The Central City Republican-Nonpareil | January 15, 2026

Carolynn Luce, 70, of Central City, passed away as a result of a car accident on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. We will miss her dearly, but we know, having decided many years ago to trust Jesus Christ as her Savior, she is in His presence now.

A Celebration of Life service was held on Monday, January 12, at Community Bible Church in Central City.

Carolynn was born in Groton, Massachusetts, on January 4, 1956, to Wesley and Elizabeth (Spence) Luce of Hollis, New Hampshire. She graduated from Hollis Area High School in 1974, excelling in basketball and softball.

Carolynn worked for several years at Cromwell Children’s Home in Connecticut. In 2002, she adopted Georgia McCray-Luce, and her life was changed as she dedicated herself to raising Georgia and supporting her future grandchildren. During her Connecticut years, her love of sports included season tickets to UCONN Husky Women’s Basketball games. She was a constant supporter of her grandchildren, nieces’, and nephews’ many activities. She was an avid, dedicated fan, taking every opportunity to encourage them.

In 2010, Carolynn moved to Central City to be closer to her sisters and father. She worked at the senior center and met many new friends.

In 2017, Carolynn began her role as an irreplaceable part of the heart of the Merrick County Child Development Center. Over the years, Ms. Carolynn was like a grandma to so many of the children who had the opportunity to know and love her deeply. Over the last nine years, she touched an extraordinary number of lives as she greeted children as they arrived every day, held them during story time, rocked them to sleep, and helped them with crafts.

Carolynn was a faithful member of Community Bible Church in Central City, serving in Awana, Women’s Ministries, and youth group over the years.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Georgia of Central City; grandchildren, Anisha, Ruxin, Jaxon, Nkenna, Lota, and Empress; brothers, Jim (Jane) Luce of South Carolina, David (Donna) Luce of New Hampshire, Dan (Kelly) Luce of New Hampshire, and Stephen Luce of New Hampshire; sisters, Marilynn (Ed) Ritta of Marquette and Priscilla Milby of Fullerton; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Carolynn was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Elizabeth Luce; sistersin- law, Beverly Luce and Kathy Luce; and brother- in-law, Marty Milby.

To continue Carolynn’s influence on Central City’s children and their families, memorials are suggested to the Merrick County Child Development Center.