Carolyn Trelease

Carolyn Lulu Thompson Trelease, of Las Vegas, passed away May 29, 2014. She was born Sept. 19, 1926, to Arthur Roy Thompson and Marian Ingalls Thompson nee Chubbuck, in Pocatello, Idaho. When very young Carolyns parents separated, and her mother, with Carolyn and her sister, Louise Thompson Reindl, moved to Las Vegas. Carolyn attended Fifth St. Grammar School and, when not in school, picked up odd jobs, such a sewing, to help the family. Carolyn graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1943 at 16, where she excelled scholastically, was editor of the 1943 annual, a varsity cheerleader and class treasurer her senior year. Upon graduating, Carolyn was immediately hired as secretary for the Las Vegas Office of the Grazing Service, a Federal agency. A year later, a childhood friend three years her senior, U.S. Army Cpl. Arthur Richard Art Trelease, was in boot camp at Camp Shelby, and proposed marriage over a telephone call. Carolyn eloped to Hattiesburg, Miss. to marry Art Sept. 13, 1944, just before her 18th birthday, and just prior to Art shipping out to the European Theater during World War II. The two were married 54 years until Arts passing, Oct. 30, 1998. Carolyn and Art continued to live and work in Las Vegas. Art was appointed to Las Vegas City Manager 19651976, most during the tenure of Mayor Oran K. Gragson, and retired as a battalion fire chief. Carolyn developed keen secretarial skills, and fell in love with law. Her 25 years as a legal secretary began with David Zenoff, Esq., later a Nevada Supreme Court Justice, and ended with H. M. Buzz Adams, Esq., retiring April 15, 1983 to take care of the health needs of her mother, then her sister and then Art. Carolyn was active in local civic and political affairs, and was awarded Life Member in the Assistance League of Las Vegas. She was kindhearted and lived a very colorful and complete life. She was loved by many and will be missed. She was generous, sharing, charming, witty, loved a good joke and, most importantly, she absolutely adored the cats she had over the years and those of any neighbor. In addition to Art, Carolyn was preceded in death by her mother, May 27, 1986 and sister, April 19, 1997. She is survived by her nieces, Vicki Reindl of Leavenworth, Kan. and Linda Harbert, of El Cajon, Calif. cousins, Della Leathers John and Joanne Leathers, both of New York City, and Lt. Jonathan Leathers, U.S. Army and Godson, R. Todd Beebe, of San Antonio. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Interment will follow. Donations in memory of Carolyn may be made to the Assistance League of Las Vegas, 6446 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146.