Carol Lynn Van Hise

Carol Lynn Van Hise Carol Lynn Van Hise, 72 years old, passed away peacefully, early Sunday morning, January 19, 2025. She transitioned just as she had hoped; at home with her sister and asleep, warm in her bed. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marian, her father, Ben, and her younger brother, Richard Van Hise.

Carol was born in Louisville, Kentucky September 17, 1952 and raised in Speedway, Indiana with her 2 younger sisters, Charlotte and Sheree and one younger brother, Richard. Small town Speedway was a great place to grow up. Her family enjoyed vacations to Emerald Isle on the North Carolina Coast each summer and also going to the family Cabin at Tri Lakes, Columbia City, Indiana.

Carol's life was always one of service. In high school she was a Girl Scout camp counselor at Camp DellWood. One summer she spent several weeks at Camp DellWood assisting handicapped kids experiencing their first camping adventure. Carol continued her life of service as an adult by volunteering with the local boys and girls halfway house. One day after visiting the kids in the halfway house she discovered she had locked herself out of her car and didn't know what to do. She returned to the halfway house where she found several of the kids who knew how to get into a locked car. After the boys helped her "break into her car" she laughingly reminded them that this was a one time thing and not to do it again! Carol also volunteered with the Indiana Special Olympics program for several years, traveling to surrounding states with her athletes and chaperoning the girls team and being one of their loudest cheerleaders. Carol became a tutor for elementary kids in her hometown of Seymour, Indiana. She "set up shop" in the local library and assisted several kids with their schoolwork and education for years. She found such enjoyment in working with and encouraging children to LOVE learning.

Carol worked in the health insurance industry at the start of her adult life. She worked for Indiana BCBS and Champus TriCare. After a time she applied for a position with an Edward Jones Financial Office and worked in the investment/financial field many years, working her way up Branch Office Administrator (BOA) until her retirement in 2018. She adored and treasured her boss, DonJay and her coworker, Samantha and their families; they will always be considered "family". She had a special connection with and loved her Edward Jones clients and customers.

Before moving to Idaho, Carol lived in Seymour, Indiana and had a great community of friends there. Kathy and Jim were her neighbors and her very best friends. They enjoyed outings to the movies and to Bingo, pancakes at Cracker Barrel, and going to church together. Carol and Kathy also enjoyed visiting nurseries and picking out flowers each year for their yards. Carol was an expert gardener and wherever she lived, her yard was a masterpiece of color! Kathy and Jim were a great comfort to Carol when she started getting sick and were wonderfully supportive during that time.

Carol was a member of the Underwood Baptist Church in Underwood, Indiana and stayed an active member until her passing. She received cards and prayers from several church friends and Pastor David in the last few months of her life and appreciated hearing from all of them.

Carol moved to Idaho City, Idaho in 2020 and began living with her sister, Charlotte. She enjoyed being a part of the small town community which included her niece, Courtney and her family; husband Jason, and sons, Sam, Ian, and Mac and many, many Idaho City friends. Carol's younger sister, Sheree, lived nearby in Kuna and all three sisters would meet in Boise for lunch and also spend time together during the holidays. Carol embraced the Idaho City Community and enjoyed going to football, basketball, and volleyball games and to school events to support and cheer on all the kids. She bought herself a golf cart to go "tooling around" Idaho City, waving at everyone she knew, and even those she didn't with a big smile on her face. Most knew her as "AC" (Aunt Carol), a nickname given to her by Jason. It was very common to hear "Hey AC!" being shouted in her direction, no matter where she was, followed by a smiling face, waving. She was very much part of this wonderful mountain community.

Her love for reading was shared with all in Idaho City on Halloween as she passed out hundreds and hundreds of brand new books to trick-or-treaters (and their parents) and we heard over and over that the house was lovingly referred to as "the book house". She bought books all throughout the year to be sure she had a great variety from color books and crayons, early readers, chapter books, and young adult series. She loved talking with all the children, from two years old to teens, asking who their favorite authors were and would share "her favorites" to those who could not decide. She was always tickled when they would pick her favorite and would ask them to be sure they came back next year to tell her what they thought of the book. This was so dear to her heart, one of her final wishes was to be assured this would continue, and it will.

Carol spent the last 3 months of her life under St. Luke's Hospice Care and received absolutely the best care anyone could have. Her hospice team included Deanna, Anna, Ian, Kelli, and Chaplin Craig and there are not enough good words to say about this caring, giving team of medical professionals and beautiful people. Carol also received great support within the Idaho City Community; from the East Boise County Ambulance first responders to the Idaho City Community Club, from folks caroling at Christmas to friends and extended family stopping by and sending cards. You gotta love a small town!

Carol is survived by her sisters, Charlotte Watson and Sheree Van Hise; her niece, Courtney Roeber; husband Jason, great nephews, Sam, Ian and Mac; her sister-in-law Tracy Van Hise and nephew, Kurt in Indiana; Aunt Dottie in Virginia, and Aunt Anne in Florida; cousins in Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky and Florida; and many friends and extended family members in Idaho and Indiana. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held early Summer in Idaho City, Idaho.