Carol Janet Estes

She was born on July 4, 1942, in Crossville, Tennessee to the late Ira & Willie (Baker) Rymer.

Carol had a wonderful childhood while growing up in a close-knit family in Tennessee. Her favorite childhood memories included time spent with her siblings, growing up next to her parents’ grocery store, and time spent at Watts Bar Dam where Carol’s lifelong love of fishing began. Carol was a 1960 graduate of Cumberland County High School and went on to marry a minister. Together they would raise four wonderful children just like she always imagined, while ministering alongside her husband for many years. He preceded her in death.

In 1983, Carol moved to Texas and worked for several years until she met Jerry Estes in 1995 at the Golden Eagle Restaurant. They married and owned the restaurant for many years before retiring. They enjoyed traveling together, especially going on cruises and gambling at any and every casino. Carol would spend hours on the slot machines and had good luck winning most of the time. She also enjoyed cooking and crocheting over the years and was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan.

Carol had a life well-lived and well-loved. She had a zest for life itself and the simple joys that each day brought. Her outgoing personality allowed for her to never meet a stranger. More than anything, Carol cherished her family. Her pride and joy were her children – she loved being a mother, a homemaker, and providing so much to her family. Later on, she was truly a doting grandmother, who adored and enjoyed her grandchildren beyond belief. She leaves behind a legacy of positively impacting the lives around her and will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Estes; brothers, W.T. Rymer and Harold Rymer; and sister, Virginia Newcomb. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Todd & Becky Hedgecoth of Greenville, Texas, Kim & Jim Marcom of Sachse, Texas, Lisa & Greg Bryant of Powell, Ohio, Burke & Marsha Hedgecoth of Atlanta, Georgia; step children, Ronnie & Ann Estes of Valley View, Texas, Greg & Hetty Estes of Flower Mound, Texas, and Tracey Estes of Flower Mound, Texas; 7 grandchildren, Trey Carter, Samantha Hedgecoth, Ethan Marcom, Jimmy Marcom III, Rachel Fields, Kelly Bryant, and Nicole Hedgecoth; brothers, Kenneth Rymer of Beaumont, Texas and Robert & Shannon Rymer of Houston, Texas, and sister, Linda & Ralph Brookhart of Xenia, Ohio; and several other grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends and the love of her life - her beloved dog, Daisy;

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 11:00am in Sparkman Funeral Home, 1029 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson, TX 75081. Interment will be in the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 11:15 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/donate, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.