Carolene Callahan Herbel

Carolene Callahan Herbel was born in Kansas on June 29, 1930, and passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023 at the age of 92. She was a proud mother, loving wife, and true artist, inspired by her love of New Mexico. Carolene met her husband, and first love Carlton, while attending college at KSU. After graduation they moved to Las Cruces where they raised their 2 children, Belinda and Kurt.  In 1978, she took her love for fashion and design and opened Carolene de Mesilla, a designer clothing business in the heart of Old Mesilla. She retired from the store after 20 years. After retirement, she focused on painting, which was always a passion of hers. Carolene moved to Taos with her daughter Belinda in 2008. She continued her painting and became a devoted “Taosena” by capturing the scenery, architecture and people in her art. Carolene is survived by her daughter Belinda Herbel, son Kurt Herbel and wife Mary Anne, niece and nephews, Dixie and Jon Robechaud, Pat Callahan, Janet Scudder and numerous others, grandchildren, Kelly and husband Marc Western, Melanie Zimmerman, Stella Mazikowski and Leslie Bobb, great grandchildren, Gus and Jocelyn Western, Scarlett and Julian Zimmerman, Jack Bobb and Shane Kriete. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Taos CAV. The family of Carolene Callahan Herbel has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos.  866-657-4019 www.devargastaos.com