Carolyn Hamrick, fifty-year resident of Nacogdoches, passed away on January 11, 2014. She was 86.
Family visitation will be Thursday, January 16, between 5:00 and 7:00 PM at Cason Monk-Metcalf, 5400 North Street, Nacogdoches, and funeral services will be held on Friday, January 17 at 10:00 AM, at the Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel followed by entombment at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Carolyn was born September 27, 1927 in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas, and was the second child of William David Lemon and Nora Juanita Connor. She graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1945 and then attended Texas Christian University for two semesters. Carolyn married Bill W. Hamrick, also of Sulphur Springs, on January 16, 1949. They had two sons, David and Joe. The family lived for two years in Columbia and St. Louis, while Bill finished his doctorate degree at the University of Missouri, and then moved to Nacogdoches in September 1962 to join the Stephen F. Austin faculty.
Carolyn was a supportive and loving wife for 62 years and a wonderful mother. She was active in the SFA Women’s Faculty Club and worked for the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce before joining Crawford Building Materials as an interior decorator for fifteen years. She loved to collect antiques, play bridge, travel and was a great cook. She loved her family, her many friends and the city of Nacogdoches. Carolyn was devoted to the Westminster Presbyterian Church and in 2001 was honored to receive the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership Award in recognition of faithful service in the church’s work. She faced the adversity of childhood polio and two different cancers with extraordinary courage, strength, and dignity and at the end of her life focused her attention on the well-being of family, friends, and caregivers rather than on herself.
Carolyn is predeceased by her parents, her husband Bill who died January 16, 2011, and her sister Jane Onley of Sherman, Texas. She is survived by son David and wife Kathy Dunn Hamrick of Austin and their children Jacob Hamrick of Brooklyn, NY, and Hannah Hamrick of Austin. Also son Joe and partner Elin L. Ferrell of Lufkin and nieces Kathy Onley of Plano and Patricia Onley of McKinney.
The family thanks the staffs of Magnolia Court Assisted Living and LifeCare Health Services of Nacogdoches for making Carolyn safe, comfortable, and happy in her final years and days. A special thank you to Dana Thorn of Principle Home Health and niece Kathy Onley for providing many weeks of loving care.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that friends make a contribution to the Bill and Carolyn Hamrick Human Services Scholarship at Stephen F. Austin University, by contacting the SFA Alumni Association directly at PO Box 6096, Nacogdoches, TX 75962; or by calling (936) 468-3407; or by going online at www.sfaalumni.com/donations.
Online memories and condolences may be offered at www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com.
