was a medical assistant at Lawrence Family Practice Center for 20 years and retired in 2003. After her retirement she cared for her granddaughter Kaitlyn for several years. They had a special bond that no one else could fill and it was apparent that whether as a nurse or caregiver it was her calling.
She married her high school sweetheart John Herschell in May of 1970 and he passed June 19, 1974. Later she married the love of her life Duane Newman on July 2, 1977 and he survives of the home in Eudora, Kansas.
Other survivors include two daughters Rachelle (Herschell) Griffin (Dennis) and Sarah (Newman) Gentry (Troy) all of Eudora. Four grandchildren Ryan McCabe (Katie Feretti), Kaitlyn Gentry, Rylee Griffin, and Kamden Gentry. Twin sister Cheryl Nelson (Ross McGrew) of Emerson IA, Brother Jeff Nelson (Lana) of De Soto KS as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Carol’s greatest loves were her grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and chatting about their accomplishments and how proud she was of each of them from Ryan and his kind nature and time with the Airforce, Kaitlyn being her mini me and so proud of her, Rylee and her softball and school accomplishments as well as her artwork, and Kamden’s witty personality and vast knowledge of all things sports. She would say it was hard to keep up with his knowledge. If you were willing to listen, she was always willing to talk about the four people she considered her greatest joys.
Carol also loved quilting and each quilt was a labor of love for whom she was making it for. She could spend hours at the quilt stores and in her quilting room making sure each stitch was perfect. Her family and friends will be wrapped in her love each time they use one of her quilts.
She loved spending time with Duane at tractor pulls. She learned how to do the books so she was a part of the fun and has many fond memories of the good times and friends they met along the way.
Her forever best friend was her twin sister Cheryl. Being a twin was special to her. Spending time with them you could see their bond was deep. Always laughing and enjoying their hobby of finding the best antique and polish pottery stores. She adored her younger brother Jeff and loved dancing and listening to him sing with his bands through the years. She would always say his version of the song was better than the original.
Carol was always up for game night and loved playing cards and board games with her family or watching a KU Basketball game.
As a child she was diagnosed with diabetes and struggled with the illness throughout her lifetime. She was later diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome which also took a toll on her body. Despite her health struggles she lived a full and productive life until her body could not fight any longer.
Friends and Family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home Lawrence KS on Sunday July 23, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The family encourages you to dress casual or in your favorite KU Jayhawk t-shirt in true Carol fashion.
The family suggest in lieu of flowers that donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.