Carolyn E. Gregory

Carolyn Elizabeth Gregory passed away quietly the morning of Thursday, February 11, 2010. She was born in San Antonio, Texas on October 31st, 1940, a middle child of Margaret Halm Gregory and Malcolm Russell Gregory. Carolyn had Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Texas @ Austin, with additional work done at Arizona State University and the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. Her vocal instructors included Professors Leonard Johnson, Martha Deatherage, and her sister, Peggy Brunner. Carolyn, along with her devoted husband John, was in a horrific car accident on Nov. 14th, 2009. John died that day, but Carolyn made a valiant three-month long effort to recover from her severe injuries. The family would like to thank Dr. Uecker and the staff in the ICU at Brackenridge for the talent, skills, caring and dedication they brought to their efforts to assist Carolyn in her quest of getting well. The wonderful staff at the Texas NeuroRehab Center also became "like family" to Carolyn, who loved them all dearly. Carolyn devoted her life to the teaching and performing of beautiful music. As an elementary music teacher in the Austin schools for 32 years, she was chosen as Teacher of the Year in two different schools. Her ways of bringing children to the creative and joyful aspects of music were truly magical to watch. She was a co-founder, with her sister Mollie Tower, of the Music Memory program, a classical music listening curriculum for elementary children, which is sponsored across the state by UIL. The ideas for the current Music Memory program were shared with them by their father, Malcolm Gregory, and based on his experiences in a program of the same name in the 1920s. The program has also spread to 26 other states including New York and California, and has been taught in Austin for 30 years. As a performer, Carolyn's angelic soprano voice was heard all over Austin – most recently in her Lake Travis Methodist Church choir, and as a soprano soloist with the Silver Strings performing group where she also played the violin. Carolyn and John, a professional pianist, centered their lives on music. They met at a party where he was performing, and performed together hundreds of times throughout their 18 years together. They were members of many different music organizations throughout the area. Carolyn also served as the Choir Director for the Texas Christian Ashram, a summer religious retreat she had attended since childhood. Known for her musical talent, passion for children and animals, sense of humor, and enthusiasm for life, Carolyn was also a Dedicated Dachshund Lover, a committed Democrat, and a travel enthusiast who enjoyed taking trips with John on exotic astronomy adventures around the globe. She is survived by her brother, Russell Gregory and his wife, Kay, of Austin, sister, Peggy Brunner of San Marcos, and sister, Mollie Tower of Austin. Carolyn truly loved and was tremendously proud of her nieces and nephews, Michael Lyn Brunner and wife, Stephanie, of Houston, Gwen Hurst and husband, John, of Austin, Georgeanne Leonard and husband, J.K. of San Antonio, Debbie Tannert and husband, Bobby of Austin, Rusty Gregory and wife, Karen of Austin, Sheryl Maklary and husband, John of Katy, and Garrett Gregory and wife, Deborah of Frisco, Texas. A Service of Celebration of the lives of both Carolyn and John will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 11th at University United Methodist Church, 24th and Guadalupe in Austin with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the United Christian Ashrams, c/o Russell Gregory, #3 Hillside Court, Austin, TX 78746.