Carolyn Ann (Vannoy) Blake

Carolyn Ann (Vannoy) Blake, 84 passed away Wednesday May 5, 2021.  She was born of humble beginnings to Dempsey & Velma Vannoy in Richwood, West Virginia where she lived at the foot hills of Handle Factory hollow in a part of town known as Weber City.  Growing up she spent much time living with her maternal grandmother Dollie Holbert (who among many other things ran the  general store) and cousin Donald (Ruth) Holbert who was like a brother to her.  When not, doing chores she would visit and play with her other cousin, “also closer than a brother”, John (Judy) Wayne.  As you can tell she was partial to men from an early age.  This only intensifying when her beloved brother David (Roxie) came along seven years after her.  She delighted in him all of her life considering him a precious gift.Carolyn graduated from Richwood, High School with the class of 1954. She was able to enter nursing school in 1953 having accumulated enough credits to finish.  She graduated from St. Francis Nursing School in Charleston, West Virginia in 1956.  She always appreciated the support she had from her friend June (Don) Jones then and throughout her life and Sister Rita Marie for helping her to complete her training. She married the great love of her life, Glen, secretly on January 18, 1956 in Nitro, West Virginia.  It sounds explosive and it really was -just like the fourth of July for sixty-one years.  She often delighted in telling the story of proposing to him at a drive-in on leap year and having to sneak away to be married as this was against the rules.  They were married on Wednesday and she had to go back to her dorm and he had to go back to his Marine Corp base.They were blessed to have two children, Kimberly (Bob) Kerr in 1957 and Daniel (Cherie) in 1960.  In 1999, she became a grandmother to Eryn Glenne Blake.  She rejoiced about this throughout her life. But most joyfully in a summersault contest with Eryn when she was 65.Carolyn and her family resided in Clinton, Ohio for 27 years. Relocating in 1985 to Hopkins, SC. Carolyn and Glen returned to Clinton, Ohio in 2014. Carolyn loved being a registered nurse, finally retiring when she was 77. She held many positions, but enjoyed working in the operating room at Doctor’s Hospital in Perry, Ohio; Providence Hospital in Columbia, SC and finally Lexington Hospital in Columbia the most.  She had exceptional skill in making patients comfortable, knowing that she would be with them during a vulnerable time.  She was often praised for the way they felt, knowing she held them close in her hands and would not let go.During her time at Providence she was part of a cutting-edge cardiac surgery team and while at Lexington was one of the first gastric by-pass operating room nurses.  She was a faithful AORN member and supported all that surgical nurses bring to the profession. She was able to foster this in an exchange program that Providence Hospital had with Romanian nurses.  Carolyn and Glen supported the educational program and met Monica (Hanby) who lived with them for several years and became a member of the family.  Monica was able to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist. Carolyn had many pleasures chief among these was going to lunch, traveling, a good book, a word-search puzzle and overfeeding her dog, Abby.  In her later years she could often be found replying that, “She was not bad for an old lady.” All who knew her recognized that she loved to say this so you would tell her how she looked twenty years younger than she was and of course this was so true.  She was a striking woman and her favorite time was when Glen told her just how this was so.Carolyn was an example to many, most especially her children when she was found every morning of her life reading her Bible and in church every Sunday without fail.  She was faithful and knew the value of ultimate devotion.  Her marriage to Glen was legend and served as a model to not only her children and their friends, but to her children’s children.  She knew that, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” A heartfelt "Thank You" is extended to her long-time in-home caregivers, “adopted daughter” Mary Duncan & Vickie Straw who gave her the best opportunities to go, see, & do.  She loved a good visit and a little knowledge about what is happening (As, her son once described her “nosy nature”, My Mom wants to know who you are.”)!  She enjoyed her visits from her cousin Elaine (Jim), who faithfully visited and checked on her routinely.  She always missed her friends in South Carolina and longed to visit them.  She shared her love of nursing and family with her sister-in-law Jackie (Ranny) who always gave her the ultimate respect and love of an elder and friend.The family extends gratitude to Margie Maloney and the staff of Visiting Angels, for the kind and compassionate care they gave Carolyn. Friends may call on Friday, May 14, 2021 at Swigart-Easterling Funeral Home 624 E. Cherry Street, Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614 at Noon with a “Celebration of Life” Service at 1 PM. Luncheon to follow at the Cherry Blossom Banquet Hall 735 E. Cherry Street, Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614.  A subsequent family service is anticipated in celebration of all that she has meant to her family.In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society.

Her guestbook and memorial Video-Gift tribute may be viewed at www.SwigartEasterlingFuneralHome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carolyn Ann (Vannoy) Blake, please visit our floral store.