Heiress, Born Carolyn Mary to William Grove Skelly & Gertrude Elizabeth Frank. Her father William would become a famous Oil Baron and Philanthropist, The Founder of the Skelly Oil Company. Her mother Gertrude's Family were part of the Vacuum Oil Company. They Settled in Tulsa what was destined to become the Oil Capitol of the World. She married Freeman W. Burford on May 18th 1926, the newlyweds soon relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, to run the Crystal Oil Refining Corp, a division of Skelly Oil. They had 2 children, William Skelly & Carolyn Burford. In 1932 they moved to Dallas/Fort Worth Texas, Where Ann Burford their 3rd child was born. Carolyn's first grand home was The Rosewood Mansion, now The Mansion on Turtle Creek Hotel & Restaurant. Freeman & Carolyn traded a house & $76,000 in cash to Sheppard King for the Rosewood Mansion. Carolyn was a big spender, and during the great depression she was changing rooms at a whim. Carolyn even had a floor ripped out to have marble installed without advising Freeman, he came home from the oil fields at 3am, only to fall through a hole in the floor to the basement, breaking his leg.
The Rosewood Mansion is where she hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tennessee Williams as well as many other dignitaries, Freeman tiring of the chaos is said to have walked out on Carolyn, they remained separated for several years. she told him come back or else.... he did not return. later he was accused of violating the Connelly Hot Oil Act. according to their oldest daughter that was her mothers Or Else, The Divorce was finalized on Aug 1st 1940. Carolyn's spending problems persisted, she was going thru money, and her father cut her allowance, she and her Youngest daughter Ann were living in the mansion alone, the other children went with their father. She held on to her mansion through WWII. During this decade Carolyn's physical appearance changed, many say it was self-disfigurement, some an accident, or botched plastic surgery no one truly knows exactly what events took place except Carolyn. She fell asleep under a permanent wave machine, burning the top of her head, also known to take radiation treatments to keep blood vessels restricted to look younger. It was common of women of that time and too much exposure caused skin ulcers. Overwhelmed with debt she sold Rosewood Mansion, moving with Ann to a hotel, spending the next several years a recluse and when her skin condition worsened making Carolyn sick her daughter Ann called her grandfather & pleaded with him for help, he sent his plane to get the girls, Carolyn being flown to Barnes Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. They ended up staying in St Louis, Missouri, Carolyn purchased the McMillan Mansion setting up residence until she bought and moved to the Busch Estate.
In 1957 Carolyn's father died and soon after her mother died in 1959, leaving her an inheritance around 2.5 Million Dollars, & a trust fund of Skelly Oil & Socony stock. Carolyn's battle began with her sister Joanna ( Joan ) who had married Harold Stuart, saying the two were using her father's estate to their advantage, the string of lawsuits and Carolyn having them followed caused them to become estranged. She hired Accountant Frank Bono Jr. who helped Carolyn control her spending and create her fortune. They took the dividend checks from 30+ oil companies and only bought Skelly Oil Stock, in 1968 her stock was worth over 13 million, after Getty Oil's takeover her wealth increased, then again after Getty Oil was sold to Texaco, Carolyn only ever spent interest and never principle, never wanting money problems again. Carolyn began to travel she bought a penthouse at the famed River House in New York City, and often staying in the Hamptons & one day while dining one afternoon with Eileen Slocum in Newport, RI. she was shown Bois Dore', the Estate of Elinor Dorrance Hill Ingersoll the Campbell Soup heiress. She purchased the mansion in 1978 and hung a portrait of her father on the grand staircase. Carolyn never remarried, she partied well into her 80's, being seen on the dance floor of many Newport Clubs, they often played "Sweet Caroline" for her. Carolyn had a fabulous collection of jewelry which over the years frequently stolen and its estimated the losses at over $20Million. One day in 1995 being escorted out for the evening Carolyn fell down the stairs requiring surgery, her injuries were severe. Carolyn Skelly Died of Bacterial Pneumonia in her mansion just one week after her Circus Themed birthday party. Funeral Services were held at Trinity Church, in Newport RI.
Bio by: Bobby Kelley
The Rosewood Mansion is where she hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tennessee Williams as well as many other dignitaries, Freeman tiring of the chaos is said to have walked out on Carolyn, they remained separated for several years. she told him come back or else.... he did not return. later he was accused of violating the Connelly Hot Oil Act. according to their oldest daughter that was her mothers Or Else, The Divorce was finalized on Aug 1st 1940. Carolyn's spending problems persisted, she was going thru money, and her father cut her allowance, she and her Youngest daughter Ann were living in the mansion alone, the other children went with their father. She held on to her mansion through WWII. During this decade Carolyn's physical appearance changed, many say it was self-disfigurement, some an accident, or botched plastic surgery no one truly knows exactly what events took place except Carolyn. She fell asleep under a permanent wave machine, burning the top of her head, also known to take radiation treatments to keep blood vessels restricted to look younger. It was common of women of that time and too much exposure caused skin ulcers. Overwhelmed with debt she sold Rosewood Mansion, moving with Ann to a hotel, spending the next several years a recluse and when her skin condition worsened making Carolyn sick her daughter Ann called her grandfather & pleaded with him for help, he sent his plane to get the girls, Carolyn being flown to Barnes Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. They ended up staying in St Louis, Missouri, Carolyn purchased the McMillan Mansion setting up residence until she bought and moved to the Busch Estate.
In 1957 Carolyn's father died and soon after her mother died in 1959, leaving her an inheritance around 2.5 Million Dollars, & a trust fund of Skelly Oil & Socony stock. Carolyn's battle began with her sister Joanna ( Joan ) who had married Harold Stuart, saying the two were using her father's estate to their advantage, the string of lawsuits and Carolyn having them followed caused them to become estranged. She hired Accountant Frank Bono Jr. who helped Carolyn control her spending and create her fortune. They took the dividend checks from 30+ oil companies and only bought Skelly Oil Stock, in 1968 her stock was worth over 13 million, after Getty Oil's takeover her wealth increased, then again after Getty Oil was sold to Texaco, Carolyn only ever spent interest and never principle, never wanting money problems again. Carolyn began to travel she bought a penthouse at the famed River House in New York City, and often staying in the Hamptons & one day while dining one afternoon with Eileen Slocum in Newport, RI. she was shown Bois Dore', the Estate of Elinor Dorrance Hill Ingersoll the Campbell Soup heiress. She purchased the mansion in 1978 and hung a portrait of her father on the grand staircase. Carolyn never remarried, she partied well into her 80's, being seen on the dance floor of many Newport Clubs, they often played "Sweet Caroline" for her. Carolyn had a fabulous collection of jewelry which over the years frequently stolen and its estimated the losses at over $20Million. One day in 1995 being escorted out for the evening Carolyn fell down the stairs requiring surgery, her injuries were severe. Carolyn Skelly Died of Bacterial Pneumonia in her mansion just one week after her Circus Themed birthday party. Funeral Services were held at Trinity Church, in Newport RI.
Bio by: Bobby Kelley
Heiress, Born Carolyn Mary to William Grove Skelly & Gertrude Elizabeth Frank. Her father William would become a famous Oil Baron and Philanthropist, The Founder of the Skelly Oil Company. Her mother Gertrude's Family were part of the Vacuum Oil Company. They Settled in Tulsa what was destined to become the Oil Capitol of the World. She married Freeman W. Burford on May 18th 1926, the newlyweds soon relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, to run the Crystal Oil Refining Corp, a division of Skelly Oil. They had 2 children, William Skelly & Carolyn Burford. In 1932 they moved to Dallas/Fort Worth Texas, Where Ann Burford their 3rd child was born. Carolyn's first grand home was The Rosewood Mansion, now The Mansion on Turtle Creek Hotel & Restaurant. Freeman & Carolyn traded a house & $76,000 in cash to Sheppard King for the Rosewood Mansion. Carolyn was a big spender, and during the great depression she was changing rooms at a whim. Carolyn even had a floor ripped out to have marble installed without advising Freeman, he came home from the oil fields at 3am, only to fall through a hole in the floor to the basement, breaking his leg.
The Rosewood Mansion is where she hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tennessee Williams as well as many other dignitaries, Freeman tiring of the chaos is said to have walked out on Carolyn, they remained separated for several years. she told him come back or else.... he did not return. later he was accused of violating the Connelly Hot Oil Act. according to their oldest daughter that was her mothers Or Else, The Divorce was finalized on Aug 1st 1940. Carolyn's spending problems persisted, she was going thru money, and her father cut her allowance, she and her Youngest daughter Ann were living in the mansion alone, the other children went with their father. She held on to her mansion through WWII. During this decade Carolyn's physical appearance changed, many say it was self-disfigurement, some an accident, or botched plastic surgery no one truly knows exactly what events took place except Carolyn. She fell asleep under a permanent wave machine, burning the top of her head, also known to take radiation treatments to keep blood vessels restricted to look younger. It was common of women of that time and too much exposure caused skin ulcers. Overwhelmed with debt she sold Rosewood Mansion, moving with Ann to a hotel, spending the next several years a recluse and when her skin condition worsened making Carolyn sick her daughter Ann called her grandfather & pleaded with him for help, he sent his plane to get the girls, Carolyn being flown to Barnes Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. They ended up staying in St Louis, Missouri, Carolyn purchased the McMillan Mansion setting up residence until she bought and moved to the Busch Estate.
In 1957 Carolyn's father died and soon after her mother died in 1959, leaving her an inheritance around 2.5 Million Dollars, & a trust fund of Skelly Oil & Socony stock. Carolyn's battle began with her sister Joanna ( Joan ) who had married Harold Stuart, saying the two were using her father's estate to their advantage, the string of lawsuits and Carolyn having them followed caused them to become estranged. She hired Accountant Frank Bono Jr. who helped Carolyn control her spending and create her fortune. They took the dividend checks from 30+ oil companies and only bought Skelly Oil Stock, in 1968 her stock was worth over 13 million, after Getty Oil's takeover her wealth increased, then again after Getty Oil was sold to Texaco, Carolyn only ever spent interest and never principle, never wanting money problems again. Carolyn began to travel she bought a penthouse at the famed River House in New York City, and often staying in the Hamptons & one day while dining one afternoon with Eileen Slocum in Newport, RI. she was shown Bois Dore', the Estate of Elinor Dorrance Hill Ingersoll the Campbell Soup heiress. She purchased the mansion in 1978 and hung a portrait of her father on the grand staircase. Carolyn never remarried, she partied well into her 80's, being seen on the dance floor of many Newport Clubs, they often played "Sweet Caroline" for her. Carolyn had a fabulous collection of jewelry which over the years frequently stolen and its estimated the losses at over $20Million. One day in 1995 being escorted out for the evening Carolyn fell down the stairs requiring surgery, her injuries were severe. Carolyn Skelly Died of Bacterial Pneumonia in her mansion just one week after her Circus Themed birthday party. Funeral Services were held at Trinity Church, in Newport RI.
Bio by: Bobby Kelley
The Rosewood Mansion is where she hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tennessee Williams as well as many other dignitaries, Freeman tiring of the chaos is said to have walked out on Carolyn, they remained separated for several years. she told him come back or else.... he did not return. later he was accused of violating the Connelly Hot Oil Act. according to their oldest daughter that was her mothers Or Else, The Divorce was finalized on Aug 1st 1940. Carolyn's spending problems persisted, she was going thru money, and her father cut her allowance, she and her Youngest daughter Ann were living in the mansion alone, the other children went with their father. She held on to her mansion through WWII. During this decade Carolyn's physical appearance changed, many say it was self-disfigurement, some an accident, or botched plastic surgery no one truly knows exactly what events took place except Carolyn. She fell asleep under a permanent wave machine, burning the top of her head, also known to take radiation treatments to keep blood vessels restricted to look younger. It was common of women of that time and too much exposure caused skin ulcers. Overwhelmed with debt she sold Rosewood Mansion, moving with Ann to a hotel, spending the next several years a recluse and when her skin condition worsened making Carolyn sick her daughter Ann called her grandfather & pleaded with him for help, he sent his plane to get the girls, Carolyn being flown to Barnes Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. They ended up staying in St Louis, Missouri, Carolyn purchased the McMillan Mansion setting up residence until she bought and moved to the Busch Estate.
In 1957 Carolyn's father died and soon after her mother died in 1959, leaving her an inheritance around 2.5 Million Dollars, & a trust fund of Skelly Oil & Socony stock. Carolyn's battle began with her sister Joanna ( Joan ) who had married Harold Stuart, saying the two were using her father's estate to their advantage, the string of lawsuits and Carolyn having them followed caused them to become estranged. She hired Accountant Frank Bono Jr. who helped Carolyn control her spending and create her fortune. They took the dividend checks from 30+ oil companies and only bought Skelly Oil Stock, in 1968 her stock was worth over 13 million, after Getty Oil's takeover her wealth increased, then again after Getty Oil was sold to Texaco, Carolyn only ever spent interest and never principle, never wanting money problems again. Carolyn began to travel she bought a penthouse at the famed River House in New York City, and often staying in the Hamptons & one day while dining one afternoon with Eileen Slocum in Newport, RI. she was shown Bois Dore', the Estate of Elinor Dorrance Hill Ingersoll the Campbell Soup heiress. She purchased the mansion in 1978 and hung a portrait of her father on the grand staircase. Carolyn never remarried, she partied well into her 80's, being seen on the dance floor of many Newport Clubs, they often played "Sweet Caroline" for her. Carolyn had a fabulous collection of jewelry which over the years frequently stolen and its estimated the losses at over $20Million. One day in 1995 being escorted out for the evening Carolyn fell down the stairs requiring surgery, her injuries were severe. Carolyn Skelly Died of Bacterial Pneumonia in her mansion just one week after her Circus Themed birthday party. Funeral Services were held at Trinity Church, in Newport RI.
Bio by: Bobby Kelley
