Carole Ann Brown

She was born on October 12, 1939, to Rose and Bill Hatler and grew up in Kessler Park. Her mother greatly influenced her lifelong love of the arts, enrolling her in dance, piano, and violin lessons. Alongside music, Carole Ann also learned practical skills such as typing and shorthand-skills for which she remained deeply grateful to her mother throughout her life.

Carole Ann graduated from Sunset High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation, she used her secretarial skills in the oil and gas industry and in professional services, ultimately concluding her career as Executive Secretary to Lamar Muse, CEO of Southwest Airlines.

Carole Ann and Dick Brown were married on Oct 28, 1972, and spent their honeymoon in Hawaii, the first of many trips to the islands.

After living in Austin for four years, the Brown family returned to Dallas in 1982. It was then that Carole Ann began devoting her time and energy to nonprofit service organizations. She served on the boards of the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, the Dallas Museum of Art League, KidneyTexas, Inc., the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, and Mes Amies. She was also an avid supporter of the Turtle Creek Association.

She was the chairman of The Great Gatsby Ball and the inaugural chairman of Mad Hatter's Tea Party, both fundraisers for the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum. In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Carole Ann received the Women's Council Annual Leadership Award in 2015, the Founder's Award in 2016, and was the Honorary Chair of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in 2021. She and her husband provided endowment gifts for the East Entrance and for the Circle of Honor located in "A Woman's Garden" of the Dallas Arboretum.

In 1986, she chaired the March of Dimes Gourmet Dinner and later the Northwood University Gala.

In addition to nonprofit work, Carole Ann became interested in selling real estate and eventually obtained a Real Estate Broker's License. Later, she earned her Registered Professional Designer License. Her greatest achievement was consulting for two airlines - Muse Air and American West Airways. For them, she coordinated the color designs of both the aircraft interior and the gate area. Also, she designed the uniforms for the cabin attendants and the captains.

Carole Ann and her husband Dick-known lovingly to their grandchildren as "Mame and Pops"-shared a deep love of travel and adventure, They planned countless trips with their two grandsons, visiting destinations across the United States, including Hawaii, New York City, London, and Berlin. In New York, their favorite restaurant was La Grenouille, where Carole Ann was known to push the policy of "If they are less than 12 years old, leave them at home." Dining at La Grenouille became an annual tradition, where Captain John Pierre warmly served them.

Travel was the great passion Carole Ann and Dick shared for over 40 years. They explored Asia and many European cities together. Their favorite destination was St. Petersburg, Russia, which they visited annually for six consecutive years, traveling each February or March to enjoy the quiet of winter. Each two-week visit was filled with culture: Carole Ann attended as many as 10 to 12 operas, along with several philharmonic and ballet performances-surely with her mother smiling down upon her. Dick typically joined her for a few performances (though never Wagner), otherwise enjoying quiet evenings watching reruns of Law & Order on his iPad in their hotel suite. Shortly before her death, they enjoyed their 40th cruise, this time on a brand-new ship with Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Carole Ann is survived by her beloved husband, Richard L. Brown; her sons, Fred Skidmore and Todd Skidmore, and his wife, Loralie; her cherished grandsons, J.T. and Caleb Skidmore, along with his wife, Maddie, and former daughter-in-law Robin Skidmore. Carole Ann was very thankful to Buddy and the devoted team of caretakers who kept the Brown home beautiful inside and out.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her cherished feline companion, Shamir, and approximately ten White Royal Mute Swans that graced the lake in front of the Browns' home for nearly fifteen years.

A memorial service will be held on April 28th, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Sparkman Hillcrest

Chapel, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy.

Carole Ann requested that memorials be made to any of the nonprofits listed above or a charity of your choice.