Carol Bauknight Bishop

Carol was born on September 1, 1935 in Victoria, TX to James Merchant Bauknight, M.D. and Margaret Mingus Bauknight. She lived a very full and rich life, beginning with an idyllic childhood spent growing up with an older sister, two brothers, and many dear life-long friends in the small, close-knit community of Ganado, TX where she attended and was confirmed in the First United Methodist Church of Ganado. As she always stated, in a small town one needs to be involved in everything, so in high school Carol played basketball and volleyball, performed in the band playing the clarinet and acting as drum majorette. She graduated as Class Valedictorian at age 16 from Ganado High School in 1952.

Carol began her college education at University of Texas in Austin where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She was a Registered Nurse, having completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of Texas School of Nursing in Galveston, TX in 1957. It was there that she met her husband, Charles Livingston Bishop, M.D., and they were married on June 23, 1956. After their marriage, they moved to Carol's hometown of Ganado, where her husband, Charlie, practiced general medicine with her father, James Bauknight, M.D., from 1958-1965, before moving to Houston for several years while her husband completed a residency in orthopedics. In 1968, they moved to Victoria and Carol has resided there since that time.

Carol was guided very strongly in life by two principles: If you attempt something give it your very best and If you start something, finish it. Throughout her life, whether it was as a homemaker, mother, or citizen, she lived up to and exceeded the high goals she set for herself. In addition to being an exemplary student, Carol was a life-long avid reader, having belonged to a private book club in Victoria for many years and later in life, the University of Houston-Victoria Book Club. She was a highly involved member of many organizations during her lifetime and frequently served as an officer and/or President of those organizations including: Victoria Junior League (President-1970's), Victoria-Goliad-Jackson County Women's Auxiliary Medical Association, Jackson County Republican Chairwoman (1960's), Victoria Country Club Golf Association and Women's Tennis Association, and served as Leader/Instructor at Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Over the past 35 plus years, Carol has been passionate about two interests--playing contract duplicate bridge and quilting. She was a current member and past Director of the Victoria Duplicate Bridge Club where she without fail could be found every Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday evening. She was a member of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) where she obtained an advanced Life Master status. In the early 1980's she decided she would use her sewing skills and transition to quilting, making her first of hundreds of exquisite quilts that have been enjoyed by a multitude of her friends' babies, church confirmands, her 3 children, 4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and each of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews. Quilting provided an artistic outlet for Carol and she was a member of the American Quilter's Society and the Quilt Guild of Greater Victoria (President) and through these organizations her quilts have been displayed many times throughout the Greater Victoria area and have won ribbons at local and international quilt shows. The consistent golden thread running through the fabric of Carol's lifetime involvement in various organizations was the cherished and enduring friendships she made and enjoyed over the years.

She was also an avid sports fans and also a Crossword Puzzle, Sudoku, and Cryptoquip master, fully completing each of these 3 puzzles in the Victoria Advocate in ink (erasable) each and every day, including her last.

Carol was preceded in death by Charlie in 1997, her father, James Merchant Bauknight in 1981, her mother Margaret Mingus Bauknight in 2000, her sister, Barbara Seale in 2012, and her brother James Merchant Bauknight, Jr. in 2017. Survivors include her daughters, Margaret Bishop of Austin, and Amy Bishop Shelley (Kevin) of Decatur, AL; son, Tommy Bishop of Dallas; brother, Dr. Bruce Bauknight (Vicki) of Victoria; grandchildren, Josh Bishop, Hunter Shelley, Hanna Shelley and Hayden Shelley; and great-grandchild, Emily Bishop; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 – 7 pm Friday, August 17, 2018 at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, 3304 E. Mockingbird Lane. Funeral services will be at 1 pm Saturday, August 18, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, 407 N. Bridge Street, with Rev. Tim Brewer officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 407 N. Bridge Street, Victoria, TX 77901, Quilt Guild of Greater Victoria, P. O. Box 3164, Victoria, TX 77908 to foster continuation of the art of quilting, or the charity of your choice.

Share condolences at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.