Carol’s years-long battle against vascular dementia ended peacefully in her sleep Friday, June 30, 2023.
Carol Jean Johnson was born in Hampton, Iowa on October 4, 1944. She was the first of three daughters to Ruth and Carl Johnson.
While she never spoke much of her childhood and adolescent years, she would occasionally share tales of growing up on a farm in rural Iowa. She described it with the same idyllic feelings you get from watching 1950’s TV reruns.
Her life forever changed on a Saturday night in October 1960 when a young man “Scooping the Loop” with his buddies spotted her on a street in Ackley, Iowa. She was with a group of friends, moving decorations from a high school dance to the church for Sunday morning service. Melvin Miller introduced himself with the charm he still has and offered to help. Melvin walked her down the church aisle that night. Four years later in August 1964, he did it again in more formal attire.
They remained blissfully and completely devoted to one another until the moment of her passing.
Carol and Mel chose to make a family. In April 1966 they were blessed with the birth of twin boys, Brian and Bradley. The boys were premature. Their great joy at this surprise was soon tempered by grief as Bradley passed after four days. In 1969 a daughter, Heather, joined the family.
In 1978 they left Iowa behind and the family moved to Texas.
Carol was the consummate mother, wife and homemaker. She was the epitome of style, elegance and grace. June Cleaver combined with Grace Kelly.
She relished the role.
Rare was the day when dinner was not ready and the laundry was not folded. Her kitchen had the constant aroma of cookies and casseroles. Shakespeare lacked the ability to properly write poetry about her pizza and pumpkin bars.
Always the hostess at the service of her guests, her parties and holiday celebrations were legendary.
Carol was an amazing seamstress. Mozart with a sewing machine instead of a symphony. If you see photos of her children from the 1970s in their Sunday best, odds are she made those clothes. For over 20 years and counting, her son wears with pride a gold lame jacket she made for him to perform his Master of Ceremony duties at the annual fundraiser for the school where he taught. Her three grandchildren slept under quilts she made.
Somehow, Carol still found time to pursue professional opportunities. Following high school, she attended business school during an era when business school for women meant little more than learning how to be a secretary on “Mad Men”. She worked part-time until her children were old enough to be left alone for short periods of time and trusted to turn on the oven or take something out of the freezer so that dinner was not late. There is no doubt that her business acumen nearly single-handedly kept at least two small businesses in Plano afloat during the 1980s.
Carol was an amazing woman. Universally adored. The harshest criticism ever heard was “She is so damn nice!” She brightened the room with her presence.
With her passing, she joins her parents, her infant son she never held, and many loved others in the Great Unknown.
She is survived by Mel, her devoted husband of 58 years; her two sisters, Pat and Bev, their families; her children, Brian and Heather, their families; and a multitude of other family and friends who were blessed to have known Carol, Aunt Carol or Grammy.
A memorial service will be held at Maravilla at The Domain, 11001 Austin Ln, Austin TX 78758 at 1:00 pm on Friday, July 28, 2023.
A burial memorial service will be held at Sietsema Funeral Home, 501 10th Ave, Ackley, IA 50601 at 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 16th, 2023.
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