Carolyn Sue Gallant

Carolyn S. (Fietz) Gallant, 66, ended a long, difficult journey with cancer in Oklahoma City, OK, on December 19, 2023. She was born March 2, 1957, in Oklahoma City to Wanda and Crayton Fietz and was raised in Lawton, OK. After graduating from Lawton High School in 1975, she first attended Cameron University, then transferred and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1980 with a degree in Medical Technology.

During her college years she serendipitously met her husband, Ken, at a Lawton High football game through their mutual friend (Becky McKee Evans). They were married in 1982, moved to Oklahoma City, and raised two children, Rachel and Matthew. She worked as a medical technologist at Integris Baptist Medical Center for the majority of her career. She was extremely knowledgeable and well-respected in her field; she went on to become lead technologist in coagulation and ultimately the Quality Assurance Specialist for the laboratory, all the while making lifelong friends.

Outside of work, one her greatest passions was Camp Fire. Starting as a Blue Bird, she grew up a Camp Fire girl and worked as Outdoors Director at Camp C’Andy in Lawton after high school. Later in life, she and her oldest friend, Liz Quoetone, wanted to pass on the tradition to Rachel and her friends by becoming co-leaders for a Camp Fire group of their own (The Storytellers). Through their creativity and leadership, they instilled a sense of responsibility, compassion, and independence in their girls and kept them engaged through high school; some of them went on to receive the WoHeLo Award (Camp Fire’s highest honor). Even after her Camp Fire girls graduated, Carolyn stayed involved by joining the Heart of Oklahoma Council board, where she served as Board President for two years. Some of her closest friends are those from her Camp Fire days and she always ensured at least an annual gathering of the “Old Camp Fire Girls” and the “Young Camp Fire Girls” and eventually melded the two groups, keeping everyone in touch through the years. Her love of the outdoors persisted long after her Camp Fire days were over and she never failed to appreciate a sunrise, a hike through the woods, or the sound of a babbling brook.

All who knew Carolyn would attest to the fierce love she held for her family and friends. For 41 years she and Ken were undeniably dedicated to one another, modeling mutual trust, respect, and true partnership. Despite her own successes in life, Carolyn would likely claim her greatest accomplishment was her work together with Ken in raising their two children. She was exceptionally proud of them for their academic and professional pursuits with Rachel becoming a physician and Matthew an engineer. Even more so, she was proud of the people they have grown to be. She loved big family gatherings, often hosting her extended family for holidays and traveling to Colorado to enjoy time with her in-laws. She will be remembered for her love of reading (particularly Edith Wharton), movies, traveling, the outdoors, music, attending concerts, and long talks on the phone with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Judy Killian. Carolyn is survived by her husband Ken, daughter Rachel of Oklahoma City, son Matthew of Houston, siblings: sister Mary Fietz (Michael Nord) of Phoenix, AZ; brother Michael Fietz (Sue) of Miami, OK; and brother John Fietz (Jill) of Dallas, TX; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A visitation will be held at the Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Home in Oklahoma City on Tuesday December 26 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., followed by a wake at 7:00 p.m. at the same location. Her funeral mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, December 27 at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City following the funeral mass.