Carol McKissack Santry

For 84 years, Carol McKissack Santry made a big, joyful noise wherever she was, she made it to the glory of God and from her jubilation in the promise of her Savior, Jesus Christ. But Carol wouldn’t want this to be too churchy; in lieu of a celestial audience, Carol was also quite happy to make a joyful noise, musically or otherwise, to whomever was congregated, especially kids. She did love to sing, though, and play her guitar, and used music as means to teach Bible stories and Spanish, and just to have fun and express her love of life and people.

Carol was born on June 14, 1941, in Corsicana, Texas to wonderful parents, John and Eloise Allison McKissack. Being a 6th generation Texan was a real source of pride to Carol, and she relished histories of her family, her home state and her hometown. The family moved to San Angelo when Carol was six and joined First Methodist Church where they worshipped all their lives. Carol attended school in San Angelo and was a member of the first graduating class of Central High School in 1959, another accomplishment she was proud of chairing class reunions and maintaining school friendships throughout her life. She received a BA from SMU, graduating “Cum Diploma,” as her mother joked with love.

Along with music and singing, Carol loved reading, traveling, teaching, learning, and animals. She claimed to be a “jack of trades but a master of none,” and indeed, she tried her hand at a lot of things. In a particularly dry spell while she looked for a teaching position, she worked as an announcer and disc jockey at a local radio station, and as a cook at Lighthouse for the Blind. Whatever her day job, her volunteerism persisted: she served on the Board of the San Angelo Civic Theater, and participated on stage as well, acting and singing in “Mellerdramas” and other productions they brought to the stage. She served as Troop Leader for the Girl Scouts, hosted political forums in her home, and was active in choir and youth activities at church. She also bungeed off the Bell Street Bridge! All this as a single mother, and without vision. Yep, anything you can do, Carol could do better, backward, and blind. But she’d object to all this bragging on her . . . “No need to gild the lily,” she’d say. She also said that blindness was not an excuse, and she never used it.

Carol was a Spanish teacher by degree, desire and devotion. She adored all things Mexican: food, culture, music and dance. She taught Spanish at Ozona High in Ozona; Thomas Jefferson High in Dallas; and at Sacred Heart and her alma mater Central High School in San Angelo. Carol was also involved with the Adult Literacy Council, tutoring many Spanish-speaking folks in conversational English. She tutored anyone that wanted to learn Spanish from her home for no cost.

Carol had a tremendous faith and served her church in many capacities. She taught Methodist Youth Fellowship, and Sunday and Vacation Bible School because she was passionate about children. She did several tours with the Costa Rica Mission Team, was a Lay Speaker, and a Lay Communion Server to the homebound. She was active in Morning Glories bible study, Concho Country Emmaus, and the Cokesbury Choir, or “Granny Choir” as Carol called it. Carol served and worshipped with joy, infectious enthusiasm and admirable dedication.

Carol supported various charitable causes with her time, money and talents. Among her favorites were Meals for the Elderly, Wesley Soup Kitchen, West Texas Counseling and Guidance, Art in Uncommon Places and the Girl Scouts. She volunteered with Lighthouse for the Blind and sat on the State Commission Board for the Blind. She was a mentor at Lincoln Junior High and was a 40-year volunteer at West Texas Rehabilitation Center’s annual Summer Camp, singing, playing the guitar, and reminding anyone who needed it that “God Don’t Make No Junk!”

Carol loved the sentiment found in 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Bloom where you’re planted. She felt that if you had something you could do or give to somebody then you should do it or give it.

Carol is survived by her daughter Camille Santry of San Angelo, and son, John Santry, daughter-in-law Marsha, and grandson Brodie of Newport Beach, CA. She was thrilled with Brodie’s choice to attend SMU (Pony Up!). Carol also had many fun and fabulous cousins that she dearly loved, and a family legacy she was deeply proud of. Her friends were as many and as varied as her interests; young and old, from all walks of life. She was especially grateful for Heather Baker and Lilly Cortez, who helped her maintain her house and her independence, and were caring companions. Carol loved nothing more than to trade stories about growing up, family histories, and anecdotes about life, especially while soaking up some sunshine on the patio, a cat twining around her ankles, and two fingers of red wine in her glass. We hope to greet Carol again, tiny Carol with her big personality and her big voice, on some celestial patio, holding a cigarette in one hand and holding court and her audience in the palm of her other, exhaling smoke and laughter, enjoying to the fullest her eternal home.

A celebration of Carol’s exceptional life will take place 3:00 pm, Saturday, September 20 at First Methodist Church, followed by a reception at the Cactus Hotel. Wear some color and expect a joyful noise!

Please RSVP to the reception via https://carolcelebrationoflife.rsvpify.com 

In lieu of flowers, please remember Carol with a donation to the charity of your choice or any of Carol’s own favorites.