Carolyn Jo Treptow, 71, of Hallettsville, peacefully passed away Monday October 13 ^th after a long and courageous fight against corticobasal degeneration (CBD).  She was born in Houston on November 17, 1942, to the late Helmuth Fred "Muley" Treptow and Virginia Paula Ziegler Treptow.  Carolyn grew up in Hallettsville and graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1961, where she was Senior Class President and voted Best All-Around Girl.  In school, as an All-District Captain of the girls basketball team and a majorette, Carolyn nurtured a love of fitness that she maintained all her life.

After attending Texas Lutheran College, Carolyn began her working life which led her to explore her dynamic creative talent as an artist and designer. During her long and successful business career, she owned art galleries in Austin, New Braunfels and Dallas, as well as a chain of fashion jewelry stores in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.  Carolyn owned a showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center for many years before retiring to Hallettsville to be closer to her parents during their later years.  She continued to work as a designer creating lines of decorative home accessories, elegant silk floral arrangements and wearable art.

Although her health began to be affected by CBD in the mid 2000s, Carolyn never gave up her hope and optimism for beating the disease and inspired many with her strength in the face of great adversity. Those who remember her will cherish her vibrant sense of humor, as she always knew how to make people laugh and see the lighter side of a situation.  Carolyn never met a stranger, loved to talk with friends for hours, and her natural charm and leadership came from her serene demeanor even in the most stressful times, which drew many friends to her.  She was a kind and generous person who seemed to always know the right things to say at the right moment to put people at ease or comfort and console those in need.

Carolyn was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, where she was a past Woman of the Year recipient for the Texas Preceptor Omicron Tau Chapter.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Cheramy White of Washington, DC; sister Dorothy "Dottie" Virginia Treptow of Hallettsville, TX; nieces Paula Ann Clarner and husband Steve of Pearland, TX, Melissa Russell Sweeney and husband Ryan of San Antonio, TX, and Robin Lynette Treptow; nephews Nathan Alan Treptow and Aaron Charles Treptow.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents Helmuth and Virginia Treptow, her sister Patricia Ann Russell, and her brother Rev. Charles Alan Treptow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to:
AFTD: The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320?
290 King of Prussia Road?
Radnor, PA 19087
http://www.theaftd.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/electronically

Kubena Funeral Home, Hallettsville
www.kubenafuneralhome.com