Carole Ann (Riedmiller) Scott, age 86, died on Sunday, December 29, 2024, of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) at Trinity Woods in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though the disease ravaged her body, it did not dim her spirit or dampen her light. She remained kind, funny, optimistic, and full of love until the end.

Carole was born Wednesday, April 6, 1938, to Joe and Marie Riedmiller in her parent's little rock house in the tiny central Kansas town of Glasco. She was the third of five children. Carole had a happy childhood winning 4-H competitions, roaming the family vegetable garden, and pulling sodas at Struble's Pharmacy. In the evenings, her family gathered around the cozy dining room table to play wicked card games or sat in the snug living room to make happy music on the old upright piano, accompanied by her dad on the violin.

In high school, Carole was drum major, cheerleader, class officer, newspaper editor, and thespian. She was an accomplished trombone player and, upon her graduation from Glasco High School in 1956, earned an academic scholarship to the University of Kansas where she continued playing trombone in the concert band.

After graduating from KU in 1961 with a degree in Music Education, she taught music to 3rd-6th graders at Hazel Grove Elementary School in Wyandotte County, KS and then to 1st-8th graders in Eudora, KS.

On a blind date at the Wagon Wheel Cafe in Lawrence, she met the love of her life, Robert W. Scott, and before the night was over, they were talking about marriage. Bob and Carole wed on June 2, 1962, in Kansas City, KS. Their first home was a small pink duplex in Lawrence where they wasted no time starting their family. Son Paul was born in 1963 and daughter Theresa came quickly on his heels in 1964.

From Lawrence, the family moved to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, where Bob taught at Waynesburg College. Living on campus at the foot of the library hill, Carole gave baton lessons in the backyard, taught music at the local preschool, and began advocating for civil rights, women's rights, and social justice. In 1969, they adopted Michael, completing the family. A year later, they moved to Arlington, Texas, where they lived for four years while Bob taught at the University of Texas Arlington and Carole focused on raising the children.

In 1974, the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and settled down for good. Carole served at Church of the Resurrection as a liturgist and was a spiritual director for Ignatian Retreat In Daily Life, Eastern Oklahoma Diocese. She also was a co-leader of Sanctuary Prayer Group for 40 years and led the Catholic Charismatic Revival in northeastern Oklahoma. She wrote extensively about the Holy Spirit and the role of women in the Church, giving impassioned talks at conferences and seminars.

Carole was Bob's devoted wife, intrepid traveling partner, and best friend for 62 years. Ultimately, he became her caretaker and tended her until her last breath. To her children and grandchildren, Carole was limitless love, easy laughter, and an unwavering foundation. They knew a nostril flare meant she was angry, but that was all it took to keep them in line. She was the best mother and Nana they could have ever hoped for.

Carole is survived by her husband and three children, her four granddaughters (Lauren Berardo of Honolulu, HI, Grace Kaiser of Kailua, HI, Hayley Cassaday of Falls Church, VA, and Julia Cimino of Trier, Germany) and four grandsons (Alexander Scott of Tulsa, OK, Nicholas Scott of Nashville, TN, Donovan Scott of Denver, CO, and Miles Scott of Denver, CO), sister Mary Cornwell of Lawrence, KS and brother Gary Riedmiller of Mulvane, KS.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, January 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Southwood Colonial Chapel, Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 3612 E. 91st St. A funeral mass is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15 at 11:00 am at Church of St. Mary's, 1347 E. 49th Pl., Tulsa. Mass will be preceded by a Rosary at 10:30.

Memorial donations can be sent to the ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22209 https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20001b?idb=1940935619&df_id=43364&mfc_pref=T&43364.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=94F037187F2F5D63D775D0C8C830FA02&s_src=donatebutton&43364_donation=form1
or to the Catholic Charismatic Conference, Eastern Oklahoma Diocese, c/o Mick Michie, 6447 S. Louisville St., Tulsa OK 74136.