Carolyn Johnson Waldo passed away in the Memory Care Unit at the Township Senior Living Center in Battlefield, Mo., on December 5, 2021.

Carolyn was born on July 22, 1936, in Piggott, Ark., to Louis Dillard and Josie Agnes Johnson. She loved spending time with her family, aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived nearby. Throughout high school, she was very involved in music playing both the saxophone and piano. Carolyn graduated from Piggott High School in 1954.

After high school, she went to the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., where she met the love of her life, James “Pete” Waldo. They were married on August 19, 1956. Immediately after they were married, they moved to St. Louis for Pete’s first teaching position, before Carolyn finished her college degree.

Carolyn was a talented artist and worked for Universal Match designing matchbooks until she became a mother. After her children were born, Carolyn returned to school to finish her undergraduate degree eventually earning a master’s degree plus 30 in Education from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed working for the Ferguson-Florissant School District as a reading specialist for the Title I program.

When Pete retired in 1989, they moved to Branson, Mo., where Carolyn continued to teach with the Branson School District as a reading specialist until the spring of 1997. She decided to retire so she could spend more time with her husband, kids, and five grandchildren.

Carolyn and Pete quickly found their passion for volunteering at the Branson United Methodist Church, Branson-Hollister Lion’s Club, and Christian Action Ministries. They impacted the Branson area through their kind acts of service and generosity. Carolyn loved to paint, draw, travel, play music, and spend time with children.

Pete and Carolyn were married for a wonderful 63 years. Pete preceded Carolyn in death in February of 2020. Carolyn’s shining lights in her life were her husband, kids , five grandchildren, and seve greatgrandchildren.

Her memorial service followed the week after her death in Branson, Mo.

Carolyn Johnson Waldo