Martha Carolyn McDavid

Martha “Carolyn” Gates McDavid, age 93, passed on to her eternal home on July 13, 2026. Caroyln was born on June 25,1933, or as she called it “the perfect birthday 6 months from Christmas and 6 months to Christmas.” She was the daughter of the late Samuel Amos Gates and Carolyn Elizabeth Lindley Gates. She was born in Navasota, Texas, but her family moved to the Houston Heights when she was 2 months old. She attended Cooley Elementary, Hamilton Jr. High and Reagan High School. Carolyn spent her teenage years working at the historic Houston Heights library and attending youth activities at Grace United Methodist Church, where she was baptized as a child. She graduated with high honors from Reagan in 1951. After high school, Carolyn worked and attended classes at University of Houston, having to take a number of buses across town to get to class. She transferred to the University of Texas in 1952 to be closer to her childhood friend and high school sweetheart, Donald G. McDavid, whom she married on September 5, 1953. In August 1955, Carolyn graduated cum laude from University of Texas with a bachelor’s in business administration and a teaching certificate in business education. Then Carolyn was off with Donald, as he had been commissioned into the U.S. Army and his time in the service began.

She had nine moves in 10 years across the United States, so Carolyn’s motto became “home is where the heart is.“ The moves slowed and eventually the family lived in Galveston for 10 years before making their permanent home in Houston. Carolyn spent those years involved in military wives’ activities and volunteering in public schools. She held numerous offices in the Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, in addition to teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. On top of that, she was involved in her children’s activities and caregiving. She enjoyed going on cruises and spending time with family at Lake Buchanan. She had many friends far and wide but she especially loved the “Rena Gang,” and her Shangra La housemates from the University of Texas.

Carolyn was very interested in family history and diligently researched it. She was very proud to be a third generation Texan. Her Gates ancestors arrived in Texas in 1821 as part of Austin‘s Old 300, and Carolyn was a member of the Descendents of the Old 300. The Lindleys arrived in Texas in 1833, including Jonathan Lindley, who died at the Alamo. The Goodnights arrived in Texas in 1845. Her Great Great Uncle Charles Goodnight was the famed Texas Panhandle cattle baron of the Goodnight Loving Cattle Trail.

Carolyn took great pride in the accomplishments of her husband and children, whose successes were made possible in no small part by her love and support. Above all, she cherished her role as a grandmother. She is predeceased by her husband, Lt. Col. Donald G. McDavid (Ret.), siblings Emmett W. Butts, John V. Gates, Evelyn E. Elliott, Amos Gates, Jr. and Mary Crawford. She is survived by her children, son Donald Jr. and wife Georgia, son Mark and wife Ginny, son Michael and wife Susan, and daughter Elizabeth and husband David Hodges She is survived by grandchildren Katie McDavid, Lindley McDavid, Josie McDavid, Meagan Hodges, Connor Hodges, Lauren Hodges, and Jason McDavid, and five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to St. Matthews United Methodist Church, https://stmatthewsnow.org/give. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the memory care workers at Grand Living and her longtime caretaker Bertha Mata.

A visitation honoring the life of Carolyn will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home on Monday, July 20, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will immediately follow from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. A Committal Service will then take place at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery beginning at 1:00 p.m. A light reception will follow the committal service at the funeral home.