Carolyn Louise Welch, age 89, died March 7, 2025, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. Carolyn was born on August 4, 1935, in Gracemont, Oklahoma, to William Lewis and Helen Louise (Mannschreck) Smith.

Carolyn grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Mountain Home High School near Ringling, Oklahoma, and attended Murray State College. She lived in Durant and Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and Quinter, Kansas, before settling in Ulysses, Kansas, in 1963. Carolyn married Bobby Joe Welch on April 9, 1954, in Ringling, Oklahoma. Carolyn was a homemaker who loved sewing, gardening, cooking, canning and baking. She always entered and won prizes at the Grant County Fair. She was also a den mother for Cub Scouts. As an active member at the United Methodist Church in Ulysses, she served as the church secretary and Head of the Funeral Dinner Committee for a number of years. She was a 60-year member of the Order of The Eastern Star #471, and Worthy Matron numerous times as well as being active in Grand Chapter. For years, Bobby and Carolyn walked all over town, not only for exercise but beautified our community by picking up trash.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of nearly 71 years, Bobby, of the home; children, Larry Joe Welch and wife, Connie, of Olathe, Kansas, Donald Gene Welch of Hooker, Oklahoma, Jimmy Ray Welch and wife, Patricia, of Holcomb, Kansas, Kara Sue Wilkie of Ulysses, Kansas, and Kathy Lynn Klein and husband, Kevin, of Hillsboro, Kansas; brother, Raymond Lavon Smith and wife, Norma, of Wilson, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Della Smith of Yukon, Oklahoma; 10 grandchildren, Bobby Welch and wife, Jennifer, Kim Welch, Terri Hinton and husband, Tim, Trever Welch, Kori Reist, Carolyn Thomas and husband Jordan, Trey Welch, Kennedy Reimer and husband, Tyson, Kloe Welch and Ryan Wilkie; and nine great-grandchildren, Logan, Morgan, Jayden, Hailey, Chase, Kaden, Bennie, Juliza and Joseph; and many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Irma Leigh Richardson and husband, John; brothers, William Earl Smith and wife, Adelene, Jack Dale Smith and wife, Mildred, Harold Eugene Smith, and James Leroy Smith and wife, Harriet; and son-in-law, Rodney Wilkie.

Memorial Service will be Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Pastor Willy Banza officiating and rites conducted by the Order of The Eastern Star #471. Memorials may be given to the Ulysses Order of Eastern Star #471 for Shrine Bowl Band Camp or the United Methodist Women Funeral Dinner Committee in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, Kansas 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.