Carole Fox

Monday, April 11, 2022 3:37 am

Carole Fox, age 78 of Decorah, IA passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Hospitals, Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minn.

She lived courageously these last few years with the many challenges of Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Leukemia. She was always grateful for the wonderful care of the Mayo Clinic Hematology Dept. in Rochester, and especially her doctor, Suzanne Hayman.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the Decorah Lutheran Church 309 Winnebago St., with Pastor Peter Kowitz officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday morning. The service will be livestreamed.

Carole Ann (Boylls) Fox was born on Sept. 18, 1943, the daughter of Harry and Nina Mae Boylls, in Evansville, Ind. She graduated from Central High School in 1961, then received a Bachelor of Music Education degree, voice major, from Evansville College (now the University of Evansville) in 1965. She taught public school music in Evansville, 1965-66. On June 18, 1966, she married Ronald Fox, in New Chapel on the U of E campus. The two of them began married life in Bloomington, Ind., where Ron was pursuing a master’s degree in music, and Carole worked in the Dean’s Office of the School of Music at IU. After Ron got drafted in late summer, they moved to West Point, NY, for Ron to play in the West Point Band. During those years, Carole taught public school music in Beacon, NY (1 yr)) and Newburgh, NY (2 yrs). They then moved back to Bloomington, Ind., where she again worked in the music school. Ron then accepted teaching positions in Conway, AR, (1970-76) and Waco, TX, (1976-79). During this time, Carole became a stay-at-home mom to their children, Kelly and Jennifer. The family moved back to Bloomington, Ind., 1980-81, for Ron to complete doctoral course work, and Carole worked in the Assistant Dean’s Office.

They moved to Decorah, in 1981, for Ron to begin a 27-year teaching career at Luther College. Carole worked at the local cable tv company, Teleview Systems, for the next 17 years as office manager, retiring in 1998 at age 55. They joined Decorah Lutheran Church on 11/21/1982, where Carole has sung in the choir ever since. She was co-director with Ron, and a ringer in the handbell choir they formed from 1982-2008. She also began and directed a youth handbell choir for six years and played handbell solos as well. She was very active on stage and off in New Minowa Players Community Theater musicals from 1982-2000, her favorite being “Nunsense”, when she played the tap-dancing nun. She served on the NMP Board as treasurer for three years. She was a member of Northern Lights Women’s Chorus from 1996-2020, where she served as President, Vice-President, Librarian and Treasurer. She was also a member of Luther College Women’s Club, baking treats for students and serving as Treasurer from 2008-2010. She had many hobbies including reading, walking, biking, cards and games, gardening, crocheting and knitting, but she treasured her family and friends above all!

Carole is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ronald Fox; two daughters, Kelly Peterson (Chip) of Kirkland, Wash., and Jennifer Fox of St. Paul, Minn.; grandsons Evan Peterson of Richland, Wash., and Erik Peterson of Kirkland, Wash.; sister Janette Prickett of Evansville, Ind., sister-in-law Jeanette Boylls of Aurora, Colo.; and nephews Don Boylls and Steve Boylls of Aurora, Colo., and Jeff Howard of Ferandina, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Nina Mae Boylls; brother Don Boylls; brother-in-law Jim Prickett; and niece Melissa Conners.