Harper, Carolyn Marie 1936-2012

HARPER, LAIDLAW, HAWKINS, FOUNTAS, LEPOVITZ, BETTIS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/13/2024 at 12:36:11

Carolyn Harper
1936 - 2012
Adel, IA

Carolyn Marie Laidlaw Harper, 75, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior on March 6, 2012. She was a courageous survivor of lung cancer and has donated her body to Des Moines University as her contribution to the advancement in medicine. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 9 and family will greet friends for an hour before services at the First Christian Church in Adel. McCalley Funeral Home in Adel is handling the arrangements.

Carolyn was born September 14, 1936 in Newton to Leonard and Leona Laidlaw. She married her best friend and the love of her life, Larry Harper, in 1956. She retired from Farm Bureau in 1998 and then filled her life with family and community. She was a proud volunteer for the Adel Public Library, HCI Care Services Hospice, and Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center. She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, Christian Woman's Fellowship, Adel Woman's Club, Adel American Legion Auxiliary, and the Red Hat Society. Carolyn partnered with her daughter to open Past and Present's Tea Room where her cooking and carrot cake became locally famous. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, garage sales, occasional trips to the casino, and many Saturday mornings cheering for the Hawkeyes. She was a loving wife, proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and sister.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; children; Kent (Margo), Craig (Amy), Kayla (Mark) Hawkins and Kelly Harper; grandchildren, Scott (Jenny) Fountas, Shamus (Alissa) Fountas, Christopher (Colleen) Harper, Stephanie Fountas, Alisha Harper, Alex (Kylie) Harper, Chelsea (Colin) Hawkins Annika Harper, Andria Harper; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Laidlaw; sisters-in-law, Sue Laidlaw and Harlene Lepovitz; aunt, Lucille Bettis; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her faithful cat Pun'kin.

Her family sends gratitude to the employees of HCI Care Services and Sunny Brook of Adel for their love and kindness during Carolyn's final journey. Memorial contributions may be directed to Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center in Adel or her church.

Published by the Des Moines (IA) Register on Mar. 8, 2012.