Carolyn Doris Ruth Googasian

Carolyn Doris Ruth Lorenz Googasian was born in a small town near Dexter, Missouri on October 2, 1935, to Amynell Lanpher and August Andrew Lorenz. 11 months earlier, her brother George Hubert was born. Uncle George was sick as a young child with rheumatoid arthritis and a chronic lung condition that required frequent long hospitalizations in St. Louis, a 3-hour trip. When George was well enough, they walked to school together or their dad drove them in rainy weather. My mom often talked about the 2-room schoolhouse she attended with Mrs. Tatum as their beloved teacher. She later wrote a story about her experience in that schoolhouse, I assume for her college class in elementary education. Her family lived on a farm with many animals, including a cat my mom would also tell us about then we begged her to talk about her childhood. Mom spent time with her school friends and barnyard animals, playing piano and reading. When my mom was a teenager, her dad died and her mother moved the family “to town.” Grandma Dora, her maternal grandmother, was the only grandparent she knew, and they visited her often and she came to care for mom when George was hospitalized. Eventually, the family moved to Pontiac, where Amynell’s brothers had moved to in the 1930’s, probably during the depression.

She went to Pontiac Central High School and while there participated in their Radio Workshop, which presented stories to children during noon time on the local radio station. My mom played the piano for their theme strong and music during the story. The story is that my dad noticed my mom playing piano and asked his friend who that girl was playing piano and was introduced to him. Later, as college plans were being made, my mom told dad she wanted to go to Eastern Michigan, to which my dad replied, that he was going to Michigan State. You will not be surprised to learn that my mom changed her mind and went to Michigan State for her Education Degree.

They were married on September 2, 1956, after dad graduated from MSU and my mom had another year remaining. They lived in student housing, and made lifelong friends while there, despite the meager furnishings. Mom started working in Pontiac school system after graduation, teaching upper elementary grades, and throughout her years she worked in three different elementary schools.

Lynne was born in 1959 and then Mark a year later. After she had Anne 5 years later, she took a few years off to plan a new house in Rochester and assist with Anne’s pre-school here at St. Paul’s. One of my friends told me recently that my mom’s grandparenting skills inspired her to fashion her grandparenting after my mom’s. With my mom’s summers off from teaching, she enjoyed spending time planning vacations for us, (without the internet) and our family enjoyed traveling to different parts of the country, camping along the way. We each had our task for setting the tent camper up and it usually went smoothly, after dad guided my mom into the spot, that sometimes could get contentious. On one of those trips, to the Rocky Mountains, she tripped on a rock and broke her foot. On the next year’s trip, she fell and broke her wrist. She joked that she was not going on vacation next summer, or it could be her neck that would break. Fortunately, she did not break anything on the subsequent vacations, that I remember.

After her children were grown, mom and dad traveled to China with the Watson’s and to Europe with each other and Anne on another trip. She would scour the travel magazines she subscribed to, dog earring pages of interest.

When Lynne moved back home with her children, Jonathan and Elizabeth, Carolyn welcomed them with open arms. Always the teacher, she helped with school projects, organized Halloween pumpkin carvings and designed and sewed Halloween costumes, had them helping with Christmas cookies, and all the other things doting grandmothers do with their grandchildren.

Mom was a devoted Methodist, involved in the Woman’s circles, Bible Studies, and Rummage sales as long as she was able. She was in a “Charter” member of the Family Life Class and enjoyed with class teachings and fellowshipping with friends. She is remembered for her forced forsythia on the table at Eastertime at the snack table for the class.

Throughout her life, mom loved finding ways to give back- to the community, her church, but most importantly, her family.

Irving Berlin said it best. The song has ended, but the melody lingers on.

And so, mom- I love you, I miss you. Well done good and faithful servant.

A memorial visitation will be held on February 21, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, located at 620 Romeo Street, Rochester, Michigan, 48307. Following the visitation, a memorial service will take place at 11:00 am at the same location.