Carolyn Lee Jennings

She graduated from Strong Vincent High School in Erie and had degrees from Thiel College in Greenville, PA and Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. During the summer of her freshman year, she met her husband, Tom. It was love at first sight for both. After a three-year, long-distance courtship, mostly through letters, they were married on June 8, 1963. The marriage lasted sixty-two years until her passing.

An only child, Carolyn was a people person. She enjoyed hosting gourmet dinner parties, bridge games, and bible studies. She treasured her friends and always looked forward to making new ones. Moving to Plano opened the opportunity for new ones as she joined the Family Living Sunday School Class at Christ United Methodist Church.

Carolyn loved the church, and her passion was Christian Education. She taught Sunday School, wrote curriculum which included a published play, and served her church as Chair of the Christian Education Board. Her other service to the church included eight years on the national board of American Baptist Churches USA. She served on the Social and Ethical Concerns Committee with a focus on social justice and the environment. In recent years, she helped form a Women to Women group which included a prayer shawl ministry.

Carolyn did not work outside the home while raising her family. As her sons entered college, so did she. She worked full time for the regional office of the Church of Christ_ while attending college full time. She graduated from Medaille with a BS in social work.

Following her degree, Carolyn became an advocate for abused women. She helped them with the legal system and finding safe placement.

Carolyn was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was very proud of her two sons, loved her daughters-in-law, and cherished her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Martha Hawley, and her stepfather, J. Norman Carlson. She is survived by her husband, Thomas, her sons Timothy (Kelly) and Marc (Carol), and her grandchildren, Thomas, Megan, and Katie.

Carolyn went to her Lord after a short hospitalization on January 25, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. 5000 Quorum Drive, Dallas, Texas 75254