Betty was born on December 21, 1927, to Gladys (Jerry) May Mann and Alva Emmett Sullivan in Amarillo, Texas. The family later moved to Bristow, Oklahoma where she graduated high school. She then enrolled at Texas Technological College where she met the love of her life in our father Robert L. Carr, M.D. After marrying in 1948 they moved to Dallas where Robert earned his medical degree. After residency in pediatrics they returned to Lubbock and started our family.
Betty was committed to her husband and children but also to the Lubbock community. She served in many roles at First United Methodist Church over her life. Her favorite position was as church historian/archivist detailing the history of the church. She loved learning the history of FUMC and all the personal stories of its members. She also served on many boards and with organizations too numerous to mention. Her love of books served her well with the Friends of the Library where she was a life member. Our family hosted several international students from the university and young student military pilots from Reese Air Force Base. She loved dressing up in period costumes and serving as a reenactor at the Ranching Heritage Center. She belonged to many historical societies across West Texas and New Mexico. She was a founding member of the Auxiliary to the County Medical Society. In raising her two sons and daughter she provided leadership in Cub and Boy Scouts and with Camp Fire Girls. In 1963 our family was named “Family of the Year” by the Bayless Elementary School. In 1991, she was Altrusa's Woman of the year. In 2015 she received, along with her husband and son Brian, the George H. Mahon Lifetime Community Service award from the local chapter of Women in Communication.
She and our father welcomed children, Robert Vincent Carr in 1952, Brian David Carr in 1957, and Julie Beth (Carr) Coffern in 1962. While caring for us, she sought out even more goals. In 1975, after having left college in 1948 to help our father through medical school, she decided to return to college. From 1975 to 1980 she studied English and earned her B.A. in English Magna cum laude. She sat right next to her son Brian (B.A. Psychology 1980) and refused to stand up when the proud parents of the graduates were asked to stand saying “I would be the only one down here on the floor to do that”. Not satisfied with just one degree she later earned her M.A. in History from Texas Tech University in 1988. She was later awarded “distinguished Alumnus” by the History Department in 1992. Of course her academic performance was a 4.0. She never lost her love of learning and remained active in her studying and research until the very end.
However, her attainment of so much service and study is only a small part of who our mother was. To state it simply: our mother was “always there” for her family and friends. Her “secret room” at the house contained scraps of poster board and boxes full of crafts and other materials just waiting for a new project. She hosted many social gatherings and enjoyed being part of the Lubbock community.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Geneva Underwood and by her husband Robert L. Carr, M.D. She and Bob were married for 72 years. She is survived by her sons, Robert V. Carr, M.D. and his wife Christine, Brian D. Carr, Ph.D. and his wife Suzanne, and her daughter, Julie B. Coffern, R.N. and husband Al. Betty loved all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren numbering over 40.
Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church parlor (1411 Broadway, Lubbock) from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2022. A memorial service will be scheduled for Friday, June 3, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church sanctuary. Any personal notes to share with the family can be emailed to Brian Carr at [email protected]. Donations may be made in honor of our mother to the South Plains Food Bank or to First United Methodist Church 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 for “Betty Carr”.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com for the CARR family.
Poem for Mom
Legacy of Love
A wife, a mother, a grandmother too,
this is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
you gave us strength,
you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
and in your heart,
you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace,
you've earned your sleep,
your love in our hearts,
we'll eternally keep.
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