Carolyn Marlene Hickman

Carolyn Marlene Hickman, 82, passed away Saturday March 31, 2018 at University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center. Carolyn was born in Kokomo, IN to the late Charles M. and Lula M. Abel. She was the third child of her parents. The young family moved from the Kokomo area and moved north to Starke County. Carolyn attended and graduated from Grovertown High School in 1954. She met her future husband, Carroll L. Hickman in October of 1954, fell in love and they were married on August 13, 1955. A year later, daughter Janice Marie was born on August 9, 1956. Sherry Hope joined the family on September 17, 1959. In 1964, the family moved to the Hobart area. Carolyn loved her family. She was always involved with her girls and what was going on in their lives. She was active in the Girl Scout program for over 30 years, being an assistant troop leader, troop leader, day camp counselor, day camp director, cookie chairman and wherever else she was needed. She was always ready to lend a helping hand. She was involved with the school system as her girls were going through school; PTA, band boosters, room mother, again wherever she could help. She was a stay at home mom while her girls were going through school and growing up. Family first was always her motto. She was a member of the Michigan Ave. United Methodist Church in Hobart and was active in numerous Methodist churches. Once her girls were grown and beginning their lives, she began working outside of the home. She eventually ended up at River Forest Schools where she had been a volunteer for years and began working as a paraprofessional for 17 years. She loved working with kids! She helped tutor kids who had trouble with math. She ended up during her 17 years working at all three elementary schools in the school system and the junior high. She eventually retired, but her work never stopped. Carolyn was a grandma to six and great-grandma to 13. She loved her grandchildren and they loved her. They were all "her" boys or "her" girls. She would hold them, rock them and sing to them as babies. As they outgrew her lap, (even though she would still try to hold and rock them), she would play cards, board games, puzzles, read to them or whatever they would want to do. There was a grandchild at "Grandma's Hotel" nearly every weekend! Her family was everything to her and she was everything to them. There will be a huge whole in the family with her passing. She will be deeply missed. Carolyn is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Carroll; daughters, Janice Seabolt of Hobart, IN and Sherry (Bob) Mayes of Carmichael, CA; grandchildren, Bobby Mayes, Danielle (James) Foster and Amber Childress, all of Carmichael, CA, Jeremy (Christina) Seabolt of Hammond, IN, Jeff (Jackie) Seabolt of Lake Station, IN and Randy Seabolt II; great-grandchildren, Tristan and Isaiah Bonilla and Quentin Childress, all of Carmichael, CA, Dakota DeBarge, Callie and Noah Seabolt, all of Hammond, IN, Joshua Hunter, Brayden Hastings, Dean, Gabe and Julia Seabolt, all of Lake Station, IN and Matthew Seabolt of Elkhart, IN; brothers, Charles R. Abel of Koontz Lake, IN and Frank (Barbara) Abel of Hamlet, IN; sisters-in-law, Shirley Gumz of Knox, IN, Joan (Lowell) Webb of New Carlisle, IN; and many nieces, nephews and friends, who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles M. and Lula M. Abel; sister, Beverly C. Whaley; and great-grandson, Kale Seabolt. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. CDT at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel with Pastor Mike Cover officiating. Burial will follow at the Grovertown Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday evening at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be given to the Leukemia Association. To leave online condolences, visit rannellsfuneralhome.com.

Carolyn Marlene Hickman

March 1, 1936 - March 31, 2018