Services to remember and celebrate the life of Carolyn M. Hefner will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Foyil First Assembly of God. Burial will follow at Dawes Cemetery in Chelsea. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 3-7 with family there to receive visitors from 5-7. Carolyn left her temporary earthly home for her permanent heavenly home on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was 82.

The oldest of 12 children was gifted to Elmer R. and Mildred M. (Phipps) Pinkston. Carolyn was born in Reno County, KS on June 22, 1942. She was raised and educated in Tecumseh, OK and attended Tecumseh Public Schools. On February 16, 1970, in Miami, OK, Carolyn married the love of her life Noel Ray "Carl" Hefner. Their union was gifted with 3 sons, Marvin, Vernon, and Carl. Carolyn excelled at being a wife, mother, and grandma. The reason for her success was that she followed the instruction she found in God's Word. Carolyn was faithful not only to attend but serve in whatever church she was a member of.

Carolyn was a real people person. She loved people and having a good conversation with them. To her, in person was the best, but occasionally the phone would work as well. Carolyn worked outside her home for several of the iconic businesses in Chelsea. Don's Auto was her most recent and then there was Pat's Trash Service and Cut-Rate Grocery Store. It wasn't that the family needed the income, but it gave Carolyn the chance to help people, make many lifelong friends and have some great conversations. Carolyn supported the community she called home and faithfully attended a Chelsea tradition each year called the Jamboree. In fact, according to her family she was proud of the fact that she won the skillet throwing contest and the husband calling contest one year.

According to her family, Carolyn wasn't the best cook around, but she was known for her chicken and noodles, banana split cake, and her ooey gooey cake. She looked forward to her outings with her sisters and it didn't matter if it were to catch a few garage sales, after all Carolyn was considered to be the garage sale queen. Then no one talked about the wild trips they took to Branson. They all agreed what happened with sisters stayed between the sisters. They were all about spending time with the ones you love. When grandchildren came along it might be said that "grandma" became Carolyn's favorite word to hear. She had a special bond with each of her grandchildren and took every opportunity to spoil them a bit. In fact, her family said she came up with a secret handshake to slip them a little money.

A lady that has touched so many lives and has left a legacy that will live on in the lives of her family and friends. Carolyn is survived by her children, Marvin Hefner, and Carl R. Hefner and wife Telli, grandchildren, Kristalynn Cothran and husband Matt, Ariana Hefner and fiancé Jared Gilstrap, Telena Hefner and fiancé Wes Savage, Casey Gaitlin and husband Vance, Dustin Hefner and wife Brittany, Dillon Hefner and Brooke Hefner, great grandchildren, Beckett, Maddox, Skyler, Haven, Huxley, Hadleigh, Faith, Sam, Dominic, Breanna, Zayden and Zyler, sisters, Gladys Green, Pearlene Moore, and Annie Most and husband Rodger, brothers, Elmer "Corky" Pinkston, Joe Pinkston, Tim Pinkston and wife Millie, John Pinkston and wife Linda and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 44 years Carl, son, Vernon Hefner, great granddaughter, Phoenix, sister, Lena Hunt, brothers, Paul Pinkston, Danny Pinkston, and Steve Pinkston.

Please view and sign Carolyn's online tribute at www.delozierfuneralservice.com