Laura "Charlene" Caraway

Laura "Charlene" Caraway - age 84 of Gallatin, MO, passed away Saturday morning, August 28th, 2021, at Daviess County Nursing and Rehab in Gallatin. Charlene was born on May 30th, 1937 the daughter of Charles Parker and Doris Dean (Brown) Lynn in rural Gallatin. Charlene was a 1955 graduate of Gallatin R-V High School.  She was working at the local Tastee Freeze when she first met Joe Gwyn Caraway and on October 20th, 1956 they were united in marriage at a little country church, the Ketron Chapel Methodist Church, Gallatin, MO.  She was baptized May 26, 1957 and became a member of the Ketron Chapel Methodist Church, where she taught children’s Sunday school classes for many years. 

Charlene was a cook for the Gallatin R-5 Elementary School for 32 years where she got to do two things she loved being with kids and cooking.  Her grandkids called her Grandma CC and when her granddaughters started elementary school, soon most of the kids started calling her Grandma CC, too.  Charlene was a farm wife and never shied away from hard work.  She was always waiting in the bean truck for the next load of beans to take to town and would wake up early to milk the cows and chase the chickens.  As a member of the Blake Community Club she enjoyed getting together with the neighborhood ladies, visiting and playing games like bingo once a month.  Joe & Charlene loved attending the Farmer’s Electric Coop annual meeting and they always came home with a prize. 

Charlene was loving, nurturing and always there for her family. Family meant everything to her and she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Charlene enjoyed gardening, cooking, looking for new recipes, crocheting, sewing, crafts, eating pork tenderloins, the color green and attending Jewel Swofford auctions.  Sunday dinners were always a special time and her specialties were roast, mashed potatoes, hot rolls and homemade noodles.  On Saturdays the grandkids could put in their orders for any special requests for those yummy Sunday dinners.  She loved her Chihuahuas, and always had some interesting names, like Taco, Feisty and Izzie, just to name a few. Charlene will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Joe. Survivors include: daughter, Sherri Lynn (Carl) Carder of Gallatin and son, Joe Frank (Gina) Caraway of Goldsmith, TX; grandchildren, Brandi (Lance) Moritz of Platte City, MO, Brook (Justin) Kreatz of Chillicothe, MO,  Shilo (Matt) Duckworth of Odessa, TX, Shane (Karen) Williams of Rochester, NY; great-grandchildren, Chloe and Piper Moritz; Carder, Owen and Parker Kreatz, Samantha and Myles Duckworth; Shane Jr., Megan, Madison Williams; other extended family members also survive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Gallatin First Christian Church or the Active Aging Resource Center in care of the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 at Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin. The family will receive friends one-hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Friends may call from 11 AM to 5 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow the services at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gallatin. Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin. (660) 663-2117. Online guestbook at www.stithfamilyfunerals.com

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