EDMOND —
Carolyn Campbell Vance was born April 16, 1924 in Pawhuska, Okla. She deeply loved the people and plains of Osage County, perhaps her favorite place on earth even during the Dust Bowl days, though she traveled far and wide during her blessed life.
During high school, the Campbell clan moved to Arlington, Va., where Carolyn graduated from Washington-Lee High School and where her mother also taught math and served as a school leader. At Randolph Macon Women’s College, where she graduated in 1947, she transformed herself into a prototypical southern lady well-versed in the social graces.
She was drawn back to Oklahoma and Tulsa, beginning her brief professional career with Shell Oil Company. Though a beautiful and independent young woman, it was primarily an engaging personality and intelligence that attracted the love of her life, Mike Vance, a Kansas geologist whom she married in 1951. The couple followed Mike’s professional opportunities in the oil and gas business to Durango, Colo., Evansville, Indiana and then Tulsa, adding three baby boys — Mark, John and Brian — along the way.
After a few years in Oklahoma City, Carolyn supported Mike as he branched out on his own in partnership with good friend Milton Deason, moving to their eventual home of Edmond for the final 48 years of her life. She blossomed as an active leader in a community just then experiencing exponential growth.
Whether it was her sons’ schools, Scouts, peewee baseball, summer camps, volunteering, or her church — First Presby-terian, of which she was enormously proud — Carolyn was actively involved. At First Presbyterian, perhaps more than anything, she loved singing in the choir. Many will attest that she had a beautiful singing voice, which she also used often while doing chores around the home. Other than her family and church and substantial accomplishments on countless associations, organizations and committees, she was perhaps most proud of her role in founding Edmond’s Mobile Meals program, which recently served its 500,000th hot, home-delivered meal to elderly citizens and other Edmondites in need.
Carolyn is survived by her sons, John and Brian; daughters-in-law, Vicky Vance, Jami Vance, and Stacy Vance; grandchildren Megan Ochs, Garrett Vance, Derek Vance, Kristen Vance, Caroline Vance, Caitlin Vance, Sydney Vance, Annie Workman Coots, and J.B. Workman,; six great-grandchildren; three great-great- grandchildren; and her faithful companion, Walker.
She is preceded in death by her parents John Brooks and Mary Dyer Campbell; her three brothers Jim, Jack, and Tom; husband M.L. “Mike” Vance, and her dear son Mark.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday October 16, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mobile Meals of Edmond or another charity of choice.
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Carolyn Campbell Vance
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David Gary Wallace, 64, born to Orville Don and Mary Jewel (Sanford) Wallace on August 18, 1948 in Oklahoma City, Okla., went to be with his Heavenly Father, May 23, 2013.
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William Charles Scheihing
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Jerry Mack Kerr
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Jack Calvin Cook
Jack Calvin Cook, 84, of Edmond, Okla. was born July 15, 1928 in Davenport, Okla., to Tom and Dee Cook. He went to be with the Lord on May 21, 2013.
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James Russell Knox
James (Jim) Russell Knox, 77, was born March 25, 1936 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and passed away peacefully in his home on May 17, 2013.
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Beverly J. Anderson
Beverly J. Anderson, 81, was born October 8, 1931 in Glencoe, Okla., to Thomas James Welsh and Wilma Lena (Gilliland) Welsh. She passed away May 18, 2013 in Edmond, Okla.
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Gary Lynn Miller
Gary Lynn Miller, 67, of Edmond, Okla., died unexpectedly Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at his favorite place on Grand Lake. He was born December 7, 1945, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Kathryn Lewis Mangold
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Alice Maude Rose
Alice (Marty) M. Rose of Edmond, Okla. passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at the age of 93.
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Harold Edward Damron
Harold Edward Damron, 80, of Edmond, Okla. went to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, May 10, 2013. He was born the youngest of six children on October 26, 1932, near Comanche, Okla. to Logan Wilkerson and Mollie Dear Damron.
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