Mrs. Kay LeFan

Carolyn, who was known as Kay, was born on December 28, 1934 to Frank Merle Hartman and Naomi Esther Ruby-Ross in Dodge City, Kansas. Though born in Dodge City, Kay considered Albuquerque, New Mexico her home, where she lived from 1950 to 1952. She graduated from Highland High School in 1952 and received a piano scholarship to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Kay was Vice President of Mu Phi Epsilon at TCU and a member of the TCU Symphonic Orchestra. She graduated in 1956 with her Bachelor of Arts in Music focusing in both piano and organ, with a minor in music theory.

Kay was an extremely talented and skilled musician. After graduating from TCU, she started her life-long career in music by teaching piano lessons out of her home. In addition to teaching piano, she would go on to become an organist and choir director for multiple churches – Edge Park UMC, Oakhurst UMC and St. Paul UMC being amongst where she spent her tenure. Kay was also an organist for many funeral homes in Fort Worth, TX to include Shannon’s, Laurel Land, Mount Olivet, and Greenwood. Even after a 25-year career, Kay’s love for music did not end with retirement. One of her most treasured accomplishments was playing for the Fort Worth Gold Tones and the Firewheel Christian Academy Music Department, where her two eldest granddaughters attended.

In December 1963, Kay married James “Jimmy” LeFan. Together they went on to have four children, James Paul, Carolyn, Paula, and Susan. Kay and Jimmy were married for 41 years and spent the majority of their marriage residing in Burleson, TX.

In 2007, Kay moved to Wylie, TX for the remainder of her retirement and spent her time decorating her new home with sunflowers and any chicken décor she could get her hands on. One of Kay’s favorite pastimes was watching baseball, specifically the Texas Rangers. The other loves of her life were her two dogs Ivory, a Bichon Frisé, which Kay would pronounce in her best French accent, and Sugar, a Lhasa apso.

Kay is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Naomi Hartman; husband, James “Jimmy” LeFan; son, James Paul LeFan; and daughter, Susan Suter. Kay is survived by her sister Everta Rae Hoge; daughter, Carolyn Holboke and husband, Marty; daughter, Paula Kurecka and husband, Tim; son-in-law, David Suter; and grandchildren, Katelyn Palisch and husband, Zachary, Madison Holboke, Samantha Kurecka, Alyssa Suter, and Phillip Suter – all of whom share her love of music.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Stable Strides Farm, Health and Healing through Horses, an organization near to Kay’s heart.

Donations can be made online at https://www.stablestridesfarm.org or by check mailed to:

Stable Strides Farm 920 Frenchtown Road, Argyle, TX 76226

“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.”

Edward Bulwer-Lytton