Carolyn Jean Heston

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 to Theodore and Wilma (Manning) Cassabaum. 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 Products. 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 Dairy Bar and the Fairfield 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. 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, Kathy Stockton (Ron), Roxanne Power (Doug), Kim Scheidt (Paul), Kevin Heston, Sr.; 15 grandchildren, Ryan Burright, Kyle Burright (Nicole), Eryn Burright, Jason Stockton (Tara), Bradley Stockton (Amanda), Quentin Stockton (Mariah), Jonay Stockton (Stephen), Brett Bullis (Mark), Elyse Macauley (Josh), Robert Brooks, Joshua Power (Heather), Kurt Power, Cassandra Schroeder (Tate), Cristina Scheidt (Elliot), Kevin Heston, Jr.; 29 great grandchildren, Owen Burright, Madelin Burright, Kaleb Burright, Kenley Burright, Ashlyn Munson, Elle Ridgeway, Kaine Stockton, Ivy Stockton, Paxton Stockton, Ava Stockton, Sienna Stockton, Eliana Elliott, Auston Golic, Blanton Golic, Gregory Bullis, Olivia Bullis, Madelyn Macauley, Sawyer Macauley, Phylicia Brooks, Reagan Power, Lincoln Power, Palmer Schroeder, Keelah Scheidt, Eli Benson, Olivia Benson, Kevin Heston III, Kayin Heston, Kalvin Heston, Keyley Heston; 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, Dustin Power; 2 great grandsons, Kyler Stockton and Kaison Heston; 10 brother-in-law’s, 8 sister-in-law’s and several nieces and nephews.

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

Services will be held Thursday, December 26, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Greater Des Moines, 8250 NW 62nd Avenue in Johnston. Family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with memorial service at 11:00 a.m. In addition to this, a Celebration of Life will take place in Fairfield, Iowa in the spring.

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

Her memory is a blessing and only a thought away.

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