Carolyn Ann (Stoler) Rose Converse

Carolyn Rose Converse was born March 25, 1935, as Carolyn Ann Stoler, an only child, to Velma and Harry Stoler, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Carolyn died peacefully at her home in Surprise, AZ on August 29, 2023, with two of her three daughters at her side. 

Carolyn married her first husband and father of her children, Kenneth Edward Karnes, at the age of 18, in Klamath Falls, OR., in 1953; and later, the love of her life, William Ebbur Converse in 1993, in Orange, CA., before moving to Arizona to pursue a life of tennis, golf, and endless Bridge games. Carolyn’s parents were members of the First Baptist Church in Klamath Falls, and her Christian faith was the main force in her life and style. Carolyn is survived by her three daughters, Kim Karnes, Jana Karnes Claudon, and Tracy Karnes Lukehart, as well as 6 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. 

Carolyn graduated in 1953 from Klamath Union HS; Carolyn, always on the dean’s list, graduated from Long Beach City College in 1982 & from Cal State University Long Beach in 1984 with a BA in applied Psychology; she went on to become a family and marriage counselor. She also worked as a behavior health specialist to the State of Arizona. In her early years, Carolyn worked as a secretary for McDonnell Douglas throughout the 70’s, and for the City of Long Beach waste’ program, in the early 80’s, while obtaining her therapist degree. 

Carolyn was an avid athlete most of her life. She played tennis and had a second home in Palm Springs, Ca., at Rancho Mirage where she could immerse herself in the game. She said regularly, and even in the last week of her life, that if she could do it all over again, she’d want to come back as a 6 foot plus tall woman so she could become a professional tennis player. She and her first husband also had a home in Mammoth Lakes where they spend winters skiing, and summers hiking and fishing. Her father taught her to fish in her youth. When her first husband left, she met the loving and devoted BIll Converse. After moving to Arizona, the two spent most of their time playing tennis, golf, and bridge. When Bill died an untimely death from Valley Fever, Carolyn grieved hard but ultimately befriended and became engaged to Paul Anderson, and upon his death, Lester Davies. She loved and admired her father much and consequently, always desired a caring respectable man at her side. 

Carolyn enjoyed watching movies and series in her later life, that involved physical skills and survival in both groomed and wild settings. She was ambitious in pursuing her goals and understood having to leave other expectations in order to fulfill her own desires. She was very competitive and expected her partners to be well versed in Bridge technique. She was attuned to health issues and always presented herself as glamorous and chic in a classical traditional style of clothing, make-up, and jewelry. She read and watched all things David Jeremiah and died confident in where she was going. In her final days, she requested pastor Mike Fleischmann, from Hospice of the West, whom she bonded with while watching Wimbledon, that he pray for her immediate place in heaven. And when he returned the next day, she asked him to pray harder for her passage. She indeed went quickly and peacefully not long afterwards. She was loved and will be missed by her daughters, friends, and those who knew her whom she leaves behind.

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