HOOPESTON – L. Carolyn Gahan Blackwell, 92, died Sunday (May 11, 2008) at Hoopeston Community Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home, Hoopeston.
She had been a resident since May 1996. Before entering the nursing home, she and her late husband, Paul R. Blackwell, lived at 316 Fletcher Hills, Danville.
Born in Potomac on Oct. 8, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Homer H. and Nelle Cecilia (Stone) Wilson, Potomac. She attended elementary schools in East Lynn and Potomac, graduating first in her class from St. Joseph High School, St. Joseph. She attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana beginning in the fall of 1933 but left in October that year to elope with the late Willard R. Gahan. They were married in Paxton and set up housekeeping in Danville.
In the fall of 1945, she, her husband and two sons moved to Urbana while he returned to the University of Illinois to complete his degree in accounting. The following year they moved back to Danville and started the Gahan Accounting Service. She worked alongside her husband until he died in November 1968. She married Paul R. Blackwell in August 1972. She continued managing the Gahan Accounting Service until it was sold and merged with the accounting firm Clifton, Gundersen and Company in 1975.
She was active in Danville community affairs. She served as president of Edison Elementary Parent Teachers Association (PTA), president of the Danville High School PTA and later as president for the Danville Area PTA. She was also a life member of the Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers. She served as president of the Danville YWCA Board and was a life member. She was also a life member of the Lake View Memorial Hospital Association. She was a member of the Danville Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Club, the Order of Eastern Star and the Illinois Association of Independent Accountants, having served as state treasurer and annual conference chair. She was a longtime member of the St. James United Methodist Church, Danville, and was active in Women's Circle activities at the church.
Surviving are her two sons and their families, Larry Gahan and his wife, Linda, of Clemson, S.C., and Bill Gahan of Corpus Christi, Texas; four grandsons and their families, John Gahan and his wife, Karen, of Abilene, Texas, Sean Gahan and his wife, Jennifer, of Knoxville, Tenn., Shannon Gahan and his wife, Renee, of Clemson, S.C., and Jason Gahan of Kilgore, Texas; five great-grandchildren, Candice and Christopher Gahan of Bossier City, La., Carolyn and Lauren Gahan of Knoxville, Tenn., and Madison Patrick of Abilene, Texas. A brother, Howard Wilson, a daughter-in-law, Susan Gahan and a great-grandson, Craig Patrick, preceded Carolyn in death.
A celebration of life church service for Carolyn Gahan Blackwell is scheduled for 10:30 a.m Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at St. James United Methodist Church, Danville, with Pastor Tiffany Black officiating. Entombment will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer's Association. Sunset Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.
