It is with sorrow but also joy that we announce that our precious mother and grandmother, Lois Darleen Carroll, 89, peacefully passed away at her home and entered the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Darleen was born at her grandparents home in Garden City, Kansas, on October 2, 1934, the daughter of John Donald Riggs and Lois Wilma Duvall Riggs. She attended schools in Garden City, Holcomb, Offerle, and Hanston, Kansas. She graduated as valedictorian from Hanston High School in 1952. She graduated from Garden City Junior College in 1954.
Darleen married the love of her life, Edwin (Sonny) Alvin Carroll on July 26, 1954, and they were married for 62 years.
Throughout her adult life she worked for a law firm, City of Garden City clerk’s office, Blanchard, Vanderweide, and Fillmore Architects, Great Western Savings and Loan, Machine Supply as a bookkeeper, USD 457 administration office after retirement, and 21 years as the executive assistant to the city manager of Garden City. When she retired in 1999, the Darleen Carroll conference room was named after her in honor of her years as a valuable resource to the city administration. Her interests included riding horses, riding bikes, count cross stitch, needlepoint, sewing, cooking, and trying new recipes. She enjoyed pursuing new interests, including dabbling in painting, sketching, and learning to play the piano.
She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Her passion was for her Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member of Word Of Life Church and taught Sunday school, AWANAS, and women’s Bible studies well into her 80s. She touched many lives and was known for her love for others and her love for Jesus.
She is predeceased by her husband and infant son, Clayton Lynn Carroll, daughter-in-law, Tina Carroll, and her parents, her brother Ray Darwin Riggs, sisters Laura Bell Atkinson and Laurna Mae Pendergraft.
She is survived by her son, Leon Carroll, Philipsburg, Kansas, daughter, Shawn and Jed Purdy, Garden City, 10 Grandchildren, Brian and Alka Bahal, New Jersey, Russell and Mattie Purdy, Pierceville, Philip and Kirsten Purdy, Colorado Springs, David and Elaine Purdy, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Abigail and Lorenzo Banda, Pierceville, Alexia Purdy, Shane Purdy, and Trinity Purdy, Garden City, Scott Purdy and Xander Purdy, Sterling, Kansas, 21 great grandchildren, and one due in July, sisters-in-law, Dolores Atkinson, Washburn, Missouri, Thelda Moore, Coldwater, Kansas, Denise Wakefield, Roberts, Wisconsin, Mara Hoppe, Garden City, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday February 3, 2024 at Word Of Life Church in Garden City with Pastor Rick Beard officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday February 2, 2024 at Garnand Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers family suggest memorials be made to Word of Life Church or St. Catherine Hospice in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com