Carolyn Woodman Obituary

Funeral services for Carolyn Betty Woodman will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 beginning at 11:00 am.at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1122 Pine Street, Gilmer, TX. Visitation will begin at 8:30 am at the church, prior to the funeral. Croley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Carolyn Betty Harris Woodman of Diana, Texas, was born July 20, 1945, in Upland, California, to Walter Carroll Harris and Betty Brown Harris. Carolyn grew up in Newhall, California. She attended Wm. S. Hart High School and was always an excellent student.

Carolyn met John Woodman in June, 1963. Though they both attended the same schools from K-12, John was one year ahead. They first met after Carolyn graduated from High School at a party for two foreign exchange students. They were married in Newhall on June 20, 1964. Their love story has been an inspiration and shining example for their children.

Carolyn grew up Presbyterian and always had a strong belief in God. In 1970 she met LDS missionaries and was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 4,1970. She was a lifelong, faithful member and a pioneer for her family. She served in many capacities and lived a life of unwavering faith. She spent many years playing piano and serving in many leadership positions for church. She instilled a love of music in her children, especially musicals and Christmas music.

She was sealed to her husband and children on February 24, 1972, in the Los Angeles, California Temple. She loved serving in the Dallas Texas Temple for many years and had a great love for family history.

Carolyn thrived as a stay-at-home mother and devoted her entire life to serving her family of nine children and husband. She had an incredible love for new babies, no matter whose they were.

She met one of her oldest and dearest friends when Jane Ary came to live with Carolyn as an exchange student her Senior year of High School. Both families have remained close friends for the last 60 years, often visiting each other both here and in Brazil.

John and Carolyn were called to serve as senior missionaries in the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters mission from October 2018 - September 2019. They served in the Family History Center. It was something she had always wanted to do and loved every second of it.

Carolyn loved gardening and took tremendous pride in her beautiful roses and loved sharing them with friends and family. She also detested weeds and spent countless hours attempting to annihilate them.

Her family will always remember her saying, “Kind, soft, comforting words”, “We’re making a memory”, and singing “I have a dear dolly”. They will also love celebrating Thanksgiving and singing Christmas carols a little more because of her.

Carolyn passed away on July 16, 2025. She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Brown Harris, her father, Walter Carroll Harris, her brother, Norman Howard Harris, 2 great granddaughters Zelda Richardson and Jessica Moss, and son-in-law David Richardson.

She is survived by her husband, John, children Melanie (Peter Sullivan), Christine (Ray Settles), Joanna Richardson, Cathy (Tim Bryson), John, Michael (Jill), Carolyn (Bryan Turnage), Elizabeth (Sam Zimmerman), Maggie (Vita Similai), 36 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care for their mother and especially to Robin Dozier for the many hours she spent caring for her. Carolyn’s passing will leave a huge hole in the family, and she will be greatly missed.