Carolyn Lewis, age 64, of Brookings, passed away Monday, August 17, 2015, at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 21, 2015, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings, with interment in the Oldham Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Carolyn was born on August 12, 1951, in Ramona, SD to Vernon and Jean (Lewis) Schwartz. She was baptized at the Belleview Lutheran Church in rural Howard and confirmed at the Oldham Lutheran Church. She attended grade school in Oldham, high school in DeSmet and Business School in Watertown. Carolyn was a key member of the staff at Kilian Community College in 1977 when they first opened their doors. She was a co-manager with sister Cynthia in running the Buffalo Cafe in Tulare, SD. Her love of flowers found her at Beadle's in Aberdeen making floral arrangements and working in the nursery. She worked for both Northern State University (until 1994) and at South Dakota State University until health issues no longer allowed her to work. Growing up, Carolyn had great childhood memories playing basketball and soft ball at the Oldham family farm with her four siblings, dozens of cousins and friends. She enjoyed archery, hunting, fishing and participating in 4-H activities including sewing, showing sheep and cattle. Carolyn was always known as a hard worker, a kind and selfless person who was always willing to help others. With her love of crafts, she enjoyed making wreaths and selling them at craft shows. She enjoyed and had a special talent in making floral arrangements especially for family occasions including her daughter's and other family weddings. Another talent was baking and decorating wedding cakes. Carolyn enjoyed many trips with her late brother Gary Schwartz to the Oldham family farm to help with chores. While living in North Carolina she helped her older brother, Franklin, on his water lily nursery. Even though health issues made it more difficult for Carolyn to be mobile, she spent long hours playing card games and doing puzzles with her grandson Ethan and watching favorite TV shows with twin grandchildren Brooklyn and Noah. The phone was a key link in her keeping in touch with her family. She is survived by her daughter Christina (Joshua) Fousek and grandchildren Ethan, Brooklyn and Noah of Brookings; a brother Franklin (Carole) Schwartz of North Carolina; two sisters Susan Potter of North Carolina and Cynthia (Loren) Marzahn of Redfield; a special sister-in-law Nancy Swanson-Dupraz (Chuck), Brookings and a special nephew and godson, Zachary Schwartz of Louisiana as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceeded in death by her brother Gary Schwartz, parents Vernon and Jean Schwartz, and stepmom Arlene Klingbile Schwartz.