Carrie Lynn Adair

Carrie Lynn Adair passed away in the early hours of September 29th, 2020 after a long illness in Houston, Texas. Carrie was born in Champaign, Illinois to her parents, James Craig Adair and Geneva Elizabeth Deptris Adair on February first, 1948. Her parents had just completed their undergraduate degrees and her father had a mechanical engineering job waiting for him in Kermit, Texas. Carrie lived in Texas the rest of her life.

Carrie was the eldest of the five siblings. The family was raised Roman Catholic, the faith that Carrie would remain devoted to the rest of her life. Her brother Stephen Craig Adair was born 8/6/1949 in Kermit, Texas. The remaining three siblings of Carrie were born in Houston after their father took employment with Shell Oil in the mechanical engineering development section of the corporation. The family settled in Bellaire, Texas and joined Holy Ghost Catholic Church. The three remaining siblings were born in Houston: Maureen (11/4/1953), Lorraine (5/19/1957), and Jeffrey (12/27/1962). Holy Ghost Parish became where every family member then received sacraments, including Carrie’s father who converted later in life.

Holy Ghost Church was also where Stephen’s funeral was held after he was killed riding a bicycle cross-country on 5/27/1969 preparing to enlist in the Marines in California to fight in the Viet Nam War. Carrie kept Steve’s funeral card in her wallet until the day she died because they were so close in age, only eighteen months apart. Her father’s funeral was held at Holy Ghost as well after he died on 8/13/2008 before he was buried in the Veteran’s Cemetery in Houston.

Carrie graduated with honors from Bellaire High School in 1966. She completed her BS and MS at Our Lady of the Lake University in Speech Pathology, a Catholic University in San Antonio, Texas in 1971.

She returned to the Houston area where she helped public school children with speech and language problems, particularly enjoying helping younger children learn to communicate with peers and in the classroom.

The love of her life was Gary “Bear” Parham who introduced her to international travels and European fine art through his employment at the Minel Foundation although they had met on the beaches of Galveston Island where he was born. Secretly married before he passed away in his sleep on 12/31/2005.

Carrie mourned “Bear” for the rest of her days. Carrie never travelled extensively again after Baer’s death. They both shared a love for their animals but Carrie loved ballet, needlepoint, museums, art and every kind of music. She was devoted to her parents but very independent. She became increasingly shy with age but new friends were always there to help her. Smoking was her only secret vice.

Carrie is survived by her 3 following siblings (and their spouses) Maureen Adair MD (John Hertenberger PhD) in Austin, Texas, Lorraine Hooper (Kenneth Hooper) in The Woodlands, Texas, Jeffrey Adair (Ona Adair) in Houston, Texas.

Carrie is also survived by many Nieces and Nephews, Kelly, Stephen, Katy, Rachel, Kristy, Karly, Samuel, Madison , Jimmy , Reed, Alex, and Derek., well as grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Myles, Isadora, Mabel, Jamie, Tiberius and brand new James who arrived six days after Carrie passed away.

Carrie’s Family would also like to thank Carrie’s wonderful lifelong friend, Mary Paladio of Denver, Colorado but soon to be resident of Asheville, North Carolina.

Carrie’s Family would also like to thank Julie Reyser MD, Carrie’s physician for the last almost 4 years. Dr. Reyser made herself available at all times to help make Carrie as comfortable as possible.

Carrie’s Family also thanks Carrie’s companion of many years, Griselda Avalos- Garcia who would spend 30-40 hours a week to help Carrie feel warm and comfortable and help her communicate with those close by, eat meals in the dining room, or go outside to enjoy beautiful weather! Carrie’s final days and nights became better because of Griselda’s care. Sadly, after COVID-19 came and it was impossible for Carrie to see the people who loved her the last 6 months of her life but Griselda would call to check with family to see how Carrie was doing and was able to successfully feed Carrie her last meal ten days before she died.

Carrie would prefer all donations go only to the American Humane Society.