Caroll Lucas was born Feb 28, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois to Arthur A Lucas and Emma Bell Lucas and died on April 2, 2022 in Thayer, MO.
Caroll married Howard Elliott June 14, 1980. She is preceded in death by Howard, her sister Elizabeth and her parents. She is survived by her brother Sam Lucas; nephew, Peter Caruso; nieces, Mary Pat Caruso, Sasha, Njani and Tiffany.
She began college at Wright Junior College, majoring in theater arts. She starred in the play “Born Yesterday.” She transferred to the University of Chicago and earned her BA in English in 1962. She worked as a crime reporter for the Chicago Tribune and was promoted to managing editor. Howard Elliot was her assistant editor and they eventually married. Then she worked at the Elgin Courier, other suburban newspapers in Chicago, as well as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
When she was a child her father bought land near Myrtle, MO and left Chicago, but Emma remained in Chicago for several years running her hair salon (she was fond of electricity and running water), eventually moving down in 1961.
Caroll and Howard moved to Oregon County in the late 1970’s. They established CH Photography, traveled doing old time photos, and started a shop in Mammoth Main Street for the photo business.
Caroll and Howard established the Hill n’ Holler Publishing Company newspaper in 1995 which was delivered as a free regional weekly newspaper from November 1995 until December of 2009. It was a mix of news of entertainment, alternative medicine, Native American issues, movie reviews, local & regional news & events, and political news and opinion from widely varying viewpoints — and more — which drew readers from across the region and the world. A popular online version was launched in 2007-08.
Caroll was Editor-in-Chief and Howard was Co-owner and Associate Editor. When she wrote a column, it was always clear she was an expert. Howard did the layout and design, and she managed the marketing and stories.
One day she decided to get back into theater which blossomed into many local productions and concerts. She created the Repertory Theatre of the Ozarks (RTO) in July of 2003 and immediately started ordering scripts. She organized and got people to sing, play music, act, and work together. She procured lights, sound systems, costumes, and a theater in Mammoth Spring, AR. The first show was “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” That was followed by another nine plays and over twenty concerts.
Caroll directed several plays with children and teenagers. She would plan for several months in advance of the rehearsals. The kids gained many valuable life skills from their participation in these productions.
A Celebration of Life Concert is planned for Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the Thayer, MO. Fun & Friends Center, 100 Chestnut Street. Thayer, Missouri from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.
