Carolyn Sue Mills Renfro
Click to Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge Photo
September 15th, 1940 - April 7th, 2012
From: Ponca City, OK
Visitation:
Funeral: 3:00pm Monday
April 23, 2012
Poca City, OK First Baptist Church,
5th & Central
Burial:
Carolyn Sue (Mills) Renfro, was born on Sept. 15, 1940, in Doniphan, MO, to George and Ava (Johnson) Mills. She attended Alton Schools, and graduated from Thayer high school, in Missouri. She attended college at Arkansas State University. She moved to Kansas City, MO after college and went to work for the Hallmark Card headquarters, in Kansas City, MO. She met the love of her life, Carl, at Swope Park through a mutual friend. They were married on September 17, 1960, just 6 weeks after they first met, at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, where Carl was attending Army Reserve Training. So began a 51 year love affair which took her to places she could never have dreamed of, and becoming a pillar of our community and State, hand in hand with her love and life mate, Carl. They moved to Leavenworth, KS, in 1961, where she went to work for Jack Steward Company, as an executive secretary. One year to the day after their marriage, their daughter Cindy was born. This completed a blended family which included Carl’s 2 sons from a previous marriage. In 1968, they moved to Ponca City, after Carl was offered a position at Pioneer National Bank (now RCB Bank). Carolyn was hired by Conoco in 1969, to work in the Property Tax Department for Lee Brown, whom she often said was “the best boss anyone could ever work for.”



The Renfro’s and Brown’s became very close friends who enjoyed traveling together on vacations, and remained good friends over the years. She retired from Conoco in 1979. In 1983, she opened her own company, Stewart Title. When she sold Stewart Title, she became very involved in civic and community organizations. This allowed Carolyn to pursue another passion, her love of golf. They attended the Masters as often as possible, and when not playing golf, she was watching it on TV and cheering on her favorites. During the Fall, you could find Carolyn in the stands at O.U., and later when her health would prevent being there, she was watching her team play, with her coaching from the chair. Recently, Oklahoma Thunder became a new passion.



She was a multi-faceted woman and was well versed in most any topic you chose to talk about. Although too numerous to list, here are some of the many endeavors she gave her time and her talents to; Charter member, Marland Estate Commission (1975). She was instrumental in creating the Marland Mansion Foundation, where she served as Treasurer, until her death. Women’s Golf Association, Ponca City Country Club, 20th Century Club, 4 O’Clock Garden Club, Ponca City Council of Garden Clubs, P.E.O, founding board member University Center Foundation, Oklahoma Historical Society, Ponca City Bowling league, together with Carl they established the “Renfro Lectureship Program” at Northern Oklahoma College. Carolyn was a major supporter and contributor of the Standing Bear Museum. She was recently honored by Valley Hope for her philanthropic work. She was honored at the 50th Anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Golf Classic with a newly created “Carolyn Renfro Spirit Award”. She was a Charter inductee of the “Ponca City Wall of Fame”, and was honored by Governor Brad Henry for making it possible for the duplicates of the original Pioneer Woman statues, to be permanently housed and presented to the Marland Mansion as a gift from the Renfro’s. In December, 2011, she was honored jointly by the Marland Mansion Estate and the Pioneer Woman Museum, to have a new award “The Carolyn Renfro Award”, presented each year to a person who has gone beyond the ordinary scope of volunteering and vision. This award was presented to Carolyn as the first recipient. Northern Oklahoma College honored Carolyn and Carl by naming their newest building the “Renfro Center”, which houses the Nursing Center, and a large conference center, where various seminars and lectureships are held. Carolyn became involved with Hospice in March, 2011, and became aware of the wonderful services they provide to everyone. She continued to be a major supporter of Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, until her death. She and Carl are members of First United Methodist Church.



She is survived by her devoted and loving husband Carl, daughter Cindy and husband Paul Gorrell, sons Rick Renfro and wife Nancy of Lawrence, KS, Randy Renfro and wife Karen, of DeSoto, KS, grandchildren Adam Renfro, Emily Renfro, Kelly Renfro, Taylor Renfro, and Spencer Renfro, all from Kansas. Her brother Lonnie Mills and wife Pat, from Thayer, MO, as well as numerous nieces, and nephews, and many life long friends.



She was preceded in death by her parents George and Ava Mills, and her beloved Scottie dog, Cinlyn.



Memorials have been established with: E.W. Marland Estate Foundation, 901 Monument, Ponca City, OK 74604, University Center Foundation, Inc., 2800 N. 14th Street, Ponca City, OK 74601, NOC Foundation, Renfro Lectureship-Carolyn Renfro Memorial, P.O. Box 310, Tonkawa, OK 74653, Hospice of North Central Ok, Inc., 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601, Ponca City Humane Society, P.O. Box 1671, Ponca City, OK 74602, and Standing Bear Museum, P.O. Box 247, Ponca City, OK 74602





The celebration of her life will be held Monday, April 23, 2012, at the First Baptist Church, 5th & Central, at 3 p.m..

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