Carolyne Blount

After an interminable goodbye, it is with much sorrow, we announce the mournful loss of a gentle soul, Carolyne Blount - a devoted and loving grandma, mom, sister, and daughter, an angel food cake connoisseur, and an altruist with a servant's heart. After an arduous, though valiant battle with cancer, she entered eternal rest, basked in the warmth of the tender care provided by her devoted family.

Myrtle Carolyne Thompson, the first-born child for both Chief Warrant Officer (USAAF) DelMar Nelson Thompson and Dixie Rae Lewis, was born on a blustery, overcast day in January, at the apex of the second world war, in southern Arizona amid the Santa Catalina Mountains.

She was brought up by her spirited mother, a Las Vegas stage actress and competitive ballroom, roller skating, and tap dancer. During her adolescent years, Carolyne and her father, an office/construction manager, were reunited, and she spent the remainder of her childhood, alternately, between families, in California, Idaho, and New York.

Following high school graduation in the Mid-Atlantic region, Carolyne eloped and wed her skating rink sweetheart, Warren Ray Blount, during the summer of 1963 in Idaho. Together, they raised two beautifully resilient children, Chris and Connie Rae, relocating many times throughout her husband's service as Marine Corps Force RECON during the Vietnam War and, later, during his doctoral studies.

During the early years of their marriage, times were hard, but as a wife and a mother, Carolyne was deeply committed to buoying the family, investing her time, energy, and heart, during her husband's long absences, initially working as a cosmetologist and, later on, as a printing press operative. Her greatest joy, as the years passed, was traveling abroad, managing the family's horse farm in Michigan, breeding as well as handling Shetland sheepdogs during American Kennel Club sponsored dog shows, and cultivating their daughter's passion, participating in horse show competitions.

Alas, numerous, lengthy separations were a detriment to her twenty-six-year marriage, and shortly before the end of the Cold War, Carolyne's marriage ended. Although heartbroken, she freed herself of disappointment and embraced the future, fearlessly returning to school for business administration in Nevada and beginning a new and fulfilling life as a bookkeeper, office manager, volunteer, and caregiver.

Carolyne was ever the passionate do-gooder. A fervent, devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout her life, she served in several positions within. She was also an active member and volunteer for The International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Enterprise City Advisory Board and Senior Center (Utah), Autism Speaks' Walk for Autism 2007, 2008 (Atlanta, Georgia), to name a few. Moreover, she gave selflessly, and became a tireless caregiver for her mother, and afterward, her brother Roy, during their most challenging time of need.

Carolyne is now lovingly reunited with her mother and father; her step-mother, Enid Thompson (nee Chivers); her brothers: Roy Scotch and Dennis Thompson; and her sister: Kathleen 'Kathy' Thompson.

Left to cherish her memory are her children and their spouses, Michell Keif (nee Strawder) and Glenn Mares; her grandchildren: Ashley Bunch (Steve Olivas), Haley Blount, Jenny Goldberger (Mason Mott), Hannah Keif, Eric Blount, Elias Keif, Jared Mares, and Cyril Keif; and, her great-grandchildren. Also, Carolyne's siblings: Jim Thompson, Jim Tyndall, Sherry Thompson Kay, Camille Scotch Merkt, Doug Thompson, Kim Thompson, Kurt Thompson, and Bobby Thompson; and, numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and close friends.

In our collective memories, Carolyne will be affectionately remembered as love personified, her greatest legacy being her boundless devotion to others. As Albert Pike so eloquently stated: What we have done for ourselves, alone, dies with us; what we have done for others - and the world - remains and is immortal.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday in the Chapel of Sawnee View Gardens Mausoleum. The service can be seen at https://youtu.be/Tjl1Et2yGFc

Flowers are gratefully declined in lieu of donations to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia in charge of arrangements.