HAZEN — Carolyn Yvonne Haygood Beam,

71, of Hazen, passed away on March 20, 2022. Carolyn was born on August 19, 1950, in Fayetteville, N.C. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.R. and Ada Haygood; and her brother, Chuck Haygood. Carolyn is survived by her husband of 53 years, Edward Beam; her daughters, Amy Shultz and husband, Lance, Lori Warhurst and husband, Tim, and Andrea Stiles; eight grandchildren, Kennedy, Nadia, Zoe, Laney, Griffin, Madelyn, Jackson, Gavin; and two great-grandchildren, Hensley and Beckett.

Carolyn was a life-long member of Calvary Baptist Church where she shared her gift of playing the organ for over 50 years. She loved God and instilled that love in her family. Carolyn’s passion was her family. She loved being a wife, Momma, and Meme. Her other passion was teaching. She taught elementary school in Brinkley and Hazen Schools. She was a beloved teacher who touched the lives of many children. She was devastated when she was forced into early retirement because of hearing loss as a result of chemotherapy treatment. She bravely fought breast cancer and had been cancer-free for 21 years.

Relentless, hard-working, determined, she never let anyone tell her she couldn’t do something. After losing her hearing and having to stop doing two of the things she loved the most (teaching and playing the organ), she never gave up or quit fighting. She defied the odds by returning to play the organ in church with help of cochlear implants. She loved with her whole heart, never met a stranger, and she always let you know exactly what she was thinking. Carolyn was one of a kind, and a special gift to everyone whose life she touched. Everyone who knew her has a funny “Carolyn story”, and she will always be remembered for her ability to make people laugh and for the way she loved.

Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.