Carolyn Elaine Calhoun

Carolyn Elaine Shaw Calhoun passed away in Abilene, TX on Saturday, January 13, 2024, with family by her side. Carolyn was born on October 29, 1933, in San Angelo, TX to Cecil and Evelyn Shaw. They moved to Cisco and lived in the Humble Oil Camp while her father worked for Humble Oil. She attended Cisco Elementary. The family moved to Jacksboro when Carolyn entered the 6th grade, and her only sibling Sandra Maxine was born the same year. Carolyn met her husband, Fred Calhoun, in the 11th grade. During high school she was elected Football Sweetheart, chosen as Lion’s Club Sweetheart. She had a clear soprano voice and sang in the high school choir. She graduated as Valedictorian, of Jacksboro High School, Class of 1951. After graduation, she attended one year at TCU, while Fred attended North Texas State University. They were married in her parents’ backyard on 7th Street in Jacksboro on August 19, 1952. While in Jacksboro, their first child Christie Elaine was born on December 11, 1954, in Mineral Wells, TX. Soon after they moved to Dallas, then Harlingen where their second child, Pamela Gail was born on November 26, 1956, in San Benita, TX. Later they lived in Richland Hills and Hurst where their girls attended Fort Worth Christian Elementary. They returned to Jacksboro in August 1966 and both girls attended Jacksboro schools where they graduated. Fred passed away on November 7, 2019. They were happily married for 67 years. Carolyn and Fred were members of the Jacksboro Church of Christ where he served as song leader, class teacher, bus driver, and Elder for 42 years, while she taught Ladies Bible class and children’s classes for over 30 years. She began a special 6th-grade girl's class teaching purity and traits of a Christian teenager. Carolyn also started a Children’s Bible Hour on Sunday nights with the preacher’s wife Lucile McClung and taught for 29 years. As part of Bible Hour, she developed a puppet ministry, writing her own scripts typed out on her manual typewriter each week. She included older elementary students by giving them puppet speaking roles, encouraging their own spiritual growth, and training them to teach others about Jesus. Carolyn also taught Vacation Bible School every year. Carolyn’s favorite color was pink. She enjoyed nature, was an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables, enjoyed feeding the birds, bunnies, and deer on her home acreage, and shared many lessons there of God’s creation with the children she taught. Carolyn was a charter member of the Jacksboro Garden Club in 1982 where she remained a member until her death. She won blue ribbons with flower arrangements from her yard. She especially loved roses and lilacs. Carolyn played the piano and harp and played for Jacksboro proms and weddings. As an adult, she took art lessons and many of her oil paintings are hanging in her home. She took special training and enjoyed teaching adults to read. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her two children, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. She was always encouraging, gentle, patient, and loving. She put other’s needs first. She and Fred attended many of their school programs, sports events, recitals, concerts, graduations, birthdays, and weddings. We could always count on their presence, hugs and kisses, and encouragement. Although it was hard to leave her Jacksboro home of 56 years Carolyn moved to Abilene in October 2022 to be cared for by her Abilene family where she remained until her death. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a great-grandson, Nolan Gene Rasco. Survivors are daughter, Christie Rasco and husband Kern of Abilene, TX; daughter Gail Olmstead and husband Paul of Euless, TX; six grandchildren: Jeffrey Rasco and wife Morgan of Allen, TX; Jennifer Rasco Hoskins and husband Garrett of Abilene, TX; Jason Rasco and wife Kerry of Abilene, TX; Michael Olmstead and wife Kim of Waco, TX; Amanda Olmstead Chancey and husband Jason of Waco, TX; Ashley Olmstead of Euless, TX. Eleven great-grandchildren: Caleb, Abigail, and Daniel Olmstead; Laurel, Hamilton, and Harrison Chancey; Harrison, Elizabeth, and Madeline Rasco; Luke Hoskins; Riley Rasco. A sister Sandra Satodkar and husband Mayur of Senoia, GA. A nephew John Craft and wife Lori of Mustang, OK, and a great-nephew Colton Craft and wife Corrine of Bridge Creek, OK. Memorials may be made to Jacksboro Garden Club c/o Susan Trombley, 251 Synterra Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458; or Concerned Citizens of Jack County, 400 East Pine St., Jacksboro, TX 76458; or Eastern European Ministries.

Carolyn Elaine Calhoun

October 29, 1933 - January 13, 2024