Carolyn S. DeSpain

Carolyn S. DeSpain 82, of Owensboro passed away Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Heartland Villa. The Crittenden County native was born March 9, 1942, to the late Luther Francis Shewcraft and Oda Lee Patton Shewcraft. Before retiring, Carolyn co-owned with her husband, Jerry, the Beltone Hearing Aid Center of Owensboro for thirty years. To fulfill a long-time dream of being in business with her husband, she resigned from her first career of 21 years with the Federal Government where Carolyn was a paralegal in the Office of Hearings and Appeals with the Social Security Administration and worked as a Hearings Analyst and Decision Writer for Administrative Law Judges. She was a member of Owensboro Christian Church as well as serving on several boards including the Heartland Homeowners Association and the Kentucky Hearing Aid Association. Carolyn also served as past president of the Pilot Club of Owensboro, past vestry member, altar guild, and Sunday School teacher at Trinity Episcopal Church, past member of the Paducah Junior Woman’s Club, DAR, Captain William Rowan Chapter 4-018 KY, and charter member of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, Joseph Bridger KY06 Chapter. 

 In addition to her parents, Carolyn also was preceded in death by her husband Jerry DeSpain in 2017; four sisters, Edna Macon, Dorothy Young, Minnie Martin, and Betty Hodges; brother, Luther Keith Shewcraft. 

 Those left to cherish her memory include twin brother, Carlton Shewcraft of Marion, IL; sister-in-law, Dorothy DeSpain Parrott of Grand Rivers; very close nephew, Jarvis Morrow of Henderson and niece, LaVon Moore of Nashville, TN; many more nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. 

 The funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Saturday, November 16 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with same day visitation from noon until the time of the service. Burial will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens. 

 Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund at www.komen.org or St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, 1001 West Seventh St. Owensboro, KY 42301. 

 Condolences and memories for Carolyn’s family may be left at www.glenncares.com.