Carolyn Ann Kelsey

Carolyn Ann Kelsey

1947 – 2020Kelsey, Carolyn color pic

Carolyn Ann (Sundling) Kelsey passed away March 5, 2020 in Mercy Hospital after an extended illness. Her husband of 51 years and 11 months, Lyle Kelsey, and their daughter, Crystal Kelsey, were with her. Numerous other family members and friends were present with prayers of comfort and support in her final hours. Carolyn was born on the 17th of December, 1947, in Akron, Colorado to Harold and Katherine (Resler) Sundling. She grew up with a family of eight children on a wheat farm where she joined her siblings participating in the usual daily chores. She specifically remembered the summer wheat harvest days with truckloads of out of state workers to handle the farm’s wheat harvest. Those were long days of preparing meals and washing dishes (she dried) for the all the workers. In her time off from chores and school, Carol got lost in her love of animals with the farm cats and dogs and especially her favorite… the family horse, Dusty. She imagined a time when she would be a star barrel racer at the Akron county fair. Years later in Edmond, with her own horse, Lucky, she proved she could still ride bare-back with the best of professional riders. During her high school years, she excelled educationally and socially. She was a cheerleader, voted prettiest girl by her classmates, and crowned homecoming queen her senior year.

After high school, she decided to further her education by enrolling at York Christian College in York, Nebraska. Again, during her two years in college she was a cheerleader and crowned sorority sweetheart. After she graduated with an associate’s degree, this pretty farm girl from Colorado set her sights on a big adventure to Los Angeles, California in December of 1967 where she lived with her older brother, Philip and his wife in Glendale. Since she had a strong faith and sense of church membership, she decided on a Church of Christ close by in Glendale. The first day in Bible class, Lyle Kelsey met the most beautiful smile punctuated by the prettiest set of dimples and the hunt was over for the girl of his dreams. She would talk about how she remembered the handsome guy serving communion to her that same Sunday. Their first date was to Disneyland in his bright red 1967 Plymouth Satellite with Roy Orbison singing on the 8-track player. Carol was cautious and very picky about who she dated but she made an exception for Lyle. Within three months, they were engaged, and married two weeks after their engagement in the Glendale Church. This beautiful young lady embarked on a whole new set of adventures and she didn’t look back. She was a well-grounded believer and looked to God for guidance everywhere she went. The next few years were interrupted by Lyle’s stint in the U.S. Army in Ft. Lewis Washington during Vietnam. Carol never wavered from her commitment to see everything through – with a very strong obligation to her marriage and a reliance on God to make it all work… and God did.

Following their time in Washington state, Carol and Lyle decided to move to a brand new home and future in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They were ready to make their own life together away from immediate families and leave the Army life behind them. They grew closer together and to God when they found their church home at the Edmond Church of Christ. Because she was a real self -starter and entrepreneur, she began taking on projects with a fervor at their church. She was very involved and chaired the Women’s Ministry for several years, taught Bible classes and spoke at many ladies’ luncheons and prayer meetings. Additionally, she was a huge support to her husband in the youth ministry, then in adult Bible classes, when he served as a deacon, and currently as an elder.

It was after moving to Oklahoma that Carolyn would begin her greatest journey and one that she would constantly say was her greatest gift, becoming a mother. Their daughter, Crystal Lynn, was born a few years after settling into their new home. Carol would tell the story of how teeny tiny Crystal was and how hard it was for her to leave her new baby at the hospital for several weeks, as Crystal arrived six weeks early. (It would become a running joke that was the only time Crystal was early for anything.) She constantly worried and prayed about her daughter’s health, along with finding a nice boy to marry. Carol and her daughter were opposites in so many ways but are far more alike than either of them had ever imagined. She was the mother Crystal needed in every way, most importantly she would demonstrate to (and remind often) Crystal of Christ’s example of being kind and loving to others.

Carol Kelsey was the most wonderful wife and mother. She loved to cook for friends, family, and truly enjoyed entertaining friends and family with fancy dinners, folded cloth napkins, and warm table settings… the works! She was a professional seamstress and taught sewing classes for years in Oklahoma City. Carol established and operated the Satin Stitch Embroidery business in Edmond for several years. She was a successful real estate agent for 25 years, serving with Edmond real estate agencies of Century 21, Prudential, and Church-Hill Brown. She was very artistic and enjoyed painting and drawing in her youth. Later, she would express her creativity by incorporating her love of scripture with her love of sweet images and would frame them for friends and loved ones. She would make little books of scriptures to give to people who were in the hospital or needed encouragement. Carol was always thinking of others and became very industrious in finding ways to serve.

As if all that were not enough… she was a member of the NRA. (Yes, really.)

But most of all, Carolyn Kelsey was loved by everyone who met her and will be greatly missed by so many.

*Her family would like to thank those doctors and nurses who cared for Carol during these past several years, but especially during this last year.

In lieu of Flowers…

Memorial contributions to be made to The Cancer Society, The Heart Association, & the In Search of the Lord’s Way Program/Edmond Church of Christ

Services will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Edmond Church of Chris (801 S. Bryant). Family visitation will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

18 thoughts on “Carolyn Ann Kelsey”

  1. Levenia Carey

    Love and Prayers – sorry for such an amazing loss. A life well lived and a reward has been earned. God Bless

    1. Always such a sweet woman, with kind words for everyone. I was especially blessed by her friendship as a young woman, and received so much encouragement at her feet.

  2. First of all i am so sorry for your loss. Second of all i feel like i know Carol thru Lyle and Crystal. And not first hand by her. When i think back on the many years ive known Lyle and Crystal ive known her too. Mainly thru her support for them and how much they loved her. I must add Jeannie and Mel Milligan to that list because of the kind words they had to say too. So no i may not have been around Carol much i feel i knew how wonderful she was thru all of them. I know too how much she will be missed. Hugs and prayers for you all. And thank you for this wonderful tribute to her. None of it surprises me on on how beautiful she was inside and out.
    In Christian love
    Bob Palmer

  3. Cindy Driskill

    These last few days I have thought and prayed for Carol more than usual but had no idea she was this close to passing. She was the sweetest person I’ve ever met! I will never forget her! Right now I have one of her little books on a bathroom shelf to look at everyday! Love and prayers for you both!

  4. Mary Scism

    To Lyle and Crystal. I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember Carol very clearly even though so many years have passed since seeing your family. Our daughter Natalie Scism Schnell and Crystal were very close as young girls. I cherish the memory of you all. May God bless your family and once again my condolences to your family.
    Mary Scism (Al passed 4 years ago) and Natalie and Curtis (our son).
    Sincerely Mary

  5. My precious MamaK… there are no words better than “I love you.” You will be so greatly missed and I’m beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to love you, like my own Mama. Thank you for loving me.

    Crystal and PapaK… only love and hugs and prayers and love. ?

  6. Carol and Doc Dumler

    Lyle and Crystal, we were so sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful wife and mother, Carol. She was such a special lady to everyone and will definitely be missed. We are sending our love and prayers to both of you and your family??❤️❤️.

  7. OK, I have to admit that I laughed about the NRA thing. Just another part of the life of that fabulous, loving woman. I’m so sorry for your loss, Lyle and Crystal. I love you so much.

    In Christ, Jean

  8. Carol was the perfect example of a Christian woman. All who met her were infected with her warm smile and kind heart. She will be missed. May our Father fill your hearts with all the best memories and comfort you in this terrible loss.
    Prayers for you all. Charlotte.

  9. Sharon Diane Kelsey

    My Aunt Carol was to me the most beautiful woman-her slaughter, her dimples, & her beautiful skin. When I was little, I wanted to look like her, be a good Christian woman like her, & have the strong faith in the Lord line her. We had the love for animals in common which I would ask her endless questions about them & she was always so patient with me & answered every one of them. I saw her & Uncle Lyle back in ‘17 when they came out to CA & she was still that beautiful, amazingly gentle angel that I’d always hoped I’d be like. I knew I’d never measure up, but I will always keep trying. My cousin, Crystal, has gone thru many challenges in her life, but carried in with her mother’s strong faith. I can see my Auntie in her very much. My Uncle Lyle & his brother, my Daddy, will always be my heros. They’ve both shown me God, His message & their love of music & love of family. My Aunt Carol used to tell me she’d follow their band to as many gigs as possible “cuz the cutest one was Lyle!”
    My thoughts, prayers and sincere love for Crystal & Uncle Lyle will always have a front seat in my everyday life.
    Loving you endlessly, Aunt Carol!
    ?❣️ ?❣️ ?❣️ ?❣️
    SDKelsey

  10. Jim & Margaret Hayes

    Lyle and Crystal,
    So sorry to hear of your loss. Carol was such an inspiration to many during her life.
    We remember her health struggles years ago and the amazing way she faced it then.
    Her smile was always there! Jim and I remember your coming to see him in the hospital
    in Shawnee a few years ago, and the continued prayers that our Edmond Church family
    still continue to do for him. May that beautiful smile of hers always be in your memory,
    I know it will be in ours. All our love!
    Jim & Margaret

  11. Lisa Hubbert

    Beautiful tribute! What a life well-lived. Crystal, thinking of you & your dad.

  12. I love the nice story with details about her life. I didn’t know she lived with my parents out here in Glendale (part of Los Angeles) before I was born. Years later, I remember her brother Steve also live with my parents when I was a kid.

    I’m glad I got to see her when she came to Los Angeles for my dad’s funeral. There were a lot of laughs. My wife and I are sad to hear she’s gone.

    Paul Sundling
    son of Phillip Sundling

  13. Mary Rawdon

    Lyle and Crystal,
    I am in shock of hearing of sweet beautiful Carols passing. I sold real estate with her for many years. She always had the sweetest smile . I loved her so much and did not know she was sick. You are in my prayers!
    Mary Rawdon!

  14. Beautifully written about my Aunt Carol. She was beautiful inside and out and was always kind to me. I knew she loved me as I loved her. My heart goes out to my Uncle and Cousin and all her relatives and friends. It gives me peace to know she’s not suffering, she’s with God and loved ones.

  15. Evelyn Kelsey

    I met Carolyn in Glendale, California when she first was dating Lyle. We all knew it was meant to be from the way they looked at one another and who could resist her beautiful smile and those dimples! We shared a lot through the years and I know she will be terribly missed by Lyle and Crystal. But I know her family and greater church family will feel the profound loss as well. She was one of a kind and taught me a lot about unselfishness and kindness. May you rest in peace in the arms of the Lord.

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