Carolyn S. Olson

Carolyn Sue Olson was the only child of the late Elbert Bryan and Juanita Vawter (Florence) and a step daughter to Elmo Squires. Carolyn was born Oct. 24, 1940, in Bethany Oklahoma and attended Bethany High School, graduating in 1958. She was active in the high school pep club and made many life-long friends. Although she was an only child, she had 17 first cousins from her mother's side and she shared many adventurous summers and holidays with them on her grandparent's farm in Paoli, OK.
Carolyn later relocated to Los Angeles and moved on to live many years in Kalispell, Montana. Her Oklahoma roots ran deep and she returned in the mid '80s to be closer to family.
Carolyn was a proud Mom and adored her children. She took on leadership roles in local Camp Fire Girls and Girl Scouts activities. She cheered from the bleachers during gymnastics meets and wrestling matches. She later gained an appreciation for soccer and became a "senior cheerleader" for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Carolyn genuinely loved being a source of encouragement, instilling strength and purpose in younger children who always looked up to her.
She enjoyed traveling and took trips to visit and support her children and friends. She had a knack for making friends everywhere she went, and social media allowed her to stay connected. She was also an avid reader and at one time a book reviewer and panelist for a local broadcast in Montana. While in retirement, Carolyn became more active in animal welfare, turning her life-long love for animals into action.
To know Carolyn was to be a part of her family. She had a ready sense of humor and a never ending smile. One of her favorite sayings was "Love you more."
She retired in 2014 from the Department of Defense at Tinker Air Force Base, after 38 years of federal service. She served in different capacities, ending her career supporting logistics and aircraft maintenance. She loved bringing brownies, friendship bread and all sorts of homemade baked goods into work to share with her colleagues for special and most any occasion.
She is survived by her daughters Kathleen Neary of Alexandria, Va., and Regina Strain of Mustang, Okla., and sons Dennis Olson of San Leandro, Ca, and Jeremy Olson also of Mustang. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Jade and Tracy Strain and three great grandchildren, Jayla Garrett, and Syerrah and Tyce Strain, and many beloved extended family, as well as cherished friends whom she welcomed into her family. Her generosity was boundless.