Carolyn Bonsteel Gokenbach
Service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at First Presbyterian Church, with burial at Maplewood Cemetery; Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Holt Memorial Chapel.
Carolyn Bonsteel Gokenbach of Harrison went to join family and friends in heaven on Saturday, Feb. 22 (2020). She was born May 7, 1927, in Jasper, to Argie Graham and Iva (Brasel) Cecil.
Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach graduated from Harrison High School in 1945 and attended Ouachita College in Arkadelphia, where she was a member of the Tri-Sigma Sorority.
In 1948, she married Charles William (Bill) Bonsteel. They were married 43 years. They had four children. In 2010, she married Gerald G. Gokenbach, and she lived out her life caring for him and being cared for by him.
Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach was involved all her life in Harrison. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, she taught Sunday school to three-year-olds and junior and senior high Sunday school. For a time, she was the director of the junior choir. She was a girl scout, cub scout, and boy scout leader.
She was a lifetime member of PTA, and she started the PTA Thrift Shop at Skyline Heights when it was new in order to furnish the teacher’s lounge.
Carolyn was a charter member of Harrison’s Junior Auxiliary, a member of The Civic Club when it existed, and an original member of Hoe and Hope Garden Club.
For her daughters, she was an original sponsor for Victoria Club, and she was a sponsor of the Debonaire Club.
She served on the Boone County Women’s Book Club Library Board and held many offices with the Women’s Book Club. Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach, along with Jackie Barker and Shirley Feldman, began the Boone County Bridge Marathon to help provide needed funds for the Boone County Library.
She was on the Hillcrest Nursing Home Board for 10 years. She got a thrill when they came to the house each Christmas and sang carols.
As a member of the Northwest Concert Association, she and her husband, Bill, hosted many events to honor the people who performed.
In the 1970s, Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach became involved with the Newcomer’s Club through Cleone Banks. She continued being a strong part of it until it dissolved. She would host parties and luncheons at the Methodist Church whenever she could.
She loved P.E.O. As a member of Chapter H, she held many offices including being the president for several years. She always enjoyed hosting P.E.O. She made sure that each of her daughters became Chapter H P.E.O. members.
Beginning in the 1990s, Carolyn became engaged in selling real estate which she continued for 17 years. She served as the Boone County Realtor’s President for one year.
Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach served on the Boone County Equalization Board for many years. She liked traveling to Little Rock for the annual meetings where she got to see old friends.
She was an original member of the Single Parent Scholarship Committee and served through 2013.
Carolyn was inducted into the Distinguished Women of Harrison in 2014.
In 2010, Carolyn married the second love of her life, Gerry Gokenbach. They spent the rest of her life by each other’s side, attending grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events, attending Harrison’s functions, attending Harrison Country Club functions, watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Hallmark, but most of all enjoying family and friends.
Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles William (Bill) Bonsteel; her oldest daughter, Cathryn Lynne Bonsteel Carlson; her mother and father, Argie and Iva Cecil; her sister, Doris and her husband Roy Baker; her twin sister, Cathryn and her husband John Charles Jones; and her nephew whom she adored, Roy Lee Baker Jr.
She leaves behind her beloved husband, Gerry, of the home; three children, Cheri Bonsteel, Oklahoma City; Kitty Bonsteel, Rogers; Chuck Bonsteel (Ann), Edmond. She also leaves behind one son-in-law, Glen Carlson. Carolyn dearly loved her eight grandchildren: Brooke Carlson Morrow (Jeff); Reagan Carlson Leslie (John); McKenzie High Anderson (Matt); Bo Buescher (Katelin); Bon Buescher (Paige); Baylee Maes; Jake Bonsteel; and Sam Bonsteel. She also had 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. We will all miss her beyond words.
Pallbearers are her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Chapter H P.E.O. and the Harrison Book Club. We offer special thanks to her marvelous caregivers: Dr. Branislav Schifferdecker, Dr. Eva Sawheny, and all the wonderful nurses and staff at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital North.
The celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the First Presbyterian Church in Harrison. Burial to follow at Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Holt Memorial Chapel.
If you choose, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Hospice House in her memory.
Condolences may be left online at www.holtchapel.com .
