Carolyn R. Whalen, 70, Hutchinson, died Feb. 26, 2013, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 26, 1942, in Great Bend to Raymond and Melvadean Panting Polson.

She was a 1961 graduate of Rozel High School and a 1962 graduate of Sydney's Hairdressing College in Hutchinson.

She married Pat Whalen on Feb. 1, 1975, in Hutchinson.

As a "forever hairdresser" in Hutchinson, her career included Sid's Salon in the Wiley Building, Hayden's and finally Hair at Random. She was a paraprofessional at Hutchinson High School and chauffeured her husband around the state for his job.

She enjoyed watching tennis, football, basketball and "NCIS." She collected cookbooks and recipes. She enjoyed cooking the traditional prime rib dinner for Christmas Eve and all types of family dinners.

Survivors include her husband, of the home; a son, Matthew, Hutchinson; a daughter, Carolyn Prell and husband, Frog, Superior, Wis.; two sisters, Connie Graves and husband, Kent, Healy, and Cheri Kelley, Hutchinson; three sisters-in-law, Janie Miller, Hutchinson, and Annie Whalen and Nancy Sherman, both of Wichita; and four grandchildren, Kylie Whalen and Landon Powell, Hutchinson, and Finn and Laramie Prell, Superior.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Larry Polson; a son, Jazun; and a granddaughter, Alexa Whalen.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson; burial in Fairlawn Cemetery, Hutchinson.

Visitation will be until 9 p.m. Thursday, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, both at the mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to Via Christi Hospital Burn Unit or to the donor's choice in care of the mortuary.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.elliottmortuary.com.