Carolyn Joan Talley

            Carolyn Joan Talley, 83, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. 

            Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Burial will be at Friends Cemetery in Richland. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City.

            Carolyn was born June 27, 1940 in Milton, Iowa, the daughter of Orville Lester and Irene Elizabeth (Riedel) Downing. She married Richard Lee Thomas, May 3, 1956. They later divorced. She then married Max Talley, March 11, 1977. He preceded her in death, February 28, 2003. 

            Carolyn was a homemaker and throughout her life worked at Universal, JB Plastics (Plexco), and made doughnuts at Logli’s. She enjoyed playing card games, going to music jams, sewing, and visiting her daughters in California a few times each year. Carolyn was a member of the Free Methodist Church in Fairfield, where she enjoyed many church activities. 

            Those left to honor her memory include her children, Jeff (Teresa) Thomas of Keosauqua, Rhonda (Michael) Neeley of Cloverdale, California, and Jackie (Gary) Poarch of Petaluma, California; grandchildren, Kris (Sarah) Thomas, Aaron (Natalie) Hopper, Ashley Hopper, Jessica Craun, Sarah Neeley, Derek (Laura) Poarch, Wesley Poarch, and Brycen (Megan) Poarch; great-grandchildren, MacKenzie Ricco, Draque Ricco, Kaleb, Maison, and Emma Hopper, Wyatt and Halle Babcock; Maxwell and Clara Poarch, and Oslo and Rohen Poarch; great-great granddaughter, Ilene; siblings, Janet Bitner and Victor (Cleone) Downing, both of Indiana.

            In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; son, Terry Thomas; granddaughter, Mandy Ricco; and brother and sister-in-law, James and Barbara Downing.