William Carroll Fancher Jr.

Carroll Fancher, 86, born November 24, 1928, in San Antonio, passed away quietly in his home in Arbor Oaks, Bryan, Texas. He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, the former Ann Parr. They were married August 12, 1950 in Bryan. He leaves behind son, Bill and his wife, Carol, of Dallas, and daughter, Luann Morris and her husband, Larry, of Greensburg, PA. Also five grandchildren, Robert and Tracy Fancher of Austin, Dan Morris and his wife, Breann, of Houston, Julie Morris of Charlotte, N. C., and Jeff Morris and his wife, Margot, of Badger, CA. and a host of friends made over the years.

Carroll was educated in a small school in Moscow, Texas where his parents, W. C. and Lula, moved when he was very young. He holds degrees from Lon Morris College, Southwestern University, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Southwestern University. His heritage of dedicated Christian living was most evident in all that he did.

Carroll was a Methodist minister and proudly but humbly served his Lord and the church he loved so much, in many different appointments. His first was a 5-point circuit in Freestone County, followed by churches at Holmes Chapel in Palestine, Crosby, Glenbrook in Houston where he was the organizing pastor, Groves, Marlin, Palestine FUMC, and Bryan First United Methodist. His final appointment was First United Methodist, Sugar Land. He served as District Superintendent of the Nacogdoches and Houston Southwest Districts of the Texas Methodist Conference. Upon retirement in 1994, Carroll & Ann moved back to Bryan where he was honored as Pastor Emeritus of First United Methodist Church. He was a faithful member of the Upper Room Sunday School class where he made many dear friends. His records show that he performed 1327 baptisms, 597 funerals, and, when he discontinued keeping count in 2007, there had been 345 marriages. In 1993, he was awarded the Harry Denman Evangelism Award by his conference, which he felt should be shared with his colleagues in Sugar Land.

Carroll served on many boards and agencies of the United Methodist Church beyond the local church. Most notably, he served as Conference Missionary Secretary of the Texas Conference; Board of Trustees of Lakeview Methodist Conference Center; and Board of Trustees of Mount Sequoyah, a conference and retreat center of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference where he was chairman from 1988-1992.

Carroll was always involved in community organizations. He was a Lion, a Jaycee, and a Rotarian, and served as President of Rotary in Palestine in 1971. His most unusual and rewarding community service was four years on the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital in Bryan, where he was Chairman in 1976-77.

Family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. A Celebration of Carroll’s service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Bryan.

Publications include:

• The Autobiography of a Gold Coin in 1987

• Who Am I? An Encounter with Cancer and the Great Physician, published by Dr. Henry Dethloff as An Intaglio Keepsake.

• Memories and Meanderings, Volumes I and II, a limited edition printed by Newman Printing, Bryan, Texas

Floral offerings are always appreciated, but the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to First Methodist Church Endowment Fund or to the Arbor Oaks @ Crestview Residents Association Memorial Garden Fund, (AOCRA - GARDEN) 2505 E. Villa Maria Rd., 77802.