She attended Ward-Belmont Jr. College in Nashville, Tennessee, Rice University in Houston, and the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Carmalee was gifted with many artistic talents. She studied oil painting at the Museum of Fine Arts as a young child, but she remembered her father’s teachings to understand business and give back to the community.
She volunteered and served numerous organizations such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Theatre Under the Stars, Houston Humane Society, Leukemia Society, Watercolor Art Society, University of Houston Moores School of Music, Women’s Institute, Rice University Historical Society, Girls Cotillion of Houston and the Houston Grand Opera.
In 1991, Carmalee was selected as the recipient of the Northwood University Volunteer of the Year Award where she was also honored as one of their Distinguished Women of the Year. She then became chairman of the Houston Women’s Board. In 1993, the Women’s Club of Houston honored her as one of “Houston’s Pioneer Women and Today’s Leaders.”
She earned a Texas real estate license in 1975. After many years of designing, she coordinated the construction of her former home on Pelham Drive.
Her civic involvement has encompassed politics. She was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, the Magic Circle Republican Women’s Club, the Houston Property Rights Association, Citizen’s for Immigration Reform, and was a frequent Harris County election worker.
Carmalee had a strong passion for cooking and entertaining. To pursue her interests in foods, she attended Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, England.
She had a special interest in her home and flowers. She was a member of the River Oaks Blossom Club, having served as president in 2002-2003. She was also a member of the Garden of the Season Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Michael J. DeGeorge, her sister, Ursula DeGeorge Simpson, her sister-in-law, Bernice DeGeorge, nephew, Michael Wayne DeGeorge and a niece, Sandra Lucas Malone. Survivors include her brothers, Gasper M. DeGeorge and James B. DeGeorge. Nieces, Gayle DeGeorge, Sharon DeGeorge Dawson (Gary) and Cynthia DeGeorge Muncie (Alex); nephews, James B. DeGeorge, Jr. (Jane), Gregory A. DeGeorge (Becky), Lance C. DeGeorge, Sam J. Lucas (Melanie) and Lynn K. DeGeorge (Jamie). Other survivors include numerous grandnieces, grandnephews and their children.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Clarewood House for the care given to Carmalee in the last two years. A special thanks to the administrators, nurses and care staff of the extended care unit.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening, on Thursday, the 1st of May, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A funeral service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 2nd of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, with Rev. Douglas J. Guthrie, Parochial Vicar at St. Michael’s Catholic Church officiating.
A private family entombment will be held in the DeGeorge Family Mausoleum at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS160, Houston, TX, 77030; The Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX, 77005; or the charity of one’s choice.
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