Smith Center - Carolyn Jean (Hill) Bargman, 80, passed on to our Heavenly Father on the evening of February 29th at Smith Center Health and Rehab. She was surrounded by her loving children and husband.
Carolyn was born March 11, 1939 on the family farmstead in rural Smith County, the daughter of Kenneth Lee Hill and Doris Esther (Shook). Mom was the oldest of seven children and grew up with strong family bonds, music and loving the Lord. At the young age of 13, Carolyn began working various jobs to help out the family. She graduated from Harlan High School, Harlan, KS in 1957. Carolyn met Paul Bargman her junior year. Paul and Carolyn were married May 10, 1958 at the Harlan Church. They were blessed with seven children: Terri Marie, Paula Sue, Paul Robert Jr., Larry Dane, Darla Jean, Darcy Jo and Teana Lea. Our mom and dad raised their seven children on the family farm - a hard life, a blessed life, full of joy, laughter, tears and kids! Oh how mom loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Paul and Carolyn became foster parents to many needy children. Children and Jesus were her life. Everyone loved Carolyn. She never met a stranger and all were welcome in her home!
Through the years Carolyn enjoyed having a large garden and canning the vegetables she grew. She loved to cook for her family and would always make sure if somebody stopped by during that time that they never left hungry. Harvest to her was always a family affair and she looked forward to it each and every year. One of her passions was music and she loved to sing with her family and watch shows on T.V. that had singing in them. Above all she loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her animals. You could almost count on seeing her with a child in one hand and her pet dog on her lap. She was also a very generous, giving and Godly person. She gave her time freely.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Betty (Hill) Hoover.
Carolyn is survived by her husband Paul Bargman of Smith Center, KS, married for 61 years; five daughters, Terri (Richard) Leone of Concord, NC, Paula (Ronald) Hayes, Darla Pfortmiller all of Smith Center, KS, Darcy (Mel) Shaffer of Agra, Teana (Kelly) Lowden of Peck, KS; two sons, Paul Bargman Jr. and Dane Bargman both of Smith Center, KS; one brother, Monte Hill of Manhattan, KS; four sisters, Sheri (Hubert) Woitaszewski, Susie (Kenny) Paget all of Smith Center, KS, Patty (Daryl) Novotny of Stockton, KS, Dinah (Lyle) Schliep of Manhattan, KS; twelve grandchildren, Andrea (Josh) Lloyd, Alisha Leone all of Concord, NC, Charyne (Marco) Tovar of Kansas City, Michael (Lacci) Hayes of Smith Center, Bryan Shaffer of Texas, Taylor Shaffer (Anissa Albers), Tanner Shaffer all of Salina, Lucas (Sierra) Lott of Bell Plains, Kaysi Lott (Cameron Crites) of Wichita, Tangie Hileman (Landon Keiswetter), Cheyanne (Kody) Molzahn, Lisette Pfortmiller all of Smith Center and ten great-grandchildren, Eris, Arianna, Etta, Baby Boy Tovar, Kolter, Kollier, Kinsley, Ruby, Calvin and Liam.
A celebration of Carolyn's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2020 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, with Pastor Lance McDowell officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, March 6, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the chapel. Burial will take place in Gaylord Cemetery, Gaylord, KS. Memorials may be given to Carolyn Jean Bargman Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.