Carolyn N. Garrett   

 

      A Celebration of Life was held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, May 10, 2007 at the Peacock Family Chapel for former Odessa, Texas and Lamar resident, Carolyn N. Garrett. Ian Blacker of the Lamar Christian Church will officiate. Interment followed at Fairmount Cemetery.
     Carolyn was born on November 28, 1940 to Edgar W. and Edith C. (Knapp) Andrews at Camdenton, Missouri. She passed away at the home of her daughter at Amarillo, TX on May 6, 2007 following her courageous battle with cancer.
     Visitation for the public will only be held from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM, Wednesday, May 9, 2007 and from 9:00 AM until service time on Thursday. The casket will not be opened following the chapel service.

     The Lord took our Mother’s hand and gently led her to Heaven to be reunited with our Dad on May 6, 2007.
     What can you say when someone so important in your life is gone. Can we convey how our Mom touched our lives and the lives of so many others?
     Our Mom fought a courageous battle with cancer, although at times she felt ill and in pain, she always had a positive outlook for her recovery. When she was told that there was nothing that could be done this time, she faced the news with a brave face and Faith in God. She told us she wasn’t scared and “No Tears”. She knew that she was going to see her Lord and her loved ones that had gone before her and were waiting for her there. Her bravery that was sometimes construed as stubbornness left us with a gift that she was going to be “okay” and so were we.
     Our Mom was the glue that held our families together; she stayed in touch by phone and e-mail with family and friends near and far. If you needed or wanted to know how someone was doing, all you had to do was call Mom. She kept the bonds intact that we could have lost in the daily ins and outs of everyday life.
We can’t speak of our Mom, without talking about her strength also sometimes mistaken for being stubborn. In 2005 with no hair from her chemotherapy and carrying her oxygen, she walked behind her wheel chair completing the Survivors Lap at the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society, she was so proud and we were so proud for her.
She took care of her Sister, her Mother and our Dad while they battled the same disease that ultimately took her from us; she did so with unending love, care and compassion. After losing our Dad, our Mom’s strength carried us through our loss, when in fact she was the one that lost the most.
     We can hear her still….”We need flowers, we need a cake”. Her talents went beyond her abilities to “throw a party”. Her gift of being able to organize and prepare for events provided many people with a very special day to remember. Weddings, graduations, baby showers, birthdays. Beautiful flowers and cakes down to the smallest of details, was her expertise. They were always beautiful.


We learned from our Mom……
That no matter what life throws your way…be strong and do the best you can. Pray and seek God’s wisdom. Tell the ones you love that you love them every chance you get. Love more, laugh louder, cry when you need to, and pray always.

Thank You ...Mom
We love you.

     Carolyn is survived by her children, Danny (Barbara) Garrett of Euless, TX, Ernest (Gloria) Garrett of Odessa, TX, Mary Jane (Lynn) Archuleta, Columbia, UT, Jodi (Joseph) Traugott, Amarillo, TX, Jeff (Patsy) Garrett, Odessa, TX and Dona Meadows also of Odessa, TX. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren; Tammy Van Buren, Trisha Garrett, Troy Garrett, Jimmy Garrett, Lynnie Archuleta, Melanie Caldwell, Troy Archuleta, BJ Archuleta, Kyle Drake, Brandon Drake, Chad Drake, Freddy Vestal, Amanda Vestal, Megan Garrett, Tyler Garrett, J.D Garrett, Tandilynn Coppedge, Casey Meadows, Lindsey Meadows as well as 14 great grandchildren. Her aunt, Maria Hill of Lebanon, MO, sister-in-laws; Pauline (Rufus) Ellis and Irene (David) Shepard of Odessa, Texas and her brother-in-law, Harvey (Joann) Garrett of Hallsville, TX also survives.
     She is preceded in death by her husband, Junior Garrett, son, Kerry D. Schwartz, parents, Edith and Edgar Andrews, sisters; Beverly Wolfers and Kathy Andrews, grandmother, Olive Andrews and a nephew Zeke Fay.