BENTONVILLE — Carolyn Parrish Elias,
born May 10, 1931, in Little Rock, Ark., to Sue “Hootie” and L.H. “Doc” Parrish, became part of the great cloud of witnesses on April 2, 2024.
Carolyn, an adored only child, spent her early years in her grandmother’s boarding house, now Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She graduated top of her class from Little Rock High School in 1948, and in 1952, earned a degree in English Literature from University of Arkansas, where she was a proud member of Tri Delta Sorority.
Following graduation, Carolyn returned to Little Rock, working as a medical secretary while traveling, socializing, and following her beloved Razorback football. Soon after Carolyn accepted a temporary position at a local construction company, as a secretary for one Barney Elias (a recent widower) she announced she couldn’t work for “that man”—three years later they married and remained so for 54 years (until Barney died in 2011). Carolyn became mother to Barney’s three children upon their marriage, and had their own daughters as well.
The family made their home in North Little Rock, and in late 1966, Carolyn’s life was transformed by her membership in Bible Study Fellowship, sparking a lifelong commitment to Jesus and her Methodist faith. In 1969, the family relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois, where Carolyn started the Explorer’s Bible Study, which continues to this day. Between that and her tireless volunteer and civic engagements, she left a lasting impact in her adopted hometown.She became active with the Good News movement of the Methodist Church in the 1970s and became a lifetime member of the board in the 1990s.
Retiring to Hot Springs in the 1990s with Barney, Carolyn embraced hosting gatherings, delighting in her renowned cooking and love for entertaining (matched only by her love for their Scottie dogs, Rob Roy and later McDuff). Her trips with family to New York City to visit daughter Kim, buy knock-off purses, eat fine food and see Broadway hits, were legendary.
Due to her stepchildren, Carolyn became a grandmother while raising her own girls, and she loved them all as a grandmother would. In 1998 and 2002, when Kate gave birth to Isaac and Jenna, she became “Bubbe” and in 2003 her greatest joy was realized when Kate and Greg moved the family to Hot Springs. She played a huge role in Isaac and Jenna’s lives, keeping them often and evangelizing the joys of being a Razorback, a Methodist and a Republican (one out of three, not bad).
In 2017, due to her declining health, Kate and Greg moved Carolyn to Bentonville, Ark., to be near them. She remained in Bentonville enjoying time with family and loving on her grandchildren (human, canine and feline) for the rest of her days.
Carolyn’s legacy of faith, hospitality and love will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Carolyn was proceeded in death by her husband, Barney Elias; daughter, Kim Elias; three stepchildren, Ed Elias, Eve (Green) Elias, and Neil Elias; granddaughter, Ashley Elias; parents, Sue and L.H. “Doc” Parrish, and a long line of beloved family pets.
She is survived by her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Kate and Greg Schaffer; cousin “daughter,” Pat Engel; daughter-in-law, Georgia Elias; grandchildren, Kelly Kempner, Isaac Schaffer, Jenna Schaffer, Jordan Elias, and Michael Elias; and great-grandchildren, Courtney Langdon, Camille Elias, and Alexander Elias; in addition by beloved cousins, Tommy (Linnea) Weed, Jay Engel, Brennan Engel, Ryan (Blakely) Engel, Emma Engel, Hollis Engel, James Engel, William Engel, and Sydney (Zach) Smith.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church Hot Springs on Thursday, April 11, at 11 a.m., with reception to follow and graveside services at 3 p.m. in Little Rock at Roselawn Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital and First United Methodist Hot Springs.
Guests may register at www.GrossFuneralHome.com