Carroll Bost Propst

Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents Clyde Herman and Ina Criddle Bost; her

husband Evans Alfred Propst; father of her children Paul Eugene Cansler; son-in-law

Anthony R. DiNapoli; brothers Charles, Phillip, Ralph, and Dewey Bost; and sisters

Jeannette B. Coulter, Margaret B. Lutz, and Ruth B. Johnson. Carroll was the youngest

of her large family.

Carroll is survived by: her three children Beverly Cansler (Michael) Finney of Hickory,

Catherine “Kitty” Cansler DiNapoli of Holly Springs, NC, Craig Paul Cansler of Newton;

grandchildren April L. Hawkins of Hickory, Monica D. (Luther) Maday of Atlanta, GA,

and Vincent A. (Ciara) DiNapoli of Winterville, NC; and great-grandchildren, Madelynn

and Sean Maday, and Christian, Laila, and Maia DiNapoli.

Also surviving are stepchildren Jean (David, deceased) Propst of Sherrills Ford, Gail P.

(Norris) McRee, Betty P. (Mervin, deceased) McGee, and Cheryl P. (Sonny) Canipe, all

of Newton, and their families. The youngest of the five Evans Propst children, Ricky, is

deceased.

Before her retirement, Carroll worked as a sewer in various glove mills in Catawba

County and a short time as a nurse’s aide at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir.

Carroll leaves a legacy of joy, perseverance, and music. Her father made sure that she

had 13 years of piano lessons as a child, which laid the foundation for years of singing

in the choir at First Baptist Church of Newton and singing occasional trios with her two

young daughters. She passed her musical talents to her son Craig, an accomplished

organist and choir director for over 20 years in Episcopal churches in California and

Georgia. Carroll was still playing the piano until just days before her death.

Generous of spirit, she helped those in need along the way, sometimes at her loss but

without regret, and hugged anyone and everyone everywhere she went. So many in her

life were special to her, and she to them. She missed that contact when the COVID

virus kept her home but continued to spread joy and laughter when and where she

could. Her refrain: “Laughter helps your immune system.” “If you can’t laugh with me,

laugh at me.” “Just be yourself.”

Along with her bird watching and delight in her flowers, Carroll was an avid Braves

baseball fan, seldom missing a game, and familiar with players enough to call them by

name. Her favorites were former third baseman Chipper Jones and first baseman

Freddie Freeman. She treasured the Braves memorabilia given to her for any special

occasion.

Her children say she marveled at her long life, more than a decade longer than any of

her seven siblings. “Must still be here for a reason,” she’d say as she faced the

challenges of her 90s. For what she could no longer do in her usual way, she fashioned

another method, with pride in her adjustments.

And she took great pride in her children and their accomplishments. “How did all three

of my children turn out so well?” she asked. She was comforted that they have stayed

close as a family, knowing they will look out for each other.

A celebration of Carroll’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 14 at Willis-

Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton, with family receiving at 9:00 a.m. Pastor Tommy

Hullette will be officiating. Carroll will be buried next to her husband in the May’s

Chapel Methodist Church cemetery in Maiden.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation,

28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036 or online at www.bcrf.org.

The Propst family has entrusted Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home.