Carolyn Ione Creighton

Carolyn Ione Creighton passed away peacefully in her Phoenix, Arizona home on March 31, 2025.  She was born Carolyn Ione Swanlund on August 9, 1934 in a farm house 6 miles North of Gem, Kansas to Carl E. and Maude C. (nee Nichols) Swanlund.  At age 4, the family moved to a farm in the Brownville Community, 14 miles South of Brewster, Kansas.  She attended Brownville until the 8th grade, and then Brewster High School for one year.  When her grandparents needed care, she moved to Colby Kansas to help Anna Doudin's Boarding House care for her grandparents and other residents while attending Colby Community High School.  After graduating in 1952, she started her career as a telephone operator, lasting 35 years in 4 different cities.  One evening, while backing out of the telephone office parking lot, she hit Alex Creighton's car.  He was more interested in getting a date than in settling insurance.  This is how they met and they were married October 25th 1953.  The couple spent 18 years in Lawrence, Kansas, 4 years in Minneola, Kansas and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in December 25, 1976.

Carolyn had a career as a telephone operator.  Starting with 2 ½ years with S.W. Bell in Colby, Kansas.  She then transferred to Lawrence, Kansas and continued with S.W. Bell for 18 more years, 7 of them as a supervisor, teaching others to become telephone operators.  Carolyn also became Head Union Steward where she devoted herself to the advocacy of worker's benefits and working conditions.  Later, in August of 1972, she transferred to Dodge City, Kansas where she worked for over 4 years.  Then, she transferred to Mountain Bell as an operator for 14 years, retiring with 35 years of service from AT&T Communications in Phoenix, Arizona.

She also volunteered as a secretary & treasurer of Trinity United Methodist Church in Lawrence, Kansas for 4 years.  She was baptized in 1968.

Carolyn was a very caring person, she was always there and willing to help anyone in need on a moment's notice.  Carolyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Alex Creighton, Daughter Karen Creighton,  Parents Carl & Maude Swanlund and Brother Delbert Swanlund.  She leaves behind to cherish her memory: Son Glenn Creighton, Daughters Kay Smith and Karla Schmidt, Brother Charles Swanlund, Grandchildren Nathan Barnett, Matt Schmidt, Sara Schmidt and Skye Smith. Great Grandchildren Aiden Schmidt & Madilynn Smith.

A celebration of life will take place at 1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Samaritan Funeral Home, 1505 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.