Carolyn J. Coveyou, 61, of Des Moines, passed away at Iowa Methodist Medical Center on March 20, 2008, after an illness of several weeks.

Carolyn was born on January 29, 1947 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey to George F. Keller and Marion A. (Russell) Keller, both now deceased.  She was raised in and attended schools in Caldwell, Mountain Lakes, and Sparta, all in New Jersey and had also lived in Knoxville, Tennessee and Ames, Iowa before moving to Des Moines in 1976.  She was a graduate of Sparta High School and of the University of Tennessee.

She was retired and had previously worked for the Public Library of Des Moines, Cowles Library at Drake University, Des Moines Hearing and Speech Center, and the American Cancer Society.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Michael, sisters Nancy Smith and Susan Trobert, both of Sparta, New Jersey, brother Robert Keller of Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania, 10 nieces and nephews,10 grandnieces and grandnephews, and by her two basset hounds, Quincy and Mollie.

During her illness, Carolyn especially missed attending Drake Women’s Basketball games, where she had been a season ticket holder for over 20 years, and participating in the Mystery Book Club at Borders, of which she was a member since its founding over 16 years ago.  Her creation of the “100 page rule” for the mystery club was a reflection of her wry sense of humor.

Carolyn was grateful to her doctors and nurses and especially to the nurses at Iowa Methodist in the ICU/CCU and on the 6th Floor North for the care she received during her illness.

There will be no services, as Carolyn instructed.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Kiya Koda Humane Society of Indianola, Animal Lifeline of Iowa, or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.