Carolyn Ann Burt passed away peacefully in her home on October 7, 2024. Born on June 11, 1947, to Harold and Katherine “Kitty” Shannon, Carolyn shared over forty years of love and life with her late husband, Paul Eugene Burt.

For more than thirty years, Carolyn opened her heart and home as a foster parent, welcoming over 1,000 children into her life. To so many of them, she was simply “Mom,” and she created one of the biggest families imaginable—full of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and more. It wasn’t unusual to see foster children from twenty years ago stopping by, remembering fondly the warmth and love they found in her home. Carolyn loved each of her children fiercely and took great pride in their lives and accomplishments.

To an enormous group of children, she was “grandma,” and her home was a place of joy and adventure. It was the house where kids played elaborate games of house in the basement, took joyrides in the golf cart, stole Cherry Pepsi’s from the storage closet, and swung from the backyard tree until they felt like they could touch the sky. As those children grew older, her home remained a safe haven—no matter the time or reason, it was always a place where you could come back, where new generations met grandma and grandpa, and where love continued to grow.

Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of love and a host of family and friends who will cherish her memory forever. She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Eugene Burt; her parents, Harold Allison Shannon and Katherine “Kitty” Shannon; her siblings, Richard Shannon and Connie Shannon; her children, Carol Lee Ryder, Becky Ferguson, Shanne Jonte, Connie Rodriguez; and her grandchild, Journi Maas.

She is survived by her sibling, Harold Gene Shannon and his wife Cece; her children Scott Maas, Jason Maas and his wife Andrea, Adam Burt, Chastity Burt, Roberta Cart, Susan Pavioni, Staci Ellison and her husband Todd, Kelly Burt and his wife Allie, and Stephani Greytak and her husband Larry; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

A private burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials can go to the family, you can send a memorial in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St., Salina, KS, 67401.