Carol Lynne Dickerson Bennett

September 07, 1940 - October 31, 2023

Carol Lynne Dickerson Bennett of Overland Park, KS passed away at the age of 83 on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Carol was born on Sept. 7, 1940 in Kansas City, MO to Hal LaRoy and Leola Pauline Dickerson.   She grew up in Prairie Village, KS.  She was a member of The Village Presbyterian Church.  She attended Shawnee Mission North where she played the saxophone and the clarinet in the marching band.  One of her favorite memories from high school was getting to march in the Rose Bowl Parade!  It was in high school that she made many friends that remained close friends for her entire life. After high school she attended Kansas State University and during college married her high school sweetheart, Gary Bennett. 

Gary and Carol settled in Prairie Village, KS and then moved to Overland Park, KS to a home that Carol lived in for the next 46 years.  Carol and Gary had 3 daughters.  Carol was able to stay home with the girls while they were young and was an active volunteer at church, school and Girl Scouts (as the “cookie mom”).  Gary and Carol divorced in 1979 and Carol became a single mom supporting her 3 children. She went back into the workforce and at times worked 2 jobs.  She attended almost every one of her daughter’s choir concerts, band concerts, church events, musicals and sporting events.  She was always there to support her girls! At the same time, Carol was the primary caregiver for her mother and spent several years taking care of her after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Carol worked hard to help all of her girls through college and was so proud of each of them as they received their degree and transitioned into adulthood. Carol demonstrated for her daughters a faith in God, a strong work ethic, resiliency, kindness, compassion, love of the arts, creativity and much more.

After each of the girls married and had families of their own, Carol (Grandma) loved seeing her grandchildren and spending holidays, birthdays and vacations with them, going to their sporting events, recitals and concerts.  She was her grandchildren’s biggest supporter and was so proud of each of them!

Carol loved her friends, old and new, and was blessed to have many friends that remained friends for life.

Carol is survived by her brother, Michael Dickerson of Santa Fe, NM; her three daughters: Catherine Ann Hankins of Wilmington, NC, Julia Lynne Wood (Brian) of Salina, KS and Ann Leigh Lloyd (Matt) of Monument, CO; her 10 grandchildren: Emily (Ryan), Caitlin (Thomas), Lindsey (Toby), Meghan (Will), Griffin (Sarah), Hayden, Lauren, Finley, Emme and Campbell and her great-grandchildren:  Avery, Bennett, Jett, Amelia and two more on the way.

Carol’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Eaglecrest Senior Living of Salina and to the staff of Gentiva Hospice of Salina.  Thank you for caring so much about our Mom / Grandma.

The family will have a private ceremony.