Mary Carol Rau (Seymour)'s Obituary
Mary Carol (Harden) Rau, was born to Robert Dale and Rosemary Amelia (Mathers) Harden, August 17, 1947, in Lynwood, California, one of seven children. Carol unexpectedly passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 66 years, four months and four days.
Carol met the man who would be her husband in the 2nd grade while they attended St. John of God School in Norwalk, California. She graduated from St. Paul Catholic High School in 1965, and married Gary Charles Rau on December 26, 1966, and to this union two sons and a daughter were born. They would later become foster parents and add a daughter to their family. She and Gary lived and raised their family in Templeton, California, before moving to Seymour, Missouri, in 2007. Carol and Gary would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary this December.
Carol was involved with and a valued member of her community. She served as Red Carpet at James River Church of Ozark, was very active with TOPS, a member of Red Hat Club, and often volunteered to deliver “Meals on Wheels.” Supporting ministries, local and abroad, was important to Carol. “Lori’s House” at Jim Bakker’s Morningside Church in Branson, was very near and dear to her. Kids’ Ministries, Spirit in Truth, Teen Harvest, and Victory Missions were just a few more organizations she regularly supported.
Her family called her a natural-born leader and a lady with a wealth of information to share. She adored her menagerie of farm animals which included goats, cows, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, dogs and cats; she single-handedly tended to their health and care. She enjoyed sewing, gardening and canning, and drying herbs and vegetables from her garden; she loved the farm and Ozark living.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Rosemary Harden, who were proudly married for 58 years, and sister, Janet Marie Hennion, who passed away in 2005.
Carol leaves behind her loving husband of 47 years, Gary Rau; son, Michael Rau and wife, Cheryl, of Seymour; daughter, Kimberly (Rau) Brinkley, of Seymour; son, Matthew Rau and wife, Tina, of Templeton, California; and daughter Rebecca Davis and husband, Alan, of Arroyo Grande, California; seven grandchildren, Savannah Rau (17), Wyatt Rau (14), Madison Rau (11), Brent Brinkley (13), and Hunter Brinkley (11), all of Seymour, Missouri; and Whitney Davis (16), and Lucas Davis (12), of Arroyo Grande, California; five siblings, brother, Robert Harden, Jr. and wife, Mary, of Vista, California; sister, Suzanne (Harden) Hustedt and husband, Nick, of Atascadero, California; brother, Edward Harden and wife, Nancy, of Huntington Beach, California; brother, James (Jim) Harden and wife, Diane, of Stockton, California; and brother, John Harden and wife, Peggy, of Templeton, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins. Carol will be greatly missed by her best friends and all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, a savings account has been set up for Gary Rau at Seymour Bank.
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