July 25, 1940 –

May 28, 2023

Carol was born in New Jersey to Nellie and Leon Hood. She attended a summer course at Harvard to learn the Dari language and spent a year in Afghanistan with her parents before she attended college. It was in college at Middlebury where she met her husband, Michael Henderson. She and Michael went on to Teachers' College at Columbia University in New York City where they both received Masters' degrees. Carol taught the English language in Kabul, Afghanistan and Tripoli, Libya in the late 1960s. She returned to the U.S. with Michael when he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received his Ph.D. in Linguistics. Carol moved to Lawrence in 1975 when Michael was hired to be the Director of the Applied English Center at KU. Carol worked at the KU Language Laboratory in Wescoe Hall as Assistant Director for a number of years and then decided to pursue her creative passions. She attended courses at KU in Industrial Design and Art. The creative skills she honed at KU were on full display in the work she did for the Lawrence Humane Society and Douglas County Democratic Party. She wrote a column for the Journal-World about pets called "You and Your Pet."

Carol loved animals and worked tirelessly with the Lawrence Humane Society to raise money for the new facility. She and Michael were both active in the Douglas County Democratic Party–he computerized the mailings and she created designs for many of the yard signs of successful local candidates.

Carol was a loving wife and caregiver for Michael who passed away in April 2018. Carol spent the last five years at Neuvant House, in the company of her beloved cats. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Lois Sastry. She is survived by her niece and nephew, Anjali and Narayan Sastry and their families.

A celebration in memory of both Carol and Michael Henderson will be held on what would have been Carol's 83rd birthday, Tuesday, July 25th from 5:30 to 7pm at 1101 Ohio, Lawrence, Kansas. Friends are asked to bring their memories of the Hendersons to share at this gathering. Carol and Michael's cats, Basil and Charlie, would like for you to come.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World from Jul. 15 to Jul. 16, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Carol Henderson

3 Entries

Kim Luce

August 8, 2023

Just last week I heard about Carol's passing, and I'm so sorry I didn't know in time to come to her celebration of life. I only knew Carol in the last several years, because she and my mother moved into the West House of Neuvant within a week of each other. I loved reading about all of her life accomplishments here, since she had only been able to tell me that she'd been a teacher, had two cats, and was from New Jersey. What an amazing, accomplished, talented and generous woman she was! I have wonderful memories of Carol during the time she and my mother were housemates (2018-2022), most notably the way she would harmonize with every familiar song even when the words were long gone. My favorite Carol quote, whenever she wasn't impressed with lunch or dinner, was "This tastes like nothing." My husband and I still use this Carol quote for anything bland. :) Thanks for all of your love and care for her and the cats over the years, Joe. You and Marci were amazing friends to her.

Nancy Marie Wood

August 4, 2023

I remember Carol's delightful sense of humor and her kind-hearted frankness. She was sometimes like a wise older sister to me. She was a very talented artist and seamstress and an entertaining correspondent. Just before I learned of her passing, I had come across the tiny pelt she'd crafted out of "magic mouse skin", a taupe velour fabric she had made a dress of. (It looked like a tiny mouse-skin rug.) I had squirreled it away among my treasures to remind me of her delightful sense of whimsy. Though Carol has passed from this life, many happy memories of her remain. May she rest in peace.

Barry & Cathy Molineux

July 15, 2023

Carol and Michael were our next-door neighbors. We met them when we moved into our house in 2006. Carol was welcoming to us and we often talked together across the fence about different topics--art and architecture, politics, and daily life. We were always impressed by her regard and support of Michael, her interest and care in plants, trees, and nature, and her great love of her cats. We enjoyed some good meals together over our years of association. We missed her in the neighborhood when she moved to a supportive living facility. We have been grateful, as well, for the long-time support of her close friends, Joe and Marci.

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