Carolyn Lawrence

Carolyn “Carol” Annette (Stumpff) Lawrence Carolyn was born on Saturday, January 9, 1932, the daughter of Francis “Frank” W. and M. Annette “Nettie” (Everhart) Stumpff. She passed this life at Beehive assisted living in Glenpool, Oklahoma on Sunday, September 15, 2024. She was 92 years of age. She is survived by, Daughters, Sally L. Miller, Claremore, OK Leanne C. Ball, Tulsa, OK Son, Larry A. Lawrence, Tulsa, OK Grandchildren, Joshua, Carolyn, Kayla, Larry, Jonathan, Winston, Tristan Great Grandchildren, Damian, Kathi Jo and Darci Brothers, Robert “Bob” Stumpff Leonard “Bud” Stumpff Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Annette; daughter, Susan A. Hanes; son, Scott C. Lawrence; siblings, Frances M. Beaver, Genevieve M. Stumpff, Leona T. Reiter, Delbert J. Stumpff, Alice V. Stewart, Madalyn R. Gaines, Elmer L. Stumpff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carol was born at home on a farm outside of Shawnee, KS and later grew up on a farm outside of Edgerton, KS. She had 9 siblings, two of which are still alive today, Robert (Bob) Stumpff – 95, and Leonard (Bud) Stumpff – 90. She contracted polio at the age of 14 which affected her ability to walk so the bus driver would cross the county line to come pick her up at the end of her driveway, so she wouldn’t have to walk, but, eventually, her younger brother had to start driving her at the age of 12. Carol’s first year of teaching was in a one room schoolhouse at the west end of her folk’s property, so she wouldn’t have to pay any rent. She was paid $1700 for the year. She taught 1st through 8th grade in that one year. When her high school found out she was teaching, they asked her to teach at Gardner the next year. She said her only savings grace was that it was in the basement of the old HS so the kids couldn’t see out the windows and get distracted. She had about 40 students that year. This was at least just 1 grade instead of 8. She still wasn’t paid a lot but at least it was more. She was trying to earn enough money so she could go back to college. She had gone for two years to Pittsburg college, previously. After her two years of teaching, she went to Wichita University for a year so she could work with handicapped children and met her late husband, Glen A. Lawrence, who was working in the wind tunnels at the university. They soon moved to Tulsa, OK, for a photography job he had been offered, got married and started their new life here. She had five children, then went back to school to complete her degree in teaching at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah when her youngest was in kindergarten. She carpooled with a couple of policemen, who were working on degrees of their own, to get back and forth to Tahlequah, an hour each way. She then went on to get her Masters at Tulsa University in Special Education so she could teach children with Learning Disabilities at the elementary grade level. She worked as an elementary teacher in Prattville (Sand Springs Schools), then Grimes followed by Grissom (both in Tulsa Public Schools) until her retirement in 1995. She loved her grandchildren and was ever the ‘teaching’ grandma giving them books as presents and encouraging them to continue their education. She loved nature and was able to identify most trees and flowers and made sure her kids could too, always the teacher. The peace rose being her favorite. In her later years as her dementia progressed, she would ask the name of what certain trees or flowers were and I would identify them for her as she had done for me so many years ago. She tried out oil painting for a while, then took some piano lessons but didn’t get too far. The only song she learned was “She’ll be comin’ ‘round the mountain when she comes” and would play it incessantly when we were kids to the point where when we heard her start we’d all go…’oh no, not again’…all in fun though. It was important to her that all her kids had regular visits to the dentist and all who needed braces got them, no matter how hard up they were at the time, they somehow managed. Much to her children’s chagrin, she became an avid OU football fan in her later years when she began dating a sweet man, later known as ‘Papa Dan’, who got her interested in football for the first time in her life. Two of her five children were OSU grads so you can see where the conflict arose. It was amazing to see her interested in sports and learning the names of her favorite players…even if they were for the ‘other’ team. She was so proud of her youngest grandson when he started playing football in HS and made it to as many games as she could when the weather was good. Finally, and foremost, in her most recent years when she moved into an assisted living due to her dementia, she became active again with the encouragement from an outstanding activities director after many years of only leaving the house for church and choir on Sunday and grocery shopping. Her memory improved and clever personality shone through. She absolutely loved it and we all enjoyed seeing her living her best life. I have never heard my mom laugh more. Thank you for giving her back this time, Amber Stickles. You absolutely have the best soul and keen ability to bring happiness to the people who need it the most. Although it was for a short time, it was a great way for her to go out of this world. In Lieu of flowers please donate to Reading Partners, readingpartnerstulsa.org. "Please wear your favorite outfits in celebration of our mother and grandmother's life!"

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Carolyn Lawrence

January 9, 1932 - September 15, 2024