Carolyn Francis Jackson Duren's Obituary
Carolyn Francis Duren was born to Hugh and Dorothy Jackson on September 6th, 1942. Her father died in the Battle of the Bulge when Carolyn was two years old.
On February 2, 1973, Carolyn married Dr. O. Lynn Duren. They each brought two children into the marriage and they had one more child together, completing the family. They raised their children in Longview and attended Oakland Heights Baptist Church.
Her life was devoted to her family. She cared for her family with wholesome, home cooked meals, supplied by produce from their garden and orchard. She churned butter from fresh cream and made delicious homemade bread. Her family expanded to sixteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed playing tennis, hiking, snow skiing, backpacking, gardening, cooking, canning and fishing.
Carolyn and Lynn were living in retirement in Linden, Texas, where they attended First Baptist Church of Linden. In February of 2017, Carolyn received a diagnosis of brain cancer.
Our Lord and Savior reached down and called Carolyn home on September 11, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh Jackson and Dorothy Jackson Reppond; one daughter, Sara Hendricks Lorentz; and a sister, Jackie Rager.
Carolyn leaves behind a great legacy of family who will cherish her memory: her husband of 44 years, Oren 'Lynn’ Duren; four children and spouses, Lucy Ann Goodwin (Tommy), Bradley Lynn Duren (Kristin), Kimberly Rose McDonald (Brent), and Allyson Leigh Thompson (Shannon); Sara’s husband Max Lorentz, sixteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one on the way, her sisters Johnnie Johnson (Lane) and Joanna Joy (Ron), an aunt, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and numerous devoted friends in Texas and Colorado.
Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview on Friday, September 15 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The funeral will also be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jackie Stanfield officiating. Carolyn will be laid to rest at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery .
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Carolyn to the Red Cross or Salvation Army.
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