Carolyn Gleason

Carolyn Carey Gleason, 89, passed away October 8, 2017, in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born Dec. 7, 1927, to Charles and Kathleen (Moody) Carey in Mound City, Kansas. She graduated as the salutatorian of her class at Mound City High School. After working briefly as a secretary in Kansas City she married Thomas E. Gleason on Nov. 28, 1946, in Mound City. In 1950, she and Tom moved to Ottawa, Kansas, where she resided until moving to Lawrence in 2010. Carolyn and Tom shared a rich and active community life. She was a homemaker and volunteer, supporting the Ottawa First United Methodist Church and Ransom Memorial Hospital among other local institutions. She served for two decades as co-trustee of the Beatrice Martin Peck Foundation, which continues to provide key financial support to Prairie Paws animal shelter in Ottawa. She loved travel and the natural world around her. Her household was never without one or more four-legged companions. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her son Tom Gleason, Jr. and his wife Ann Gardner of Lawrence, her son John Gleason of Kansas City, Mo., and her grandson Christopher Gleason of Lawrence. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Ottawa First United Methodist Church with inurnment at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa. The family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, 325 S. Hickory, Ottawa. The family suggests memorial contributions to Douglas County Visiting Nurses or Prairie Paws, which can be sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Carolyn Gleason please visit our Sympathy Store.

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