Carolyn Abell, age 76, of Grimes and formerly of Murray, Iowa, died Sunday, September 10, 2017, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Private family graveside funeral services will be held at the Colo Cemetery in Colo, Iowa. 

Born July 11, 1941, in Colo, Iowa, Carolyn Lee (McKinney) Abell was one of five children born to Victor and Virginia (Teig) McKinney.  She graduated from Colo High School in 1959.  After attending Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, she married Pete Tresslar on August 7, 1965, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

After Pete’s death Carolyn married Lavel Abell at the Colo United Methodist Church on November 16, 1972.  The couple spent most of their years in Murray, Iowa, raising Quarter horses.

Carolyn is survived by her siblings Keith (Sue) McKinney of Colo, Alan McKinney of Story City, Mary Beth Fleming of Kansas City, MO, and Barbara (Steve) Middendorf of Carroll.  She is also survived by her step-children, Renee Tresslar (Ralph) Sieren, Toni Tresslar (Kerwin) VanWyk, Rita Tresslar, Dan (Cindy) Abell, Cathy Abell (Dan) Tolly, Becky Abell (Larry) Netten, and Randy (Donna) Abell; and several step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Pete Tresslar and Lavel Abell; and two step-sons, Steve Tresslar and Todd Tresslar.

Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Carolyn and her family.  Memorials in her name may be directed to Mainstream Living, 2012 E 13th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Rita Tresslar for her unwavering love and devotion to Carolyn.