Carolyn Oneita Johnson Waldo was born on July 22, 1936.

She was raised just west of the Missouri bootheel in the little town of Piggott, Arkansas. Carolyn grew up as an only child and lived with her parents, Louis Dillard and Josie Agnes Johnson, and her grandmother, Roxy. She loved spending time with her family, aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived nearby. Throughout high school, she was very involved in music playing both the saxophone and piano. Carolyn graduated from Piggott High School in 1954.

After high school, she went to the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, where she met the love of her life, James “Pete” Waldo, while she was working for the athletic department. After some encouragement from her friends, Carolyn decided to go on a date with Pete. It wasn’t long before their casual dating turned into “going steady” to becoming engaged. Pete and Carolyn were married on August 19, 1956. Immediately after they were married, they moved to St. Louis for Pete’s first teaching position, before Carolyn finished her college degree.

Carolyn was a talented artist and worked for Universal Match designing matchbooks until she became a mother. After her children were born, Carolyn returned to school to finish her undergraduate degree eventually earning a master’s degree plus 30 in Education from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed working for the Ferguson-Florissant School District as a reading specialist for the Title I program.

When Pete retired in 1989, they moved to Branson, Missouri, where Carolyn continued to teach with the Branson School District as a reading specialist until the spring of 1997. She decided to retire so she could spend more time with her husband, kids, and five grandchildren.

Carolyn and Pete quickly found their passion for volunteering at the Branson United Methodist Church, Branson-Hollister Lion’s Club, and Christian Action Ministries. They impacted the Branson area through their kind acts of service and generosity. Carolyn loved to paint, draw, travel, play music, and spend time with children.

Pete and Carolyn were married for a wonderful 63 years. Pete preceded Carolyn in death in February of 2020. Carolyn’s shining lights in her life were her husband, kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Carolyn is survived by her two children, Lisa Wilhelms (partner Dino Bagatelas) and Allen Waldo (wife Julie Waldo), five grandchildren: Kelsey Mills (husband Robert Mills), Nicole Waldo Johnson (husband Larry Johnson), Bess Wilhelms, Stephen Waldo (wife Daryan Waldo) and Owen Wilhelms, as well as seven great-grandchildren: Inara Mills, Audrey Mills, Hezekiah Waldo, Amelia Waldo Johnson, Emmarie Waldo, Iris Waldo Johnson, and Thaddeus Waldo.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Branson United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Carolyn.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at the Branson United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. until time of service. The family requests that all in attendance please wear a mask.

Please visit our web site at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com to leave online condolences.