Carolyn Ruth Brauer

Carolyn Ruth (Willis) Brauer, 77, passed away at her home in Searcy, Arkansas on December 17, 2025, after battling Parkinson’s disease for more than 19 years.

She was born September 30, 1948, in Dallas, Texas, the oldest of three children born to Douglas and Alene (Knowles) Willis.

Carolyn attended Abilene Christian College where she met James Michael (Mike) Brauer. They were married on June 1, 1968, at Garden Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas, by Dr. Thomas B. Warren, and recently celebrated 57 years of marriage.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband, Mike; sons Steve Brauer of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dave (Jen) Brauer of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jeff (Tia) Brauer of Greenbrier, Arkansas and Jim (Gretchen) Brauer of Denver, Colorado; brothers Gary (Susan) Willis of Fort Worth, Texas, and Carl (Charrie) Willis of Rochester, Minnesota; grandchildren Rosemary Gatliff, Quin Brauer, Ameleah Brauer, Lauren Brauer, Davis Brauer and Kellan Brauer; great-grandson Henry Gatliff; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Carolyn’s life was marked by a devotion to her God and His Son Jesus Christ. She demonstrated this through her deep and abiding love for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandson. She also loved to share the Bible message with young people, developing curriculum and teaching classes for teenage girls for many years in Mabelvale and Beebe, Arkansas. She loved to host slumber parties for them and to take them to the homecoming musicals at Harding University. She also volunteered for a local organization as a teacher for sexual abstinence classes for teen girls in Arkansas. She was a faithful member of Cloverdale Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas.

She grew up in Dallas and graduated from Justin F. Kimball High School. She enjoyed summer vacations with her family in a number of locations, accompanying her father, a Lt. Commander in the Naval Reserve who had served on the USS Iowa in World War II. She also loved playing with her cousins on her grandparents’ farm in Emory, Texas. She was especially fond of her Home Economics classes and put those lessons into practice throughout her life, becoming an excellent homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and paid close attention to ensure that her boys were always fed nutritious meals. She was an accomplished seamstress and artistic quilter. She made and gave away countless quilts and wall hangings and was always looking for young girls whom she could teach to sew. She loved watching her boys participate in baseball, soccer and basketball.

Although she was a naturally quiet person, she made several very close friends who lasted a lifetime and they will miss her dearly-as will her family.

A memorial service will be held January 5, 2026, at Cloverdale Church of Christ. Visitation will be at 10:00am and memorial at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to All As One (allasone.org) or Cloverdale Church of Christ or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Searcy-McEuen Funeral Home.