Mrs. Carolyn Marie Koch of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, beloved wife and mother, passed away January 13, 2012. She was the sixth of nine children, born on May 30, 1938 in Canton, Mississippi to Frank and Flora Renfro Lawrence. Carolyn was raised on a cotton farm. Her young life included a lot of hard work, but also much laughter and love. Carolyn often said that those hardscrabble years were some of the best times of her life. Chris was set up on a blind date with Carolyns friend. When he saw Carolyn for the first time, with her hair rolled up in toilet paper and Bobbie pins, as was the trend back then, he thought she was beautiful. He told his friend that he would only go on the date if he could switch and take Carolyn. They were married on May 3, 1957. Two children, Micki and Bobby, were born to them while living in Florence, Mississippi. During their lives together, the family lived in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida. Carolyn and Chris made lifelong friends wherever they went. They loved outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, jeeping, water skiing, kayaking, sailing, and cross-country skiing. They were very involved in the social lives of their children, and their home was always open to their friends. Carolyn cooked a big meal every Sabbath after church, and a group of high school kids crowded around her table each week. She was asked to be sponsor of Mickis senior class, and was honored when the kids included her and Chris in their graduation night celebration. She was frequently asked to go on school trips as a chaperone, and this was a source of great pride. Carolyn worked for eight years in accounting at the high school her kids attended. She herself had worn homemade cattle-feed sack dresses to school, and knew what it felt like to grow up poor. It was important to her to assist needy kids at the school. She took many on shopping trips for necessities and everyday clothes, as well as for banquet attire. Nothing made her happier than helping needy students fit in and feel good about themselves. After Bobby graduated high school, Chris and Carolyn moved to Greeneville, Tennessee, where Carol worked for a doctors group at Tacoma Hospital and later started Carolyns Antiques. In 2002, they retired and moved to the Florida Panhandle, where they enjoyed many hiking, jet skiing, and sailing adventures. Chris feels that it is a wonderful privilege to have lived out his life with his very best friend. Carolyn is preceded in death by her father and mother, three brothers, Jessie Lawrence, Therrel Lawrence, and David Lawrence, and sister Nellie Evans. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Chris H. Koch of DeFuniak Springs, Florida; One son, Robert Christian Koch of DeFuniak Springs, Florida; one daughter, Michelle Elizabeth Glenn and her husband Dr. Michael Glenn of Niceville, Florida; four sisters, Peggy Woods of Jackson, Mississippi; Elizabeth Stevens and husband Johnny of Florence, Mississippi; Mary Nell Lawrence of Jackson, Mississippi and Bonnie Carmichael and husband Tommy of Pensacola, Florida. Memorial Services will be held Sunday, January 22 at 11 a.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church; 532 Lakeview Drive; DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433. Contributions may be made to Bass Memorial Academy Worthy Student Fund; 6433 US Highway 11; Lumberton, Mississippi 39445 in Mrs Koch's memory.