Carrol Lavene Lively

Carrol Lavene Lively, 91, of Indianapolis, passed away at home on Friday, July 29, 2022.  She was born on August 26, 1930 in Monroe County, IN to the late Raymond L. and Ada M. (Deckard) Chambers.

Carrol married Clyde Lively on January 17, 1948.  She was a devoted military wife, accompanying her husband to multiple states and territories including Hawaii and Guam. Carrol also volunteered her time and talents at the base thrift shops where her husband was stationed.

In addition to supporting her husband and his career and maintaining a home and family, she also worked full time outside the home.  Carrol held various jobs including a car hop at a drive-in restaurant, retail at the military base PX, and cutting pineapples at the Dole Pineapple Factory on Oahu, Hawaii. After her husband’s retirement from the military and a move back to Indiana, Carrol built a career at Indiana Bell/AT&T. In May 1993, she retired after more than 25 years of employment at Indiana Bell/AT&T.

After retirement, Carrol enjoyed spending more time volunteering at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, where she was a longtime member.  She was a faithful servant who loved God and her church.  She volunteered at the church food pantry and church office. She oversaw preparation of the weekly church service bulletins.

Carrol also enjoyed shopping, bingo, crossword puzzles, gardening and doing for others. She spent a lot of time babysitting her grandchildren. She enjoyed making dinner and was happy to add an extra plate for anyone who dropped in. She loved family outings and was always ready to join in when asked. She loved her pets that were true members of her family.

Carrol loved animals, especially dogs, but llamas and squirrels were a close second.  Carrol loved hot sunny summers, the Indiana State Fair, Saturday wildlife TV shows, Judge Judy, Macy’s, shoes, all things Christmas, ice cream and chocolate…anything chocolate.

Carrol was an independent and self-sufficient woman.  Out of the 47 years she lived in her Indianapolis home, 24 of those years were after her husband’s passing.  She took care of her home until moving into senior living in 2014. Carrol took care of what needed to be done with no complaining and was reluctant to ask for help from others.

Carrol will be remembered as a devoted homemaker, a great cook, a talented seamstress, a willing babysitter, chauffeur, and a professional bargain hunter who never failed to stop at a promising garage sale.  Most importantly, she will be remembered as “Momu” to those who loved her most, her family.

Carrol is survived by her younger brother, Kenneth Chambers. She leaves behind 3 children, Vickie (David) Gundrum, Danita (Doug Martin) Lively, and Michael (Bev) Lively; and 3 grandchildren, Johnathan (Karen) Gundrum, Katlyn Martin and Jefferson (Cassidy) Crew.  Carrol is also survived by her 11 great-grandchildren, Lindsay Alexander, Adrea  (Zachary) McCloud, Cliffton (Rachael) Atchison, David (Kaitlyn) Atchison, Hannah Gundrum, Courtney Reed, Audrea Beth Coffman, Lindsay, Thomas and Meghan Vibbert and Savannah Crew; and 10 great-great grandchildren, Lilly and Carter Alexander, Harper Meyer, Ava, Elijah, and Ariel Atchison, Jasper and Jiraiyah Atchison, Malachi Reed and Josiah Coffman.

Carrol was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 42 years, Clyde; granddaughter, Carroll Renee Gundrum; grandson, Zachary Vibbert; great-granddaughter, Sydney Crew.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 11am at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church or the Indiana Canine Assistance Network (ICAN).  A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future.