Carol Kay Sprague

Carol Kay was born to Roy and Mollie Lamb in Otis, Colorado. She was delivered in their home on the farm September 15, 1939, by a mid-wife. At nearly 3 months of age she was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, December 3, 1939. She was the fourth born of six Children; Eugene, Shirley, Curtis, Ronnie and Herbert.

Carol and her siblings worked very hard on the farm to help support the family. She was in charge of milking the cows and collecting the eggs from the chickens in addition to all her other chores and schoolwork. She loved to read and would race to complete her chores so she could at least read a little of her book by the light of her kerosene lamp every night. She was a very hard worker. In addition to her farm chores, she cooked, cleaned, sewed and helped to

care for not only her younger brothers, but elderly friends of the family who had no one else to come help them. She attended Colorado Washington elementary school in Otis, Colorado.

As Carol grew to be a beautiful young woman, her desires to continue her education and expand her horizons also grew. She was an excellent student, but she was needed on the farm to help. When time permitted, she was very active at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church and was confirmed on April 11, 1954. She taught Sunday School, organized many events and Boutiques. Doing charity work was one of her favorite things to do when not working on the family farm.

She found High School to be an interesting and eventful time in her life. She played the clarinet in the "Bulldog" marching band at Otis High School where she graduated on May 29, 1957. After graduating High School, Carol was eager to try new things and did some modeling for the local department store. Sadly, Carol suffered the loss of her older Brother, Curtis in a fatal car crash in September of 1956, prior to graduating. Carol moved to Denver to attend Central Business College where she graduated on May 28,1958. It was in Denver, while she was attending college that she met the love of her life, Gailen Ralph Sprague.

After courting for a while, Gailen asked Carol for her hand in marriage. They wed on November 26, 1961. Shortly after they wed, they conceived and started their family. They gave birth to Sherrie LaVelle on September 25, 1962 in Denver, Colorado. Gailen was offered a position as a

leasing agent in Santa Monica, California. So they relocated with their new baby girl and he began working with Leasing Associates. The couple purchased their very first home in Van Nuys, California in 1963. Here, Carol was in her glory, fixing up their new home and soon, they were blessed with yet another child on the way. MaryAnne was born in Encino, California on December 3, 1964. Carol loved being a Mom and housewife. She made her girls and

herself matching dresses, sewed many clothes and Halloween costumes through the years and other household items like curtains and even doll clothes! She made beautiful cakes for

her girl’s Birthdays that were so special, her girls later made them for their own kids. Carol was a God loving, church going woman who raised her girls with the same values and morals.

In 1970, Leasing Associates dissolved their business and Carol's husband Gailen, along with 2 other partners opened a new business called Multi-Gun located in Van Nuys, less than a mile from their new home. Carol started working as the billing/accounts payable for a mailing house in Van Nuys when her girls were old enough to walk home from school alone. She worked with Addresses Unlimited until her forced retirement when the company closed its doors.

In 1982, Carol’s Daughter Sherrie married and she and her husband bought a home near Carol and Gailen’s new home on Greenbush. In November of 1986, she was blessed with her first Grandchild, Jay who was born in Mission Hills, CA.

Carol had worked years after her Doctor told her she was no longer able to work. Working all day and still doing all the work of a housewife, there was never time for her to enjoy life. She never slowed down and her strength came from being raised on the farm. She never let anything stop her, including the Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Emphysema, Osteo Arthritis or COPD. Her mind over matter and “don’t speak of the illness” worked until she met cancer. Even then, most people with lung cancer do not live 3 years of quality life as she did. No one really knew how ill she was despite the pain she had endured most of her adult life.

Carol had a knack at bargain hunting and took shopping for her family with coupons and specials to an art form! She actually got so good at it that the stores just about paid her to take the stuff out the door! Carol never spent money on herself for anything except basic necessities until her Daughters took her and her husband, to Las Vegas for her first time as an Anniversary gift. From that point forward, the Tropicana became their home away from home and they never stayed at another hotel. Carol and Gailen were like two kids in a candy store every time that they went to the Tropicana until Gailen passed away unexpectedly, the day after Christmas in

2000. They were scheduled to celebrate their 1st New Year’s Eve at the Tropicana, but that never happened. Carol had lived for her husband and daughters all her life, and in time, she decided to try Vegas on her own. Not only did she do well on her own…she earned the “Rock Star” accommodations graciously given to her by her host, Ron Chalk.

The last thing she asked of her daughters was to help her go to Las Vegas one last time to play in the Halloween Tournament she was booked for. She could no longer go it alone so she cashed in her New Year’s Eve Plane ticket and purchased tickets for her girls. She was so happy in Vegas and we all know that her trips to the Tropicana kept her fighting longer to stay here on

earth. When it was time to leave her suite, she said, “ I don’t want to go home”. How profound

that statement became as the final chapter of her journey concluded!

Carol lived her life with honor, strength and courage. Her kindness, generosity and wisdom will live on in all the hearts she touched through her memory. Heaven has gotten a true Angel and she will be missed here by all!