Carolyn Sophia Nicolaysen

She was born on May 9, 1938, in Preston, Iowa, to the late Albert J. & Adeline S. (Miller) Bredall. Growing up on a farm in rural Iowa, Carolyn was involved in 4-H for many years and loved farm life, especially raising and showing animals at the local fair. Carolyn loved to cook and bake and learned this in her younger years on the farm. Carolyn was an excellent cook and found joy in cooking and baking for others. She relished reading cookbooks in her free time. She was known for her: pecan rolls, coffee cakes, fudge, peanut brittle, chicken tetrazzini, and her many casseroles. At her favorite time of year, Christmas, she loved to build gingerbread houses with her grandkids and bake sweet treats for relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Carolyn was a 1955 graduate of Preston High School in Preston, Iowa. Later in life she went on to attend Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas, where she earned her teaching degree. Carolyn taught preschool at Cardinal School in Richardson for 18 years. Her time spent with her students was cherished as she considered it a blessing and honor to teach small children.

She met her husband, Bob, on a blind date and enjoyed 60 wonderful years of marriage. They built a family with a son and a daughter, and were blessed with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Carolyn adored her family and was a loving wife, mom, grandmother and great grandmother. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she was an integral and active part of their lives while they were growing up. She enjoyed attending basketball games, choir concerts, high school marching band half time shows and band concerts, high school art shows and of course their graduations. Carolyn and Bob enjoyed traveling throughout their marriage with her brother and sister in law, friends and family. They enjoyed many trips back to Carolyn’s family farm in Iowa over the years to visit with family and life-long friends.

She had a love for country music, especially Johnny Cash. She enjoyed watching the Country Music awards and loved attending Vocal Majority concerts with Bob.

Carolyn’s devotion to God and her church was evident throughout her life. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Richardson since 1964, where she took every opportunity to be involved in as much as she could including Sunday school, women’s group, and countless others. She even organized the CS’ers – a support group she established for cancer survivors, like herself.

Doing for others was what Carolyn did best and her life story displays that over and over again. She was a humble woman, never looking to be recognized for her achievements and passions. Carolyn was a best friend and neighbor to many. She will be remembered for her kindness and sweet spirit, and will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Bredall. She is survived by her husband, Bob Nicolaysen; sister-in-law Amy Bredall of Preston; daughter and son-in-law, Karen & David Reed of Plano; son and daughter-in-law, Dan & Janet Nicolaysen of Ennis; grandchildren, Meagan (Rodney) Dixon of Waxahachie, Lauren (Austen) Smith of Prosper, Andrew Nicolaysen of Fort Worth, Hannah and Sarah Nicolaysen of Ennis; great-grandchildren, Savannah Dixon, Rodney Dixon III, and Reed Dixon; and many wonderful friends.

A memorial service will held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 11:00am at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1210 W. Beltline Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carolyn’s memory to St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1210 W. Belt Line Rd., Richardson, TX 75080. Please share a memory or leave a message of condolence at www.sparkmanrichardson.com