Carolyn Juanita Christensen

Carolyn Juanita Christensen, 90, passed away at Harney District Hospital Sunday, August 16th, 2026. She was born on December 13, 1935 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Joe & Freda Coleman. She was the oldest of three children, including brother Jerry and sister Fran.

On December 9, 1965 Carolyn married her best friend and soul mate, Robert Christensen in Reno, Nevada and they were married for 52 years before Bob passed away in 2018.

Carolyn was a mom-first & foremost but also worked outside the home. She worked at Burns Times Herald many years ago for Dwight Henshaw, The Palace as a waitress & bartender for owner Macy & Orland Osbourne, Co-owned & operated C & B Sanitary with Bob from 1965 until it was sold in 2007.

To escape the cold winters in Harney County, Carolyn & Bob would pack up their motorhome & head south to Arizona, Nevada & Mexico and were joined by many lifelong friends. We always looked forward to the time they would return home & have a big family gathering to eat the huge prawns they always brought back! Carolyn loved to cook & we always enjoyed many delicious meals together. It was usually chaos, but she loved every minute of it! Her love of cooking was passed down to so many of her kids & grandkids that enjoy recreating her special dishes. Holidays, especially Christmas, were chaos as well but it was always filled with love & laughter (and a lot of wrapping paper!) Every important family gathering was captured on camera in front of the legendary stone fireplace that none of us will ever forget.

Bob & Carolyn spent many summers fishing & boating at Lake Owyhee and was joined by family & friends all summer long. The grandkids couldn’t wait to go to Owyhee with Gram & Papa Bob and had so many stories to tell about the shenanigans of her Magnificent 7 – oh how she loved them!!!!!!!

Carolyn loved to watch sports on TV – especially the Oregon teams and the World Series. She also loved to watch Dancing With The Stars & every year would pull out her “score card” and try to pick the winner!

She was a cherished & loyal friend, mentor, confidante, biggest cheerleader, and protector of her family! We always knew we could go to her about anything and would come away feeling better. She taught us to be better people & loved us all unconditionally. She set the bar high on how to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, mother-in-law, grandmother, great & great great grandmother and friend. As a mother, she wore many hats – nurse, chef, housekeeper, provider and even a referee! Once in particular, she was called to the High School to break up a fight between Mike & Randy! Or the time she found out that Mike & Randy put Jeff on a sled & sent him down Pettibone on snowy & icy roads!

We would also like to acknowledge some very special people who helped care for Bob & Carolyn……..Teresa, Jan & Terri. We would also like the thank Home Health, Hospice & everyone at Harney District Hospital. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for caring for them like the family you became to all of us.

A graveside service will be held at the Burns Cemetery on Monday August 24th at 11 a.m. followed by a celebration of her life at the Valley Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harney County Home Health & Hospice and/or Can Cancer.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bob, mother & father (Joe & Freda Coleman), sister (Fran Estep) and step-son (David Christenen).

Carolyn is survived by son Mike (Beque) Fulton, son Randy (Myrna) Fulton, son Jeff (Sharon) Fulton, daughter Shauna (Matt) Hammon, brother Jerry (Carol) Coleman, step-daughters Debbie (Rod) Robertson and Denise Christensen, many numerous nieces, nephews, grand children, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Such a legacy she leaves behind! She was so loved!!!