Carole Jean Kavanaugh

Carole was born August 5, 1935, in Craigmont, Idaho to Warren Walter and Edna Mae (Jameson) Smith. She grew up in Van Cleve, Iowa and attended Van Cleve High School. (Neat fact, there were 7 people in her high school graduating class and 4 of her classmates survive today.) She continued her education at both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

Carole began her career in commercial real estate and was one of the first female commercial realtors in Des Moines, Iowa. Later in life she opened Kavanaugh Art Gallery in West Des Moines with her husband, Dan and has been the director of the gallery for the past 25 years. Carole’s creativity and passions were abundant. When visiting Carole at her home you either found her cooking up a storm for her family and friends or out in her garden, which was a work of art in itself. Another love of Carole’s was Christmastime; she couldn’t wait to break out the decorations and start baking cookies and candy with her grandchildren. In addition, Carole especially enjoyed golfing with her girlfriends at the Des Moines Country Club and looked forward to their yearly golf trips to Palm Springs. She also loved traveling with Dan - particularly road trips across the country so they could stop along the way and visit family, check out art galleries and soak up the scenery.

Carole is survived by her husband, Daniel Joseph Kavanaugh Jr.; children, Christopher Rinehart-Kavanaugh (Heather), Donavon Rinehart-Kavanaugh and Kim Kavanaugh Adler; grandchildren, Stephen Kavanaugh (Aly), Kelsey Kavanaugh Ryder (Anthony), MacLaine Kavanaugh Adler and Boudica Elizabeth Rinehart-Kavanaugh; brother, Don Smith; several nieces and nephews; and her dog, Jack Kavanaugh. She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel Joseph Kavanaugh III; brother, Robert Smith; and parents, Warren Walter and Edna Mae (Jameson) Smith.

Carole’s opinions were strong, but she often kept them to herself, except of course when it came to politics and women’s rights – it was no secret that she was a staunch Democrat! Carole was a consummate optimist and remained so throughout her battle with cancer. She will forever be in our hearts and deeply missed.

Funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. The visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines. Memorial contributions may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.