CAROLYN CROSS BROWN FOUTCH

March 4,1933 - December 10, 2022

Carolyn Brown Foutch, 89, passed away on December 10, 2022, surrounded by family. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Carolyn was born in Bakersfield on March 4, 1933, to Raymond and Goldie Cross. She spent her childhood with her brother, William Addison Cross and cousins in Walker's Basin and Pine Flat, California. Carolyn cherished the times she shared with her Aunt Helen (Cross) Rankin. She instilled in her family that she was from “strong stock”, and that is how she lived her life. Carolyn had close bonds with her brother, cousins, and childhood friends. She treasured and nurtured those relationships throughout her lifetime.

Carolyn attended local elementary schools and Bakersfield High School, where she met the love of her life, Donald Graham Brown. She loved to tell the stories of when her childhood best friend Alberta Jo (Chase) Norris pushed her into Don's path so they would run into each other and of when she was pinned Big “B” Queen at BHS. She graduated from the University of Southern California and was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Carolyn was a lifelong Trojan football fan.

On August 23, 1953, she married Don and they had three children: Denise, Shelley and Scott. She was very proud of her family and the home she raised them in. As a family they enjoyed playing tennis at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, annual backpacking and fishing trips and spending summers in Carpinteria.

Carolyn taught at Greenfield Union School district and retired after 20 years. She loved to teach her students seasonal songs, special stories and the importance of reading fundamentals.

She entertained beautifully, loved sewing, and possessed a “green thumb”. You could always find her at Bolles nursery looking for magenta perennials. She showed her love through her cooking and baking. Most of all, she is known for making her apricot scones and bringing smiles to those she shared them with.

Carolyn was a long-time member of Stockdale Country Club, Town and Country Garden Club, an active sustainer in The Junior League of Bakersfield, and a member of Trinity Anglican Church. Carolyn and her lifelong friends met regularly for 50 years, whether it be her Stitchery Group, hours-long phone calls, dinner parties or just pop-in visits. This group of friends supported each other throughout their entire adult lives. She had many deep and lasting friendships and instilled the value of friendship to her children.

Carolyn was blessed to be loved by two men who loved and adored her. Her first husband Don Brown died in May 1989 after 36 years of marriage. At her 40th high school reunion Carolyn became reacquainted, and later fell in love with Davis Pat Foutch. They were married in May 1991. Carolyn and Pat celebrated many happy occasions with family and friends. They were married for 31 years.

The loves of Carolyn's life were her grandchildren and great-granddaughters. She loved being their “GMA” and maintained close relationships with each of them from their births to her death. She instilled in them the art and importance of composing thank-you notes and of respecting family traditions. She taught them how to read, bake, garden, golf and create witty roses-are-red poems. Carolyn loved the family celebrations at Mexicali West...especially when a margarita was involved.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her first and second husbands, Donald Brown (1989) and Davis Pat Foutch (2022), her daughter Denise Elizabeth Brown (2003), her brother William Addison Cross and her parents Ray and Goldie Cross.

She is survived by her daughter Shelley Eileen Northrop (William), granddaughter Laura Elizabeth West (David), grandsons Nicholas Graham Northrop, and John William Northrop (Lacey), great-granddaughters Goldie Elizabeth West, Gwenyth Eileen West and son Scott Richard Brown, Ph.D. Carolyn is also survived by her sisters-in-law Colleen Cross and Irene Brown and their families.

Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of honoring family traditions, giving quality time to her loved ones and placing loyalty and importance on deep and lifelong friendships.

A special thank you to Father Karl at Trinity Anglican Church, Dr. William Baker and staff, Tim Kounter (Bakersfield Senior Placement), NaNa's Care Home, Hoffmann Hospice and Susan Greer at Stockdale Country Club for making every family occasion beautiful and memorable.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hoffmann Hospice, Trinity Anglican Church (Building to Bless Fund) and The Junior League of Bakersfield General Fund.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held for Carolyn and Pat on February 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, 11300 Campus Park Drive, Bakersfield, California 93311.