Obituary
Carolyn A. McLaren
Carolyn "Cookie" Alice (Benik) McLaren, 63, Theodosia, finished with her earthly duties, went to heaven on Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. Funeral mass was held Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007 at St. Williams Catholic Church in Gainesville, MO with Father Paul Wightman officiating. Interment followed at Lutie Cemetery in Theodosia, MO.
Cookie was born on July 29, 1943, in Chicago,IL, to Anthony and Josephine (Ploger) Benik. She was a resident of Ozark County for the past 21 years. She was living in her dream home on Bull Shoals Lake.
Cookie and Richard "Pete" McLaren were united in marriage on April 12, 1960. Together they were privileged to share 46 wonderful years together. Her proudest accomplishment was her four wonderful children. She never passed up an opportunity to brag about her children's accomplishments.
She was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church in Gainesville. She was a fierce advocate for the rights of the handicapped. She testified on multiple occasions before the Missouri Legislature on handicapped issues. She spent 14 years of her life doing total care for her quadriplegic daughter.
She was a corporate accountant, farmer, and business owner. She was a former officer in the Pilot Club International in North Kansas City, MO, currently was the treasurer of Families For Change, and lifetime volunteer for Special Olympics.
Cookie enjoyed traveling as long as the destination was to Hawaii and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included growing roses and spoiling her grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her father, Anthony Benik. Cookie is survived by her husband, Pete; her mother, Josephine Benik, of Bolingbrook, Il; three daughters, Teresa McLaren, of Springfield, MO, Barbara Bormolini and husband John of Leavenworth, KS, Betsy McLaren of Theodosia MO.: her son Peter McLaren and his wife Tracie of Columbia, Il; four grandchildren and one great grandchild; and eight brothers and sisters, Richard Benik, John Benik, Linda Jarrard, Bruce Benik, Joanne Kottke, Anthony Benik, Gary Benik, and Michael Benik; her long-time best friends, Mary and Charlie Fry, and extended family and a host of wonderful friends.
Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics or Families For Change through Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville, MO.
Carolyn "Cookie" Alice (Benik) McLaren, 63, Theodosia, finished with her earthly duties, went to heaven on Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. Funeral mass was held Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007 at St. Williams Catholic Church in Gainesville, MO with Father Paul Wightman officiating. Interment followed at Lutie Cemetery in Theodosia, MO.
Cookie was born on July 29, 1943, in Chicago,IL, to Anthony and Josephine (Ploger) Benik. She was a resident of Ozark County for the past 21 years. She was living in her dream home on Bull Shoals Lake.
Cookie and Richard "Pete" McLaren were united in marriage on April 12, 1960. Together they were privileged to share 46 wonderful years together. Her proudest accomplishment was her four wonderful children. She never passed up an opportunity to brag about her children's accomplishments.
She was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church in Gainesville. She was a fierce advocate for the rights of the handicapped. She testified on multiple occasions before the Missouri Legislature on handicapped issues. She spent 14 years of her life doing total care for her quadriplegic daughter.
She was a corporate accountant, farmer, and business owner. She was a former officer in the Pilot Club International in North Kansas City, MO, currently was the treasurer of Families For Change, and lifetime volunteer for Special Olympics.
Cookie enjoyed traveling as long as the destination was to Hawaii and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included growing roses and spoiling her grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her father, Anthony Benik. Cookie is survived by her husband, Pete; her mother, Josephine Benik, of Bolingbrook, Il; three daughters, Teresa McLaren, of Springfield, MO, Barbara Bormolini and husband John of Leavenworth, KS, Betsy McLaren of Theodosia MO.: her son Peter McLaren and his wife Tracie of Columbia, Il; four grandchildren and one great grandchild; and eight brothers and sisters, Richard Benik, John Benik, Linda Jarrard, Bruce Benik, Joanne Kottke, Anthony Benik, Gary Benik, and Michael Benik; her long-time best friends, Mary and Charlie Fry, and extended family and a host of wonderful friends.
Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics or Families For Change through Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville, MO.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carolyn Mclaren, please visit our flower store.
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