It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Carolyn Reeves Kazelskis. Carolyn passed away on July 11, 2024, succumbing to complications from dementia. She was 83 years old.
Carolyn Keller was born to Harold and Bertha Mae Keller June 20, 1941, in Wellington, Texas. Her life was defined by her family, friendships and faith. She always had extreme interest in learning and educating, and she truly believed that children are our future. She also had a good sense of the right thing to do no matter the circumstance and believed everyone to be equal. She never had an unkind word to say about anyone and was honest, sometimes to a fault.
Carolyn lived her childhood out in Wellington, where she was fortunate to grow up with many cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. She was a cheerleader for Wellington High School and had lifelong friends and continued family there until this day. She married her high school sweetheart in 1960 and began her formal education and career, while also raising two children, Rhea Ann and Lynn.
While living in Commerce, Texas, she and a dear friend opened a kindergarten in the large downstairs floor of Carolyn’s home for two years. Always the educator and learner, Carolyn also studied hard and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 from former East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University at Commerce).
A lifelong Texan,she and family moved to Starkville, Miss. in 1969. Carolyn not only began her formal school teaching career, but she received her Master of Education in 1970 and Doctor of Education in 1973 from Mississippi State University in elementary education. After teaching second and third grades respectively for Starkville Public Schools, she began another educational endeavor as assistant professor of elementary education and co-director of the Bilingual/Bicultural Teacher Training project at Miss State University in partnership with Mississippi Band of Choctaws.
In 1979, Carolyn and her two children moved to Hattiesburg, Miss. and Carolyn went from being a Bulldog to a Golden Eagle. She would call Hattiesburg their home, and University of Southern Mississippi (now Southern) was her new career home. She was a member of Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Hattiesburg.
She began USM as Director of Teacher Corps Project and adjunct assistant professor of elementary education. She became full professor in 1990 in Elementary Education. She was co-director of The Center for Literacy and Assessment, as well as codirected the Early Reading First Grant. She served as interim chair of the Department of Education during this time. In 2007, Carolyn was awarded rank of Professor Emeritus of Language Arts and Literacy at USM.
While at USM, she met and married Richard, a professor and scholar at USM. Anyone who knew them as a couple could see instantly how happy they were together. They married in 1985, and Carolyn was thrilled to extend her love to Richard’s two daughters, Kathy and Kim. As a couple, they continued their many works, she in education, he in statistics, often publishing technical research reports together. Carolyn published a book on the Choctaws.
Their lives together were active and adventurous. She and Richard traveled to foreign places and took cruises for leisure fun. They traveled for education as well, with the British studies program. They blended the family and enjoyed their children together. When grandchildren arrived, Carolyn became “Gran,” and all bets were off!
Carolyn retired from USM in 2007, as well as Richard. They remained active members of their church, as well as maintaining memberships and holding office in regional and national education organizations, MSERA and American Education Research Association.
Her life as a mother was challenged when she experienced the sudden loss of her only son, Lynn, in 1980. As a grandmother, Carolyn endured the devastating loss of her granddaughter, Chelsea. Life gave her a true blessing with her great grandchild, Jayce. She was overjoyed to have him to dote on.
Richard passed away suddenly in 2015, and by 2020, Carolyn returned to Starkville to live out the rest of her life close to her daughter, grandson Michael and great-grandchild. She became a resident at The Claiborne Assisted Living facility in Starkville (now the Goldton). She made great friends quickly and really enjoyed the environment there.
Carolyn really loved being able to see her family in Starkville. She began the memory care program at the Claiborne in January 2022. Her family is so appreciative and grateful for the care provided at The Goldton. She had sitters around the clock for the last 13 months of her life and was on hospice care as well at the time of her passing. The devotion and care the sitters showed Carolyn is appreciated beyond words and will never be forgotten.
She will be remembered for her strength and fervor for life and all its opportunities. Carolyn’s faith and love to those who knew and loved her will always be cherished. She loved to talk and could make conversation with anyone who would talk with her.
Carolyn is survived by her younger brother, Elmer Harold Keller, and his wife, Carolyn, of Wellington; and daughter Rhea Ann Pace, grandson Michael Pace and great-grandson Jayce Yarbrough, all of Starkville, Miss. She is also survived by daughters Kathy Gavin, of Hattiesburg, and Kim Wislocki, of Madison, Miss.; and grandchildren Will and Brynne, of Madison and Tatum and Tyler Gavin, of Hattiesburg.
Carolyn has a large family of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles who will surely miss seeing her at family reunions and events. Carolyn was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Bertha Mae Keller, husband Richard Kazelskis, son Harold Lynn Reeves and granddaughter Chelsea.
Arrangements are not final for services, and details will be forthcoming.
You can leave the family a condolence at welchfuneralhomes.com.
