In Memoriam: Carol G. Elliott, PhD, CRNA (1938-2024)

Carol Geanne Scott Elliott, PhD, CRNA, age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the home of her daughter Dr. Karen K. Trees and son-in-law Bradley W. Trees, surrounded by her loving family.

Dr. Elliott was born November 2, 1938, in the small town of Sedalia, Missouri to James R. and Helen C. Scott, who preceded her in death. Carol was married for over 20 years and was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Elliott (2000). She was a longtime resident of Olathe, Kansas, having had the determination to make a better life for her family by bravely moving them to a once small, obscure town known as Stanley, Kansas, in Johnson County. This is where Carol and Bob built their lifetime home and raised their four children. It was always her desire to give her children a better start in life. Carol couldn’t have imagined how this one pivotal brave and daring move would change the trajectory of all her families’ lives. Carol understood the importance of education. She proudly made sure that all four of her children and 10 grandchildren received a college education. She even developed a few healthcare professionals along the way, giving back to her craft by producing three nurses, two of whom went on to become advance practice nurses like her and one grandchild who became a physician.

Dr. Elliott has been fortunate throughout her years to have had two long, amazing intersecting careers. One in healthcare as a nurse anesthetist and the other as a colonel with the United States Air Force. Dr. Elliott served as chair for the department of nurse anesthesia for nearly four decades at the University of Kansas Health System, a feat rarely seen today. She was described as a long-time, highly respected (and trailblazing!) faculty member, researcher of KUMC and former chair in the School of Health Professions. Dr. Elliott started KU’s nurse anesthesia program, which began first as a certificate program. Through her lengthy career she was able to develop and see the program through to a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), the highest practice degree in nurse anesthesia. Dr. Elliott herself holds a master’s in public health education/administration (MPA) and a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) both from the University of Kansas. Having always advocated for the rights and independence of nurse anesthetists in the state of Kansas for most of her career, she achieved the highest distinction with the University of Kansas, retiring as Professor Emeriti.

She was an innovator in her field, always working on the cutting edge, having dedicated her life to not only educating young minds but making sure she built a future and lifetime career for each of her students to prosper by. She understood well the value of her career choice and how it brought her out of her humble beginnings. Realizing what this kind of career could do for other nurses across the country, she advocated until the end for every nurse and even non-nurses to seek a career choice in anesthesia. She was considered a leader in her field and a strong confident force to be reckoned with, a feminist, rarely backing down, always on a mission. She was a” pull your bootstraps up” kind of person, believing if you get knocked down, you get back up, and keep moving forward.

She served in the United States Air Force from August 29, 1978, until November 30, 1999. Over her 21 years of service, she filed through the ranks from captain, major, to full-bird colonel. She was affectionately handed down the call name “Captain No-Buns” by her dearest and longtime Air Force colleagues. Carol had the luxury of seeing and traveling the world while serving her country. There is no place she has not traveled. She was a member of the 442nd Medical Squadron and the 36th Air Medical Evacuation Squadron flying C-130s most of her career. She served active duty during Operation Desert Storm. Throughout Carol’s time in the Air Force, she fostered and developed many lifetime friendships that she valued till the end of her life and that provided her with many fond memories and stories that probably should not be shared but taken to the grave with her.

Dr. Elliott was an extraordinary woman, mother, Nani, friend, colleague, and academic who lived an extraordinary life sharing her gift of worldliness with her children and grandchildren. She backpacked Europe with her daughter, traveled the US with her granddaughter, cruised the ocean delight introducing her grandson to Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, and funded several school trips across the world for her grandkids. Those who knew her would say she experienced life to the fullest. She was a fearless woman, driven by her own life circumstances as a child, always striving to do and be all that she could be.

Dr. Elliott is survived by her sister, Anne Scott, and brother-in-law, Tommy Barrett. She was preceded in death by her brothers, sister and in-laws Jay W. Scott (Dorothy), Paul D. Scott (Neva) Joyce L. Bruscato (Charles), David L. Scott (Jan). Carol is survived by three of her four children, Kelly Ann Floyd (Jerry), Kimberly Karol Brown (A.C. Jr.) and Dr. Karen Kathleen Trees (Bradley) and preceded in death by her loving son K. Michael Elliott (1996). Carol lived by the motto “that there were no problems that could not be solved,” but the loss of her son was her deepest regret and the only problem she could not solve in her lifetime. Dr. Elliott is also survived by nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, including Afton L. Scheliff (Ryan), Shelby A. Gonzalez (Ryan), Amy Campbell (Damonte), Jonah Campbell, Alexis C. White (Hunter), Elliott G. Brown (Krista), Phoenix K. Kaufmann (Matthew), Cord-Michael Trees (Ali) and Maxwell C. Trees. She was preceded in death by her grandson A.C. Brown III (2011). Great grandchildren include Robert and Tobias Scheliff, A.C. IV and Bennett Brown, Dasha Taylor, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship has been set up by Bradley and Karen Trees, Phoenix and Matt Kaufmann, Cord and Ali Trees, and Max Trees. The family suggests contributions to the Dr. Carol G. Elliott Nurse Anesthesia Scholarship Fund at KU Endowment, PO Box 928, Lawrence KS 66044 or through www.kuendowment.org/give.

The family also wishes to recognize and give special thanks for all who supported Carol and her family through this last year; it truly takes a team. With extra blessings for prayer angels Angie Holland, Lisa Duncan, Sister Odilia-Therese and Father Brian; caregivers Myra Fogarty, Harrietta Williams, Marianne Gormley of Caring Hearts; Caroline Dawson of Age Wise; KC Hospice Nurse Beth and Dana Hanson. Friends, family and colleagues Saundra Barquist, Jeff and Mindy Trees, Quinn Wylie, Michelle Burge, former students Tim Flynn and Marquetta Knight, neighbors Cindy McConnell along with the Masuccis and Fitzgeralds and their beautiful, gregarious children who visited Nani often, making her final days so much brighter.

This obituary was originally published on Dignity Memorial’s website.