Carolyn

Survivors include husband, Mart, of Florence; daughter and son-in-law Carolanna and Michael Traver of Rocky Ford; foster mother and father, Lloyd and Lucille Ernst of Clinton, Oklahoma; brother Tom Egley of Nevada; step brothers Bill Williams of Castle Rock and Rodger Williams; foster brothers, Larry Ernst of Oklahoma and Randy Ernst of Oklahoma; foster sisters, Dorothy Coffey of Texas and Thanna Cline of Oklahoma.

William Faulkner once wrote that he "declined to accept the end of man..." He went on to state that he believed that man would not merely endure; he believed that he would prevail. Faulkner believed that man is immortal not because he alone among creatures has an inexhausitble voice but because he has a soul, and a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance".

I know that Carol lives on in Heaven with her God today. We know this not because of what William Faulkner said but by what the word of God teaches us. Without a question Carol's soul was filled with compassion and sacrifice and endurance. It is upon these three main thoughts that I would like for us to focus on for the next few moments, COMPASSION, SACRIFICE AND ENDURANCE.

Where did we find compassion in her life? Everywhere! Those of you here today can in your mind's eye begin to list your own remembrances of Carol's compassion. The ability to be a compassionate person is something that one cannot just claim to be. Compassion is something that must be demonstrated. Carol constantly demonstated her compassion for family members, the boys and staff members at the Colorado Boys Ranch, her customers at the beauty shop and her many friends throughout the Arkansas Valley.

Can one work for sixteen years with troubled youth and not have compassion? Yes, I suppose a person could. But not Carol. She was filled with a spirit of compassion. Her compassion had an impact on the lives of many young men who lived at the Ranch. I am sure, if contacted personally, they would tell you that Carol always took the time to listen, and to treat and teach each of them with dignity. Carol not only worked her regular job as an aide but also took on special projects in the area of drama and art. Creativity was her special gift from God, and she used it freely to assist and encourageothers to discover their creativity. How manyof you here today have a special craft that Carol made for you or a picture she painted or some other creative expression of love? Hold on to those items. They are a valuable link in our memories with Carol.

Sacrifice, Where do we begin? Carol would not have looked at her life as one of sacrifice. However, do any of you ever remember Carol saying, " Sorry, I can't help you with that"? " Sorry, I don't have time to listen to your problems". "Why don't you ask someone else"..I can't. Those were statements that Carol was not familiar with. Never once did she decline to assist with anything that needed to be done at church. Carol assisted with countless funeral dinners, wedding showers, wedding anniversaries and baby showers. I never remember a time that she was not teaching a Bible class. She loved young children and they loved her. Frequently, she took from her vacation time and went with the church youth group to assist in conducting Vacation Bible Schools in other communities. Carolanna remembers fondly the sacrifices that her mom made not just for others, but especially for her. Carol's greatest desire was to see that Carolanna had a college degree. That dream was realized, but it took sacrifice. Some even remember Carol and Mart sacrificing their pet raccoon, just so thet could adopt Carolanna. I fon't think that Carol or Mart ever thought of that as a sacrifice. Do you? We all now that she would not think of any of the countless things she did to help her family or others around her as a sacrifice. To Carol they were simply acts of Christian love and kindness.

Endurance was Faulkner's third prevailing attribute. Carol knew that word well. She lived a life that was filled with events that testified to her ability to endure. For over sixteen years she worked two jobs. While working at the Ranch she ran her beauty shop. First it was called Carol's Cut and Curl and more recently The Works. Most of us wondered, when did she eat and sleep? Things were not always good in Carol's life. She had her good times and her difficult times. We know that it was her unceasing faith in God that carried her through the rocky times. Carol is looking down upon us today as a testimony to the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy Ch 4:7&8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing."