Carolyn Louise Holden, of Franklin, NC, age 79, died peacefully on Monday, November 19, 2018, while in hospice care in The Solace House in Asheville, NC.

A native of Macon County, Carolyn was the daughter of the late Darel McCoy and Ruth McCoy Edwards of Macon County.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 61 years, SFC Andrew (Andy) J. Holden (Retired) also of Franklin, NC; her daughter Vicki Cole and her husband Kerry of Franklin; son Randy Holden and his wife Karen of Glen Allen, VA; and daughter Sheri Powell and her husband Benny of Franklin, NC; a sister Elizabeth Padgett Bradley and her husband E. J. Bradley of Franklin; seven grandchildren, Joshua Freeman, Ashley Freeman Hoover both of Franklin; Matthew Holden of Washington, D.C.; Benjamin Holden of Atlanta, GA; Stephanie Holden of Glen Allen, VA; Chelsea Powell of Sea Island, GA; and Addison Powell of Washington, NC; and two great-grandchildren, Haley Freeman and Estella Rose Hoover; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Carolyn was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. After marrying Andy in 1956, the two of them spent the next 16 years raising their three children at Army bases in Kentucky, Arizona, Massachusetts, Colorado and Germany with other stops in Franklin (twice) and Pahokee, FL when Andy served in Vietnam. After Andy retired from the Army in 1972, they returned to where they started, Macon County. Carolyn loved to travel (obviously!), square dance, bowl, play cards, go camping, and watch sports. She would often be heard loudly urging on her beloved Atlanta Braves from the kitchen when cooking dinner for the family. Carolyn was a social active lady and a member of the First Baptist Church of Franklin. She was a longtime volunteer at Angel Community Hospital and Macon Valley Nursing Home; an avid bowler; and friend to many. She had many friends and was deeply involved with her church, especially her beloved Sunday- School classmates who she missed dearly as her health failed. Her strong will, beautiful spirit, kind heart and love for her family and friends will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

A visitation is scheduled from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Friday, November 23 at Macon Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 24 at The First Baptist Church of Franklin. Dr. Robert Brown and Rev. Jack Jarrett will officiate. Carolyn will be buried at Rush Cemetery in Otto, NC.

Pallbearers will be Joshua Freeman, Matthew Holden, Benjamin Holden, Addison Powell, Dax Padgett and Chris Hoover.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Carolyn's life. In lieu of flowers the family asks that any donations be sent to Hospice House Foundation of Western North Carolina, P.O. Box 815, Franklin, NC 28744.

Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Condolences can be made to the family at www.maconfuneralhome.com