Carolyn Elaine Knapp

Carolyn Elaine (Easterling) Knapp, was born July 9, 1937 in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was a very well spoken, intelligent and modern woman. Her bubbly personality, charming smile and positive attitude made her a very enjoyable person to be around and an excellent role model. Add her beauty to all that and she was a total delight. Carolyn won a beauty contest that gave her the title of Miss Fort Scott and resulted in her appearing in The Bob Cummings Show, a CBS sitcom that ran between 1955 and 1958 featuring Bob Cummings misadventures as a suave playboy bachelor and photographer.

Carolyn went to College at Oklahoma University in Norman, Oklahoma and pledged Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She met Spencer L. Knapp who was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Both served as Social Chairs and they met planning blind dates for pledges. They ended up planning their own wedding which took place on November 26, 1960. Carolyn graduated in 1961 with a degree in Home Economics and joined OG&E electric company in Oklahoma City designing kitchens and giving electric cooking demonstrations. She was chosen to participate in an all electric subdivision ribbon cutting ceremony with Ronald Reagan who did commercials for General Electric company before entering politics.

Carolyn moved to Texas City, Texas when Spencer graduated in 1962 and was hired by Monsanto Company. Spencer’s career took Carolyn and their family of Stacey, Natalie and Spencer H. to Creve Coeur, Missouri; Saratoga, California; Bath, Ohio; Tokyo, Japan and Laguna Niguel, California, where they eventually retired.Their home in Tokyo was named Home Of The Year in 1983 and was featured in several Japanese home design magazines. Carolyn really enjoyed the time in Japan taking Ikebana flower arranging and other Japanese art lessons.

Carolyn received a teaching certificate from Oklahoma University and she used it to teach in elementary schools for a number of years and to also work under contract for the Society of Plastic Industry in the Plastics Education Program (PEP) to show the benefits of plastics in daily use. She appeared on local TV in that role.

Carolyn was also a consummate host and entertainer. Carolyn stayed active enjoying snow skiing, pickle ball, tennis, platform tennis and golf. Also, she and Spencer have traveled the world extensively for pleasure and in support of Spencer's career. Carolyn was always passionate about her Christian faith and was active in all the churches they attended.

Carolyn’s passing on November 11, 2024 was preceded by her brother, Hall L. Easterling. She is survived by her brother, Robert T. Easterling, her husband, Spencer L. Knapp, her three children, Stacey L. Ratliff and husband Rod A. Ratliff, Natalie E. Corum and husband Ron G. Corum and Spencer H. Knapp and her four grand children, Tristan J. Ratliff, Trevor A. Ratliff, Austin K. Corum and Chad R. Corum.