Carole Sue LaMar Hallam, cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2025, surrounded by love, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born May 17, 1938, in Ellery, Illinois, to Willard and Edith LaMar, Carole was a proud alumnus of a one-room schoolhouse, taught by a lone one-armed teacher—a story she loved to share.
Carole was fiercely independent and a passionate supporter of the LGBTQ community. She served as a board member for AVOL and as an outreach HIV/AIDS educator, dedicating her time and energy to helping others.
Professionally, Carole worked for many years as a bookkeeper and secretary at Berea Community High School, where she formed lifelong friendships with students and teachers. Following her retirement from BCHS, she continued her life’s work of serving others as a Health Care Coordinator for home health agencies.
Carole deeply loved her family and her extended chosen family. She enjoyed traveling across Europe and taking cruises with friends. Her hobbies included knitting, basket weaving, and creating stained glass. Until a few years ago, Carole enjoyed being a winter Texan. She also treasured long visits with friends, often filled with lively political discussions. Always eager to share her knowledge and experiences, she delighted in telling stories of her life, including colorful tales of the southern Illinois Shelton gang.
In addition to her parents, Carole was preceded in death by her beloved son, Scott; her brother, Jimmie LaMar; and her nephew, Jon LaMar. She is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Mike) Farmer and Tina (Steve) Thomas; her grandchildren, Leslie (Brandon) Lilly, Amanda (Blake) Slaughter, and Doug Thomas; her great-grandchildren, Aiden Lilly, Rory Slaughter, and Charlie Slaughter; and her niece, Sherri (Robert) Sampson.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, Aug. 30, from 11 a.m. –1 p.m. at Davis & Powell Funeral Home in Berea. Interment will take place at a later date at the Lexington Cemetery Mausoleum.
Contributions may be made to Bluegrass Care Navigators or the American Cancer Society.
