Board, Carolyn Botts

Carolyn Botts Board of Iowa City, formerly of Park Ridge, Ill., died peacefully on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City. Graveside services will be held at East View Cemetery in Union City, Tenn., on Saturday, May 14.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Carolyn's memory to the Mercy Iowa City Hospital Foundation.

Carolyn Botts was born Sept. 5, 1918, in Rives, Tenn., the daughter of Annie Laurie (Griffin) and Claude Botts. After graduating from Union City High School, she attended and graduated with a B.A. degree from Randolph-Macon Women's College in 1940. After graduation, she taught high school mathematics and Latin. On April 9, 1941, Carolyn married Ralph Board and they were happily married for 61 years.

Carolyn devoted her life to raising her family and giving back to her community. She served on the PTA, served as a Girl Scout leader for many years, was active in her children's schools, served as chairwoman for the Park Ridge Community Chest, and participated in a number of other local and national fundraising campaigns. She took great delight playing cards, participating in many bridge and poker clubs. Throughout her life, needlework and gardening were her passions, and she shared many of her original creations with her family and friends. She and her husband enjoyed their many trips throughout the U.S. as well as travels to Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Carolyn took great joy in reading all kinds of literature, dancing, collecting antique Oriental mudmen, and treasured the many personal friendships she made and kept throughout her lifetime. She loved spending holidays with her family and looked forward to each with childlike wonderment and excitement.

Her family includes her daughter, Cynthia Board Schmeiser and husband Russ Schmeiser; two grandchildren, Allyson Schmeiser of Washington, D.C., and Peter Schmeiser of Iowa City; son-in-law, John Wagner; niece, Letha Botts Lorentz, and her children, Russell, Carmen and Nick; and nephew, Neil (and Dawn) Botts, and their son, McKinney.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Annie Laurie and Claude Botts; her stepmother, Clare Parks Botts; her husband, Ralph; her daughter, Claudia Board Wagner; her brother, George Botts; her sister, Carmen Martin; and her nephew, Franklin Botts.

Arrangements are being coordinated through Lensing Funeral Home of Iowa City and White-Ranson Funeral Home in Union City, Tenn.