Carolyn Sue McClearen Gafford, 84, was born on November 5, 1938, to Bonnie Rhea Skelton McClearen and Way Wright McClearen. She had a wonderful life in Kimmins, where her father, Way, owned and operated a sawmill and McClearens’ Mercantile. Bonnie Rhea was the postmistress in the store.

Carolyn was an only child, but had many Kimmins friends, June O’Guin, Wanda Quillen, and many others. She graduated from Lewis County High School in 1957. She also received a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Home Economics from Austin Peay College. She then graduated from Peabody/ Van...