Carol Putnam

Carol Marie Putnam, 80, went home to Glory, February 16, 2017, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, after complications from heart disease. Carol was born in Harvey, Illinois (Chicago area), on December 19, 1936 to Oscar and Hazel Swanson. She graduated from The Baptist Bible Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1958. Carol met her future husband, Gary L. Putnam, while working at Libby’s Canned Foods in Blue Island (South Chicago), Illinois. They were married in Athens, Georgia in 1962 where Carol became a property manager while Gary attended college and worked various jobs. They moved to Florida in 1965 and never looked back! In Florida, Carol spent a "lifetime" in Riverview, where she and Gary enjoyed their life's journey together and raised their family. From the late 1960's through the early 1980's and with great pride and determination, Carol managed the Riverview Tourist Court, A small motel on the corner of Highway 301 and Hackney Drive. Carol and Gary then moved to Stoner Woods in Riverview where they enjoyed their peaceful surroundings as they both moved into retirement. Carol’s passion for cycling flourished as she joined Gary on numerous bicycling adventures in the area and supported the club in many capacities including providing “sag wagon” support to the Stanley Ride and editing the Tampa Bay Freewheelers monthly newsletter. In 2004, Carol and Gary moved to Polk City, Florida, where they continued to enjoy RV traveling, sightseeing across the United States and joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Carol spent the last three years living in Lexington, Kentucky with her daughter, Deanna and her husband, Steve where she was a member of Pinckard Baptist Church. Carol is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Gary L. Putnam; her father, Oscar F. Swanson and her mother, Hazel P. Swanson. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey M. Putnam Sr. (Anna), Shreveport, LA; daughter, Deanna D. Dobson (Steve), Versailles, KY; brother, John O. Swanson (Charlotte, deceased), Oceanside, CA; sister, Marsha P. Lindstrom (Carl), Greer, SC.; granddaughter Caroline N. Putnam, Cusco, Peru; and grandson Jeffrey M. Putnam Jr., Shreveport, LA; sister-in-laws Lorraine Gruner, Nancy Putnam-Schmitz, Marguerite Cochran, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Garden of Memories Chapel, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa, Florida, on February 25, 2017, at 12:30 with Rev. Richard Williamson presiding. A reception will be held immediately following the memorial service. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.