Carolyn Brooks Carroll

Carolyn Brooks (Shadowens) Carroll, 81, passed away peacefully at home in Kettering into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on 10/28/2026. Carolyn, RN, a beloved Wife, Mother, Step-Mother, Grandmother (Mammaw), Great-Grandmother (Granny), Sister, Aunt and nurse for over 30 years lived a life packed with faith, love of family and laughter.

Carolyn was born on 11/25/1944 in Dayton, OH, and she spent her entire childhood in the Dayton area with her mother, father and four brothers and three sisters. After graduating from high school in 1963 she married Thomas Brooks with whom she had two children, Thomas Lee (Bo)Brooks Jr and Christyn Lynn (Brooks) Leach. She earned her RN license from Kettering College and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Andrews University. As a nurse, Carolyn worked at Surgery Scheduling at Miami Valley Hospital, a surgical group, Kettering Medical Center and retired at Dayton Clinical Oncology Program. Carolyn met the love of her life and married Gary K. Carroll on September 23, 2005.

Carolyn was a devout Christian for whom her relationship with God was the foundation of her life. She was a member of Be Hope Church in Beavercreek before moving to Kettering and attending Parkview Church of the Nazarene right up until her passing. She was always quick to share her faith with strangers and loved ones alike and lived her life according to God’s Will.

Carolyn was a devoted mother of her children. She loved her children fiercely and was heartbroken to lose her son Thomas Lee (Bo) Brooks Jr in 1990. She remained a caring and supportive Mother to Christyn until her last breath. Christyn gave her four grandchildren who she doted on for the rest of her life and gave her a lifetime of happy memories. Those grandchildren then gave her nine Great-Grandchildren who brought such joy in her last decade plus of life. Anyone who knew Carolyn knew how devoted she was to both God and her ever growing family.

Carolyn loved her family deeply and remained very close with her siblings, nieces, and nephews. She was a deeply generous person and one of her last acts before cancer robbed her of her vitality was to provide for a family trip including her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren and associated loved ones. The memories of that trip will last 18 lifetimes.

Carolyn had a quick wit, loved to laugh and wicked sweet tooth. In her last weeks, Christyn and her husband made many trips for cookies, candy, ice cream, pies, and pastries. Many of which she would eat on the same day.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Christyn (Jason) Leach; step-daughter Belinda (Clarke Weaver) Carroll; step-son Chris Carroll; four grandchildren, Stephen Reigelsperger, Seth (Casey) Reigelsperger, Shayna (Ian) Stein, and Shelby (Austin) Browder; nine great-grandchildren Penelope, Gregory, Neil, Carolyn, Eleanor, Ivan, Hudson, Rowan Thomas; two step grandchildren Nikki (Scott) Skelly and Molly Carroll; brothers Bob (Patty) Shadowens, Bill (Faye) Shadowens, Joe (Nelie Orozco) Shadowens; sister Leah Shadowens; brothers-in-law Mike (Annie) Carroll and Jeff (Patsy) Carroll; two step great grandchild Matthew Skelly and Henry Skelly; former step daughter Kris (Dave) Herlihy; former granddaughter-in-law, Sarah Reigelsperger; and numerous other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gary Caroll; her son Thomas Lee (Bo) Brooks Jr; parents Robert and Frances Shadowens, brother Keith (Jonelle) Shadowens; sisters Anita Clark and Jeanette (Dave) Casey; sister-in-law Wilma Shadowens; and former husband, Thomas Brooks.

Carolyn loved and was loved by children throughout her life. She was never happier than when interacting with a kid…be it her own family or a random child at a restaurant. It was such a defining aspect of her character, you can’t speak of her without thinking of the joy she found in them.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am-11:00am, on Monday, November 16, 2026, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, where Funeral Services will begin at 11:00am. Burial will follow at Dayton National Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Carolyn's memory to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, Be Hope Church, 1850 N. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45432, or Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 4701 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, OH 45429.

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