It is with great sadness that Audubon members and friends lost a dear friend and integral member of HSV Audubon, Carolyn Minson.
Carolyn had many friends in Hot Springs Village and mentored many newcomers.
This is what Chris Cash had to say about Carolyn:
“It was with great sadness that we heard Carolyn Minson had passed away peacefully on Friday, September 8, 2023. Carolyn was one of the shining lights of HSV Audubon for many years.
Carolyn was raised in Oklahoma. She had a career as an educator and counselor. She was married to Walt Minson, and they lived for many years in California. She had one stepson, Christopher.
Carolyn became very active in Audubon when she arrived in HSV. Her teaching and counseling talents were evident and well used in service to HSV Audubon. She served as field trip leader, vice president, president a couple of time, communications guru, and much more. She was the voice of history at many Audubon board and regular meetings. She was a mentor to many of us who subsequently took leadership roles in HSV Audubon. She truly helped guide our Society and many of us to where we are today.
She was an avid birder beyond the confines of HSV. Carolyn went on many birding trips abroad and throughout the USA. She served as president of the Arkansas Audubon Society. She was active in the Native Plant Society. She planned her gardens to contain pollinators and milkweed for Monarch butterflies – which she also raised from caterpillars. Carolyn lived what she preached when it came to protecting and nurturing the environment.
She will be greatly missed.”
And Vic and Sharon Prislipsky also spoke about their friendship with Carolyn:
Carolyn Minson
“We found our retirement home in Hot Springs Village in 2008, and one of our top priorities was creating an outdoor space that would be bird friendly. We were immediately referred to Carolyn Minson, whom everyone said was the number one birder in the Village. After a brief phone chat with Carolyn, we knew we would have to “up our game” as birders. It was obvious that Carolyn was not only a tremendous source of information but was also very particular about all things concerning our avian population.
Over the years we came to not only respect and admire Carolyn, but also to count her as a dear friend. She was a dedicated steward of the environment in general and committed to protecting the environment in Hot Springs Village. The area surrounding her home was designed for native plants and pollinators. She faithfully rescued Monarch caterpillars from her milkweed patch and raised them in safe habitats, accomplishing high rates of survival and release into the wild. She was generous with her knowledge about birds, inspiring us to create several pollinator gardens around our home, and teaching us how to raise and release Monarch butterflies.
Carolyn Minson
As her health declined, we visited Carolyn more often. We came to know her sentimental side as she reminisced about birding field trips we shared, and what we would like to plant in our gardens in the coming seasons. She was an avid reader, so we often discussed books. She truly valued friendship and appreciated those of us who shared her love of the natural world. She will be sorely missed.”