Carolee Fern O'Brien

Carolee Fern O’Brien, 88, of Paola, Kansas, passed away at KU Hospital on January 6, 2024.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Dengel and Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel. Visitation from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm and funeral service will start at 2:00 pm. Burial at Osawatomie Cemetery.

Carolee was born on February 25, 1935, in Wellsville, KS to Vernon and Rowena (Penry) Smothers. She grew up in Osawatomie and graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1954.

She married DeWayne Hoffman and with this marriage, four children were born. This marriage ended in divorce.

In 1967, she was married to Eugene O’Brien and made their home on a farm west of Osawatomie. She worked at several area nursing homes, in dietary. She was a member of the Paola Eagles. She worked at the Osawatomie State Hospital in dietary for 20 years prior to becoming a Foster Grandparent. She loved being a foster grandparent at Swenson Early Childhood Education Center in Osawatomie and later morning out for mothers. She was very proud to have had this opportunity for 20 years until she was forced to retire in 2023 due to her health.

Carolee did not know a stranger and loved sharing stories with anyone. She loved spending time with her family and friends, especially attending the grandkids and great-grandkids school and 4-H activities. She liked to fish, travel and enjoyed the car rides with son-in-law Brian. She often spoke about being related to the “Smothers Brothers.”

Preceding her in death were her parents; sisters Joann and Laverne; husband Eugene; children Donna Jean, Chuck Hoffman, Carl Hoffman, Diana Hoffman-Stults; grandchildren Charlie Hoffman and Joshua Stickney.

Surviving her is her daughter Debbie (Brian) McQuay of LaCygne; brother-in-law Joe Graves of Mound City; grandchildren Cassie (Will) Butcher of Osawatomie, Tara (John) Ingle of Springhill, Shelly (Kendall) Rickerson of Gardner, Michael Allen of Gardner, Donnie (Missy) Allen of Leavenworth, Brian David (Robin) McQuay Jr. of Washington State, Carey (Ryan) Filipin of Osawatomie, Bobby Allen and Harold Stults; 20 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stomp Out Suicide-Miami County or Heartstrings Community Foundation c/o Dengel and Son Mortuary, 305 N Pearl St., Paola, KS, 66071.

Carolee's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.