Carolyn Jean Heston

Carolyn Jean Heston

Des Moines

Carolyn Jean Heston left this earthly life to be with our Lord and Savior on December 15, 2024 surrounded by loved ones at the home of one of her daughter’s while under the care of Hospice.

Carolyn was born on

December 26, 1938 in Fairfield, Iowa to Theodore and Wilma (Manning) Cassabaum. She attended Logan Grade School. She was a graduate of Fairfield High School with the class of 1957.

On June 2, 1957 she was united in marriage to Robert Wayne Salts. Through that marriage 4 daughters were born. Carolyn was employed at Universal Producing Co. Carolyn and Wayne enjoyed 7 short years together before Wayne passed on February 18, 1965.

On August 25, 1967 Carolyn was united in marriage to Kenneth Bruce Heston. Kenneth had 3 children. Through that marriage they became a happy family of nine.

During Carolyn’s high school years she worked at the Fairfield Dairy and a Fairfeld hotel. After Wayne’s passing she enrolled at Iowa Success School. After completion of the Iowa Success School, she became

secretary to superintendent of the elementary schools. Later, she started her own home daycare and did this for several years. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Fairfield where she was baptized on December 14, 1969. The First Baptist Church began a daycare and she began working for them. Over the years following she worked at Parkview Care Center and Louden Crane and Monorail. Carolyn was involved in many committees throughout the church and community. Through the First Baptist Church she was an active member of the Women’s Club. She loved helping the elderly and others in need. She took meals and goodies to them, did their shopping, helped with household chores and spring cleaning. She checked out books from the public library to take to one elder who especially liked reading. She was very active in 4-H during the years her children were involved as well as being active in the Kids Day festivities; making numerous costumes for her own children and others participating in the Kids Day Parade. She also made many posters for the DAR Kiwanis Kids Day Celebration. She was a very talented woman and always had her hands in arts and crafts. She made a few quilts, was an excellent seamstress sewing clothes for her children including their Easter

dresses and bridesmaids dresses for their weddings. She also sewed for many friends and relatives, sewing a beautiful wedding dress for her niece. She was also a great artist traveling around the state painting sceneries. Her love and compassion for caring for others led her to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. In 1982 she received her Associate Degree in Nursing and Associate Degree in Applied Sciences from Indian Hills Community College and was on the Dean’s list. She worked at Jefferson County Hospital before traveling to Arizona as a traveling nurse. Returning to Iowa in 1990, Carolyn and Kenneth settled in the Des Moines area where she was a nurse at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and retired in 2001. She was also an active member of First Baptist Church of Greater Des Moines.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her children, Sheryl Burright, Katharine Stockton (Ron), Roxanne Power (Doug), Kimberly Scheidt (Paul), Kevin Heston, Sr.; 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, a sister, Nancy Dermody; a sister-in-law, Sandy Salts; a son-in-law, Douglas Acheson and many

nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard Cassabaum; 2 sisters, Janet Speer and Linda Winton; 2 daughters, Barbara Acheson and Phyllis Salts-Parker; a son-in-law, Michael Burright; a grandson, 2 great-grandsons, 10 brothers-in-law, 8 sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank you for your generousity and kindness during this difficult time.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Howard Park in Fairfield, Iowa, at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation in loving care of Carolyn Heston.

Her memory is blessing and only a thought away.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.