Carolyn A. Vaverka of Parsons, Kansas, died April 15, 2021. Carol was born October 5, 1941, at Enid, Oklahoma, to Frank E. and Irene A. (Felber) Pospisil.
She graduated from Hennessey High School, Hennessey, Oklahoma, in May 1959 and married Vernon A. Vaverka in June. They had two sons, Chris and Dennis Vaverka; after 28 years they were divorced. They farmed in the Enid, Oklahoma, area until they moved to Kansas in 1980.
She was a licensed real estate agent in Oklahoma and worked at Century 21 in Enid and Enid Concrete Company. She was a member of the Pioneer School Board, the Religion Education Board of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Pioneer Wheat Hearts Home Demonstration Club and was active in school organizations.
In 1980, she moved with her family to Dennis, Kansas, where they farmed. She was a member of the Osage County Township Fire Department, serving as secretary, and worked at the Parsons Livestock Auction. After obtaining a Kansas real estate license, she worked at Century 21 in Parsons. After receiving an auctioneering license from the Missouri Auction School, she worked at Richard Wood Real Estate.
She earned an Associate’s Degree from Labette Community College in 1985 and was a member of their first Ambassador Club. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. In addition to being a graduate assistant in the Math Department, she became a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon (a Mathematics Honor Society) and Kappa Delta Pi (an Honor Society in Education).
She was a past member of Parsons Arts and Humanities Council, serving as treasurer, and Mo-Kan Council of Teachers of Mathematics, serving as president, and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Kansas Math and Science Education Coalition and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
She retired in 2007 from Neosho County Community College where she taught mathematics; previously she taught mathematics at Parsons High School. Through the years, she taught adjunct classes at Labette Community College.
After retirement she volunteered at the Parsons Community Clinic. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where she has served on the Trustees, Finance Committee, Parish Staff Committee and Administrative Council.
Survivors include a son, Vernon Christopher “Chris” (Lynda) Vaverka of North Newton, Kansas; a grandson, Brandon Vaverka of Woodward, Oklahoma; a brother, David Pospisil of Bison, Oklahoma; sisters, Mary Barr of Parsons, Kansas, and Dr. Joan (Dr. Scott) Sandburg of Portland, Oregon; and nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a son, Dennis Vaverka, in 1996, and sisters, Jan Dickstein and Gwen DeGruy.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Hennessey, Oklahoma. Friends may call at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the Community Health Clinic of Southeast Kansas, Parsons Wesley United Methodist Church or St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hennessey, Oklahoma. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS, 67357.
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