Mrs. Carolyn Smith Earehart, 74, of Covington, left this earth on Christmas Day, 2017, after a long illness.
Carolyn was born Aug. 2, 1943, in Covington, a daughter of the late R. Frazier and Reba (Cross) Smith.
She graduated from Covington High School in 1960. She also married William F. “Bill” Earehart, Jr. that year. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of that marriage in 2010, shortly before Bill died in July.
Carolyn had two small children when she decided to earn a degree in education from Concord College. Bill stayed in Covington, working at Westvaco, and Carolyn took off to Athens, WV, with kids in tow. There she completed her four-year degree in three years and graduated magna cum laude.
Carolyn’s first teaching job was at the former Alleghany County High School where she taught history. She would go on to hold other jobs in the education system, but she particularly loved those early years, and was especially close to those early classes.
She would return to higher education to earn two master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, one in administration and the other in counseling. She became a guidance counselor at Alleghany and eventually retired in 1998 after many years as an assistant principal.
Carolyn took a break from education for a short period of time and worked in the Outreach program with Social Services and upon retirement, she served for a short-time as an Alleghany County Magistrate. She also taught ASAP classes for nearly a decade.
She was involved in the community in a number of ways. She was a former chairman of the board of Dabney Lancaster Community College, a past president of the Covington-Hot Springs Rotary Club where she had multiple Paul Harris honors, and was a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society for women educators. She served on the board of the Alleghany Highland Arts Council and also was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Covington where she previously served as deacon and elder. In 1995, she was named Covington Business Professional Woman of the year.
Carolyn loved nothing better than deep conversations with lots of laughs. She loved the mountains and the ocean, and always kept her eyes on star-studded night skies. Her family was most important to her and they will have many memories of her bright mind, ferocious spirit and generosity- she will live on through them.
She is survived by her children, Cindy Earehart Rinker (Kenny) of Woodstock and Scott F. Earehart (Carrie) of Clemmons, NC; granddaughter, Gracilyn Earehart of Clemmons and step-granddaughter, Olivia Rinker Donald (Webb) of Draper and two step-great-grandchildren, Grace and Samuel, also of Draper. Also surviving are her sister, Ruth Ellen Ayers (Emmett) of Vinton, nieces, Elizabeth Ayers of Salem, and her aunt, Jean C. Rice of Oakwood Forest.
The funeral will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, December 29, 2017, from the chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Rev. Jamie B. Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
The family will received friends from 12:30 P.M. until time of service at Loving Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jackson River Enterprises, William F. Earehart, Jr. Center.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Carolyn Earehart (Smith), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.