Carolyn Kling Keech Obituary Carolyn Dorothy Hawkins Kling Keech was born November 28, 1932, in Montrose, Colorado, to Gladys and Harlan Hawkins, the sixth of seven children. She passed away suddenly February 14, 2025, at Saint Alphonsus hospital in Boise. At age five, she moved to Nampa, Idaho, with her Mom, her sister Anita, and her brother Curt. While Gladys earned a teaching degree at Northwest Nazarene College, Carolyn worked at the college hospital to help pay for her schooling. This began her love and support for what became Northwest Nazarene University. In 1947, Carolyn moved with her family to Kuna. During her early high school days, she met a handsome young man named Jim Kling Jr. just home from the war. They married on November 12, 1949, at the home of Jims parents, Josephine and James E. Kling Sr. Jim and Carolyn began life together in Nampa where they brought their first two children into the world, Jimmy and Cathy. Then they moved to King Hill, where Jim worked on the Union Pacific Railroad as a signal maintainer. Here, their youngest child, Cheryl, came along to complete the family. Early on, Jim and Carolyn established their Christian home, praying and reading the Bible and faithfully attending the Church of God Seventh Day in Meridian. Jim and Carolyns love for God, people, and music filled their home with music parties. They often sang specials together at church. They also welcomed overnight guests from church, Jims job, or wherever. Jim happened to randomly find a new friend. This kept their home full of music, stories, games, laughter, and excitement. Always the gracious hostess, Carolyn could quickly pull together or expand a family meal at a moments notice. Her family loved her fried chicken, and her delicious preparations of wild game birds and venison. Carolyn loved laughing and holiday festivities, hosting her extended family and spoiling everyone with bountiful spreads of delicious food. Most of all, Carolyn loved God. In addition to participating in weekly church services, Jim and Carolyn were active in their local and National Assemblies, attending the annual Camp Meeting in Meridian, along with many youth camps and church business meetings in the Northwest. Although she worked briefly as a beautician, her love for cooking, homemaking, and connecting with people ignited a new passion sales. She first sold cookware sets to women all over the Glenns Ferry area, and quickly became successful at this, earning top honors in her company. Jim soon joined her in marketing when they found an opportunity to sell soap and cleaning products. They became a great marketing duo, trying many ventures including selling real estate and car products. They moved to Meridian in 1969 to be closer to church and business, and Jim quit his job on the railroad to work full time with Carolyn in sales. In 1982, Jim found another new business opportunity when he was introduced to Barleygreen, a healthful barley grass juice concentrate. He was excited about this new product and pulled together people and resources to become the founder of the AIM Company, which has been in Nampa since 1982. Carolyn was reluctant at first, but she was soon won over by the health results she experienced personally and witnessed in others. Off they went on this new journey putting on hundreds of AIM meetings all over the US to help people with their health and finances. They worked hard for many years and reaped the rewards. They earned top honors in AIM, being inducted into the Chairmans Club in 1995, awarded Principal Founders of AIM, and receiving many other rewards over the years, including free trips in the US and Canada. Carolyn continued her AIM business after Jim retired, eventually opening an office in downtown Nampa. Her daughter Cathy came to help her manage her business in 1998. They worked together for 21 years, helping people with their health, teaching, and traveling together. Along the way, they made many valued friendships with the wonderful AIM members. In 2000, they wrote a book together titled, "Turning Green Into Gold," which detailed her business journey and plan. Carolyn has always been an active community member, starting early on with PTA and the Nampa Chamber of Commerce, attending luncheons until her death. In 2000, Carolyn was chosen by the Idaho State Treasurer as one of four leading Idaho businesswomen honored at the Everywoman Money Conference. She earned a Nampa Chamber of Commerce Sustaining Member award, was chosen as a finalist for the Better Business Bureau of SW Idaho Integrity Counts award, and was presented with the God and Country Faith, Family, and Freedom award in 2018. In 1976 Carolyn and Jim bought a large property in Round Valley, which fulfilled a lifelong dream for them both. Now, they had their own mountain retreat to share with family and friends. They started the annual Round Valley Camp in the late 1970s, which continues, along with other retreats, and lots of family gatherings. After 66 years together, Jim sadly passed away in 2016. Carolyn was comforted during this time by many family members and friends, including Harold Keech who she had known for many years through Grace Notes Choir, where they both had been members with their spouses. When Harold pulled up to choir practice in his Porsche, she knew she had to go for a ride and learn more about this kind and gentle man. They married on February 24, 2018. She quickly embraced Harolds family members as her own, loving and caring for them as her own. Carolyn and Harold enjoyed a rich, full companionship during their almost 7 years together, singing in choir, attending NNU basketball games, hosting and attending family events, recuperating at her ranch, and traveling. They established a Christian home, faithfully attending both Carolyns church, Living Grace Community Fellowship, and Harolds church, Nampa First Church of the Nazarene, loving and serving God and others. Throughout her life, Carolyn continued to be a beacon of good health, sharing her zest for life and her AIM products to everyone around her. One of her great joys was working out weekly at her grandson James IV and his wife Christines gym, Body Basics in Boise. Carolyn deeply loved her family celebrating each birthday and attending every possible event. The highlight of her year was hosting an annual Christmas Eve celebration which brought all her family members together to enjoy one anothers company over a bowl of her salmon chowder. Most of all, Carolyn was loyal to God, family, church, business, and community. She forgave others easily, made everyone feel included, and was hard working and gracious. She was always there supporting and encouraging each family member, business partner, and friend. She leaves a deep hole in our hearts and will be greatly missed. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys Rider and Harlan Hawkins, her four brothers, Dale, Paul, Ralph, and Curtis, her sister, Isla Van Meter, and her husband Jim Kling Jr. She is survived by her husband Harold Keech; her sister Anita Hays; her three children, Jim III and Debbie Kling, Cathy and Russ McCrea, Cheryl and Jeff Towery; eight grandchildren, Ben and Cassie McCrea, Rusty and Cindy McCrea, James IV and Christine Kling, Joshua and Karen Kling, Krista and Shad Ellis, Jessica and Kalen Hruza, Jason and Ameido Towery, and Janae Towery; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Lori and Tom Bowman and Jeri and Doug Edwards; 2 sons-in-law, Rick and Carol Beth Lowell and Bob and Melinda Rose; nine step grandchildren, Shara Rose, Megan Cobb. Josh and Bekah Rose, Lindsey Lowell, Kristy and Kyle Caprai, Merry and Bryce Miller, Wendy and Ryan Donoho, Taylor and Katie Edwards, and Alison and Joey Willard; 21 great-step grandchildren and two great-great-step grandchildren. Carolyns family and friends will host a Celebration of Life service at College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, on Friday, March 7, at 3:00 p.m. MST The service will be LiveStream on Nampa College Church's Facebook page. Click Here for LiveStream Arrangements are under the direction of Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave South, Nampa Idaho, 83651. Memorial donations may be made to Open Arms Home, PO Box 2198, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 www.openarmshome.com Services Celebration of Life Friday March 7, 2025 3:00 PM Nampa College Church 504 E. Dewey Ave Nampa, ID 83686