Carolyn Bonsteel Gokenbach, 92, of Harrison died Saturday, Feb. 22 (2020). Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Holt Memorial Chapel. The celebration of her life service is 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at First Presbyterian Church in Harrison. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
Carolyn Bonsteel Gokenbach, 92, of Harrison died Saturday, Feb. 22 (2020). Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Holt Memorial Chapel. The celebration of her life service is 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at First Presbyterian Church in Harrison. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
She was born May 7, 1927, in Jasper, to the late Argie Graham and Iva (Brasel) Cecil.
Mrs. Bonsteel Gokenbach graduated from Harrison High School in 1945 and attended Ouachita College in Arkadelphia, where she was a member of the Tri-Sigma Sorority. In 1948, she married Charles William (Bill) Bonsteel. They were married 43 years. They had four children. In 2010, she married Gerald G. Gokenbach.
She was involved all her life in Harrison. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, she taught Sunday school, and served as the director of the junior choir. She was a girl scout, cub scout, and boy scout leader. She was a member of PTA, Harrison’s Junior Auxiliary, The Civic Club and an original member of Hoe and Hope Garden Club. She served on the Boone County Women’s Book Club Library Board. She was on the Hillcrest Nursing Home Board for 10 years She was a member of Chapter H. P.E.O.
Carolyn became engaged in selling real estate which she continued for 17 years. She served as the Boone County Realtor’s President for one year. She served on the Boone County Equalization Board for many years. She was an original member of the Single Parent Scholarship Committee and served through 2013.
Carolyn was inducted into the Distinguished Women of Harrison in 2014.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William (Bill) Bonsteel; her oldest daughter, Cathryn Lynne Bonsteel Carlson; her sister, Doris Baker; her twin sister, Cathryn Jones and her nephew, Roy Lee Baker Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Gerry Gokenbach, of the home; three children, Cheri Bonsteel, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kitty Bonsteel, of Rogers; Chuck Bonsteel, of Edmond, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are her grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers are Chapter H P.E.O. and the Harrison Book Club, Dr. Branislav Schifferdecker, Dr. Eva Sawheny, and nurses and staff at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital North.
Memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Hospice House in her memory.
