Carol was born the second of 2 daughters at the Rural Stockton, Missouri home of her parents, John and Iva Thomas (Haynes) at 1:30 on the morning of January 7, 1939. She passed away at 1:54 on the morning of March 6, 2024, at the Kabul Nursing Home in Cabool, Missouri, with her daughter Susan and granddaughter Brandi at her side. She had been a resident there since October 2023.
After graduating from Bolivar High School in 1956, she married James Calvin Eslinger and moved to a farm near Caplinger Mills, Missouri. Four children were born to this marriage. The oldest, John Herman, named after his maternal and paternal grandfathers, only lived for 2 and a half days. Linda, Jim, and Susan followed over the years. The marriage ended around 1970, and Carol moved the children to Bolivar, Missouri.
She would go on to marry Joe Combs, Frank McCrorey, and Fred Slater before meeting the love of her life in auctioneer Homer Yount, whom she married in 1985. They made their home in Lincoln, Missouri, where they were active in the community and traveled around to swap meets in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Homer passed away in November of 2006 and Carol moved in with daughter Susan soon after.
They settled in Cabool, Missouri where Carol became a member of the Cabool Christian Church and served on the board of the Cabool Senior Center where she loved to attend activities and play BINGO.
Carol enjoyed her children and grandchildren, visiting interesting places with her kids, and watching westerns on TV with Sadie, the Cocker Spaniel, on her lap. She loved to listen to her beloved Finley River Boys bluegrass band while sewing or working on puzzles in her sewing room. She followed Cardinals baseball and collected Cardinals memorabilia. She also enjoyed gardening, getting her nails manicured, and loved chickens and hedgehogs and could eat more fried catfish than anyone else at the table.
Carol is survived by a son, James William Eslinger from Minco, Oklahoma, and 2 daughters, Mary Linda Bittle of West Plains, Missouri, and Susan Lynn Pritchett of Cabool, Missouri, 3 grandchildren, Brandi Klein (Jeff), Bryan Pritchett (Shy), and Richard Eslinger, and 13 great-grandchildren – Andrew, Aubrey, Matthew, Adam, Hanna, Branden, Susan, Quinn, Kanye, Keemarious, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Dwight.
She is also survived by her sister, Irene Woods (Orval) from Springfield, Missouri, nephews Scott and Gary, nieces Jennifer and Janet and their families, and several cousins and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Iva Thomas (Haynes), an infant son, John Herman Eslinger (7/9/1957 – 7/11/1957), and her beloved husband Homer Yount.
Her ashes will be interred alongside her husband Homer Yount in Lincoln, Missouri at a later date.
