Carolyn Owens Guyton

On Friday, January 25, 2019, Carolyn (Ann) Owens Guyton passed away at the age of 84. Carolyn was born July 14, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. Her Father, William E. Owens, and her Mother, Golda Williamson Owens, moved the family to La Grange, Illinois, in 1940. Her mother died in 1949, so Carolyn took over maintaining the house for her Father and her younger sister, Jane, including while attending Lyons Township Junior College. This family assistance continued until Carolyn entered the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1954. She received her BS degree in Home Economics there in June 1956.

Carolyn pledged Kappa Delta Sorority and at a Fraternity-Sorority exchange in 1954 she met Joseph Warren Guyton, and this began a 65 year relationship. They were married on December 29, 1956, at the Presbyterian Church in La Grange, Illinois.

Carolyn taught high school for a year in Gilman, Illinois, before she and Joe moved to Alexandria, Virginia, while he was serving his active duty time as an officer with the Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, VA. Son Mark Owen Guyton was born on October 23 1957, and son Paul Warren Guyton was born September 19 1958, both in Alexandria. They moved to St. Louis in 1959 as Joe began his career as a professional engineer in private practice. The next year they moved to Fayetteville, NC, where their third son, Timothy Lee Guyton, was born May 29, 1961. Following that they moved to Memphis, TN, where they lived for 24 years. They then lived in the Houston, TX area until 1985 and in Leawood, KS, until 1999 when they retired to Florida.

The first home that she and her husband bought was in Memphis in 1964. As they needed more space they moved to a larger home they built in Memphis (1972). This was followed by moves to other cities due to business and retirement demands. They built new homes in Kingwood (Houston area) Texas (1985), Leawood Kansas (1990), and Lakewood Ranch Florida (1999).

Carolyn was a consummate home maker and keeper. Her grand attributes included a keen sense of proper purchasing and budgeting to ensure that needs were met, that appropriate pleasures were accommodated, and that funds were available for emergencies. She excelled in raising the family, in keeping the house in grand condition, and in meal preparation. Although raised a Catholic, she became Presbyterian after her marriage to Joe and was active in teaching and serving at their churches in Memphis, Kansas City, and Sarasota. She became a Presbyterian Elder in 1981 at the Shady Grove Church in Memphis, and she was active in committees for Women of the Church. After the three children became teenagers, she reached out for volunteer work and part time jobs that included First Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Memphis Food Bank, and Underwood United Methodist Church in Memphis. She also undertook volunteer work in her neighborhoods that included Chairing the Leawood Welcomers Club. She enjoyed retirement in Florida and helping at the Church of the Palms.

Bill Owens, Carolyn’s Father, passed away in San Diego 1991. Carolyn’s younger sister, Jane, passed away in Oregon in 2006. Her older sister, Marilyn, passed away in California in 2007.

Carolyn Guyton is survived by her husband, their three sons and their wives, and by seven grandchildren.