Carolyn Ann (Base) Wilnerd, age 90, a nurturing mother of 7 and a retired passionate elementary school teacher, passed away Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 at the Eureka Nursing Center surrounded by family. Early that morning, Carolyn was welcomed into the beautiful gardens of heaven. Carolyn was born June 24, 1934 at Saint Rose Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas to parents Leo Wesley Base and Evelyn (Unruh) Base, joining her older sibling, Larry in the family home in Dundee, Kansas. Carolyn attended grade school in Dundee through 8th grade before graduating from Pawnee Rock High School in 1952. By that time, Carolyn had gained 2 more siblings, Betty and Steve.
In her youth, it was apparent Carolyn had a love for children, as a highly respected babysitter and a love for music, taking piano lessons for years, some in Great Bend every Saturday. She attended Fort Hays State University for two years, receiving her 60 hour teaching certificate. Carolyn covered much ground during that time, working in Washington, D.C. for a summer and helping care for her first born nephew.
It was during her last year at Fort Hays that Carolyn met Everett on a blind date. They continued dating during Everett’s enlistment in the Army which took him overseas to Germany while Carolyn accepted a position teaching 3rd grade in Ellsworth, Kansas. The relationship blossomed and Carolyn and Everett were united in marriage on Oct. 27, 1956.
They celebrated 61 years together until Everett’s passing in 2018.
After teaching 3rd grade in Ellsworth for 2 years, Carolyn rotated her teaching style to 7th grade social studies in Almena, Kansas mid-year when she and Everett moved to his hometown of Norton, Kansas. The following year, Carolyn went on maternity leave with the sprout of their first child, Susan. She returned to education the next year to cultivate the young minds in 1st grade. By the time Everett was assigned as a Game Warden for the Kansas Fish and Game Commission in Jetmore, Kansas, Carolyn and Everett had the start of a spectacular family with an addition of twins (Craig and Carol) and a daughter, Lauri. With 4 young, but hardy children, Carolyn was a busy stay at home mom amongst her everblooming family. It seemed for a while, at least that growing this family was a biennial event, and the Wilnerd garden was incorporating companion planting, for the crop was to be expanded by the birth of number 5 & 6, Amy and Andy. Carolyn was able to substitute teach from time to time in a little country school outside of Jetmore and also another small community “two-teacher” school.
In Aug. 1965, the population of Howard, increased by 8 overnight when Everett and Carolyn transplanted their perennials to Elk County. Traveling across Kansas in the family’s ornamental pink Rambler station wagon must have been a sight to behold, however it soon became their forever home. Carolyn began teaching in the Howard School System as a Kindergarten/ Music teacher experiencing the consolidation which would move her eventually to both Moline and Severy Elementary. She attended the Howard Christian Church and later the Howard United Methodist Church, lending her voice to the choir, providing creative children’s sermons and at one time coached her daughters’ softball team during summer ball.
It seemed the growing season was done for Carolyn’s garden, until she and Everett became a hybrid family, with the addition and adoption of Scott, who was Carolyn and Everett’s great nephew turned son. It was during this time, Carolyn learned that in order for her to continue teaching with her 60 hour certificate, she must be working towards an actual teaching degree. She traveled to Emporia State during the summer each day and although it took years to complete, she graduated from ESU in December of 1981, a year and a half after her daughter, Susan, had received her degree from the same Alma Mater.
Carolyn taught so many children, who through the years, each claimed that they were her favorite student. She retired with honors from the West Elk School System to stay at home and devote time to her family, her own backyard garden, community organizations and events (such as the 9-11 ceremony, community choir and many of the West Elk sports.)
Carolyn brought beauty, growth and grace to everything she touched and her backyard was no different— becoming a wonderland to behold. She was such a positive, kind influence to so many who absolutely adored her.
Carolyn has now joined her husband, Everett, her parents, Leo and Evelyn, two children—Scott and Amy, sons-in-law Joe and Carl, brother Larry, brother- in-law Lanny, sisters-in-law Vi and Elva in her eternal home, where the growing season never ends.
She leaves on earth to continue reaping what she planted: her daughters, Susan Galvan, Carol Hernandez, and Lauri Brownfield; her sons, Craig Wilnerd and Andy Wilnerd; her grandchildren: Lacey, Corey, Courtney, Sharayah, Devyn, Cameron, Jessica, Laura, Lindsey and George, and 21 great-grandchildren; a sister, Betty Harvey and brother, Steve Base and many nieces, nephews and cousins, along with special friends from Eureka Nursing Center---Evelyn, Scott, Francis, Holly and the staff.
As much as Carolyn loved flowers, she has requested in lieu of them that her memorial be to the Elk County Community Foundation where the harvest will be great with their future endeavors and plantings.
A Celebration of Carolyn’s Life was held on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Severy United Methodist Church in Severy. The family received visitors during the visitation on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 5-7 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home, 206 East Washington in Howard.
