Carolyn Earnhart Ewing

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Carolyn Earnhart Ewing, 67, died at her home in Kennewick, Wash., Tuesday, April 24. She was born Feb. 16, 1945, at home on a farm in Black Oak, Ark., to Herbert Allen (Junior) and Irene Earnhart. The oldest of three, Carolyn grew up working on the family farm picking cotton. She played piano and taught Sunday school at the Black Oak Baptist Church.

Carolyn graduated from Monette High School in 1963. She attended Ouachita Baptist and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Education and minors in both music and psychology. She taught school in both Caraway and Lepanto before relocating to southeastern Washington in 1972.

Carolyn worked as a librarian at the Mid-Columbia Library and as a substitute teacher for Richland and Pasco school districts until she met and married the love of her life, Richard Howard Ewing. Together they embarked on a 36-year marriage of love, laughter, and fun. With him at her side, they extensively traveled the United States camping and square dancing the nights away. Carolyn was a member of the square dance clubs where her husband, Rick, was a square dance caller for the Dust Twirlers in Basin City, Wash., and the Hermiston Square Knots in Oregon.

After raising her family, Carolyn returned to school, earning a Masters in Special Education from Heritage College. She pursued a career teaching special education for preschoolers at the North Franklin School District in Connell, and adaptive living classes at both McGlotholin and Pasco High. She retired from teaching in 2007 due to health problems. In her retirement, Carolyn expanded her knitting and crocheting hobby to provide blankets, hats, and leg warmers to an orphanage in Africa.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Junior Earnhart, and grandchild, Forrest Lee Schauss. She is survived by her beloved husband, Rick Ewing of Kennewick, and four children, Kimberly (Myron) Schauss of Kennewick, James (April) Ewing of Kennewick, Dawn (Tony) Messina of Roswell, Ga., and A. Bryan (Erica) Ewing of Olympia; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother, Irene Earnhart of Black Oak; sister Lynn (Brian) Nutt of Hampton, Ark.; brother Allen (Judy) of Piggott, Ark. Carolyn is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Carolyn's name.

Guest register is www.einansfuneralhome.com.