Carolayne Holley

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Carolayne Elizabeth Holley, 67, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by her family.

A memorial Mass will be held at 5:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Iberia. There will be a celebration of her life beginning at 4 p.m. on November 30, 2023, at Kaleidoscope Inn in Nipomo, California. Another celebration of her life will be held at a later date in New Iberia.

Carolayne was a native of Gulfport, Mississippi. Her family moved to New Iberia in 1959 and she graduated from Mt. Carmel Academy in 1973. She worked her way through college graduating from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and going on to receive her master’s degree in geology at Texas A&M University. She moved to California to work in the oil industry, becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer. She and her husband Kevin operated the historic Kaleidoscope Inn in Nipomo, California where they also hosted weddings, owned and published a bridal magazine and held many bridal shows in Central California.

Carolayne was a proud Louisiana woman living in California. She brought a Louisiana lifestyle to California where she shared our food, music and dance. She made many friends throughout the country who were drawn to her joy of life and vibrant spirit. Throughout Carolayne’s battle with cardiac sarcoma these friends and her family supported her through their prayers and presence. She loved life and fought hard until the end to overcome her illness.

She is survived by her sisters Shirley Broussard (Cecil) of New Iberia and Tonda Delahoussaye (Rene’) of Denham Springs; aunt Elaine Holley of Gulfport, Mississippi; and many nieces and nephews of Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. She is also survived by her former husband Kevin Beauchamp of California; and stepdaughters Rebecca Beauchamp of California and Charlotte Beauchamp of England.

She was preceded in death by her parents John Holley Jr. and Kathryn Holley Falcon; stepfather Frank Falcon Jr.; and brother John Holley, III.