Louise (she never liked the name Nancy) grew up and completed high school in Jay, Oklahoma along with her two brothers, Glenn Frank Jr. (Frank) and Marvin Ellis (Ellis). She met Joe Allen Carson on his first appointment as minister of Jay's First United Methodist Church.
Louise and Joe raised four children while Joe served churches at Grandfield, Rush Springs, Ponca City, Nowata, Enid, Vinita, Norman and Oklahoma City. Louise completed a bachelor's degree at Oklahoma State University while commuting from Rush Springs. She was a talented seamstress, making Easter outfits and wedding dresses for her kids. She loved to bake; her apricot crescent rolls were hot items at the church bake sale.
Louise began to work outside the home in Norman. It was Reverend Bob Mash who first hired her as receptionist at the Wesley Foundation and introduced her to raising iris. Growing and judging iris became Louise's best-loved hobby. She served as an officer of two of the state's iris clubs as well as regional vice president for the American Iris Society. She was invited to judge iris shows around the region from Texas to Nebraska. She traveled to iris conferences around the country, sometimes dragging Joe along. Her own yard was filled with up to 700 varieties at one time and was twice part of the conference tour circuit. It was not uncommon for Louise's entries to win Queen Of Show or appear on the queen's table at the local competition.
Louise and Joe built their own house in 1982, achieving a long-held goal. They were active members of St. Luke's Methodist while Joe was appointed there as Associate Pastor. They returned to St. Luke's after Joe's service to churches in Cordell and Chandler.
During this period, Louise worked as a bookkeeper for Collins-Deitz-Morris and then for Follett bookstores, first at Oklahoma City University, then Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and finally at Oklahoma Christian in Edmond.
Joe passed away in 2002. Frank in 2014. Ellis was lost in an accident in 1974. Louise is survived by her children, Rita Himes, Michal Carson, April Bulling (and husband Scott) and Jan Carson. She has six grandchildren: Andrew Himes (and wife Laura), Sarah Himes, Jordan Moore (and husband Blake), Bryce Bulling (and wife Jenna), Justice Carson and Stellan Carson-Langthorn. Louise also has four great grandchildren: Blakeleigh and Tress Moore and Cole and Cameron Bulling.
Her steadfast spirit of strength and devotion to family inspired many and she will be wholeheartedly missed.
A visitation for Louise will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 Northwest 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13400 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73131.
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