Carolyn Upham Sawyer Bell

Carolyn died March 18 at her longtime Tulsa home. She was born April 26, 1937 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where her family had deep roots in both local and state history and politics. She attended Shattuck-St. Mary's Preparatory School in Faribault, MN and then Muskingum University in New Concord, OH. In 1959 she married Stephen Bell, also of Oshkosh, and in 1973 the couple, together with their two young children Catherine and Jeffrey, moved to Tulsa, where Stephen became a professor at OSU.

In addition to being a loving homemaker, Carolyn served 26 years as a burn technician at the Hillcrest Medical Center, often working the challenging night shift so that she could be home for her family during the day. Carolyn's exceptionally-beautiful singing voice brought much joy to the Tulsa community. She was a well-known member vocalist at John Knox Presbyterian Church, performing as well at Temple Israel, the Hyechka Women's Chorus and numerous other area events and ceremonies during the more than five decades she lived in Tulsa. Her talent, professionalism and caring spirit will be deeply missed.

As a young woman, Carolyn was recognized as an accomplished horsewoman. She was also an avid reader, needle crafter and amateur artist and poet. She and her husband loved to celebrate their Scottish heritage by participating in the Ceilidh, a local Scottish dance group.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents Philetus and Elizabeth Sawyer, her husband, Stephen and her two sisters, Betty Sawyer Taylor and Mary Sawyer Orth. In addition to her two children, Catherine Bell Bales (Robert) and Jeffrey Bell, she is survived by her grandchildren Alicia Lee (Evan), Kyle Bales, Stephanie McKeever (Shane) and great-grandchildren Andrew, Grace and Sophia Kingsley, Stella-Rose McKeever and Kiera Lee, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Carolyn will be held Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 2929 East 31st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The service will be livestreamed

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the charity of choice.