Mary Juanita Carolan

Mary Juanita Carolan May 22, 1918 - August 29, 2007 Mary Juanita Carolan passed away on August 29, 2007. A celebration of her life was held at Ouimet Bros. Concord Funeral Chapel, in Concord CA on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. She will be interred next to James in Rosemound Cemetery in Waco on Tuesday, September 11, at 2:00 p.m. following a graveside service, Viewing will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, prior to the graveside services. Mary Jaunita Carolan, known as Juanita or Nita to her friends and Bubby to her family, was born in Speegleville, Texas. She was raised in Waco, enduring hard times during the great depression. She contibuted to the family finances as early as age 12, by designing and making hats for the wealthy ladies of Waco. About age 20, then a strikingly beautiful brunette with clear blue eyes, she met her future husband of 53 years, James Wilburn Carolan and they married in 1939. Soon WWII drew James into the Army Air Corps and the pair found their way to California in 1943. Their first and second children, James Lynn and Janita Patricia were born in California before they moved to Denver in 1947, where their third child, Donna Sharon was born. James, wanting to continue flying, moved his family numerous times seeking flying opportunities until finally settling in Beaumont, where their last child, Wilburn Wesley, was born in 1955. They remained in Beaumont until his retirement in 1977, then returned to California. They had a wonderful, long, loving relationship. James predeceased her in 1992 and she moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek where she met and fell in love with Ted Swanson, with whom she traveled the world for a number of years. Juanita was a true southern lady, a mom, a mother, a wife, a friend, a lover, an artist, a sculptor, a seamstress, and she had the most incredible spirit forged by her life experiences. She met life and what it offered her head-on, never complaining, never whining, and generally with a smile on her pretty face and a gleam in those beautiful blue eyes. She is survived by two sisters, Ada and Bobbie; her four children, James, Janita, Donna and Wilburn; five grandchildren, James, Sean, Daniel, Debra and Kimberly; and seven great grandchildren, Sydney, Lauren, Jacob, Hailey, Ava, Eytan and Emily; and her very good friend, Ted Swanson. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey