Carolyn Loving Read Painter

Carolyn is survived by her three children; Michael, Jonathan and Cindy and their spouses; Carlye, Cari and William; her brother Marshall Leitch, Sister Bertie Via and Sister-in-Laws Evelyn Carroll and Monty Leitch; grandchildren Brycen, Kaitlyn, Emily, Madilyn, Hannah, Nathaniel, Timothy Mashall, Benjamin and due in January, Baby Caroline, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by both her Mother Edith Leitch and Father Powell Leitch Sr, first husband Gerald Read and second husband Ronald Painter, and her Brothers Powell Leitch Jr and Bobby Leitch.

Carolyn was born on March 8th, 1944 in Covington, Virginia to Powell and Edith Leitch. She married Gerald while he was working in Covington at the papermill. Soon after, they moved to Georgia where they had their first child, Michael. After living in Georgia for two year, Carolyn and her husband moved to Texas where they had Jonathan and Cindy. As her children grew up, Carolyn spent her life focused on family and church. She spent years as the secretary of Heritage Presbyterian Church and worked in the daycares and then schools that her children attended. While life was not always easy for the spouse of an Engineer in the boom and bust of the Houston economy, Carolyn always met every challenge with a smile. Carolyn was known and loved as someone who would give and give of herself for the betterment of others. Carolyn loved to sing and a work with children, both her own and those of her extended church family. As her children grew up, her love and support never wavered. Her health was another matter entirely.

In the late 90's Carolyn was diagnosed with liver disease caused by a blood transfusion and placed on the transplant list. As the days and years passed, Carolyn became weaker and weaker as her family and friends came together to support her emotionally and financially. Through all this, Carolyn never let it get her down and in January of 2001 was granted the gift of a new liver and almost 15 more years of life. Carolyn did not waste a minute of those years. During that time she saw her children grow up, graduate from High School and College, get married, have children and live the lives she had brought them up to live. She never wavered and even grew in her love of family, even through the loss of her first husband and then the marriage to her second. To know how much she loved her children and family all you had to do was look in her eyes whenever they were around. She sparkled and glowed. She would talk about her family and all that was going on. She would travel across the city or even across the state to be able to celebrate their victories with them and support them at their losses. As they grew, she let them find their own path, but was always there to support them when needed or as a safe place to come back to. Carolyn loved nothing more than just spending time with her family, even if it was just to run errands or drive around. Carolyn loved to travel and a trip with family was even better.

Carolyn was a fighter and although her mind never stopped, her body did not fight as hard. After being diagnosed with a muscle degenerative disease that slowly caused her to get weaker and weaker, she stopped being able to go and do. She became so sick she could not eat and weak she could barely walk. Yet she still loved to go out and just be with family, sitting back and watching as everybody interacted and the children played. She fought spell after spell of hospitalization and always came back to the family she loved until finally after calling her children together to say goodbye, her body gave out on her, leaving behind that family she has always loved, supported and cared for to wonder just how they will get along without her. But as she allowed her children to grow up and fly, it is now time for us to let her rest and fly to heaven. Carolyn, Mom, Nana, Aunt, Soonie, friend will be missed but never forgotten as she has left an irreplaceable impression on our hearts and lives. And as she watches us all from heaven, she will continue to cheer us on and give us strength.

Carolyn will be missed greatly by her family, friends, and all those who have had the privilege of crossing paths with her. A memorial service is scheduled to be held on Thursday September 24th at 11:00 AM at Cypress United Methodist Church, 13403 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to come and help us celebrate Carolyn's life. The family would like to thank all those who have help support and take care of Carolyn to give her this extra time and a special thanks to those who have helped make the ceremony and reception possible.