Mae Carolyn Stallwitz – December 24, 2013

Longtime resident of Moore County, Mae Carolyn Stallwitz, 77, died peacefully in her home on December 24, 2013.
The memorial service for Carolyn Stallwitz will be held on Friday, December 27, at 1:00pm at First Presbyterian Church in Dumas.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 500 N. Maddox
Carolyn was born April 27, 1936, in Abilene, Texas.  She spent her early childhood years in Stamford, Texas, later moving to Amarillo, Texas.  She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1954. She received a degree in education from West Texas State in 1958.
She married Eddie Stallwitz on August 15, 1959, at First Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas.  After teaching at Green Acres Elementary School for two years, Carolyn made the decision to stay home to raise sons, Darren and Kurt, and devoted herself to painting full time.
Carolyn was a vibrant church and community leader, serving Moore County in many ways for over 50 years.  She served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Bible classes and faithfully attended since moving to Dumas.  She was the first woman elected as a Moore County Commissioner in 1976.  She was instrumental in the formation of the Moore County Art Association and worked earnestly for many years as a member to help build a facility for artists to create and display their work.  This facility now rests on the south side of Dumas.  She received the Joyce Dillow Award, for contributing to the arts in the community, and was honored as Moore County Citizen of the Year in 1979.  She received the “Texas Artist of the Year” from the Texas State Artist Committee, by request of the 75th Texas State Legislature in 1997.
Carolyn was an accomplished artist that had created thousands of paintings enjoyed in homes, galleries, businesses and institutions.  Her work in the area of wildlife art is especially prized.  She found inspiration on excursions in Costa Rica, Africa, Alaska, and throughout Texas and the Southwestern United States.  She possessed a very keen knowledge of wildlife in the Texas Panhandle.
Carolyn had a huge laugh and loved life.  You could usually find her every afternoon at 3:00pm sharing coffee with friends at the Art Association.  She had a deep appreciation for nature and God’s creation, so it’s fitting that she developed a decade-long “friendship” with a wild roadrunner, which she affectionately named “George.”
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Eddie, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Darren and Dana Stallwitz of Dumas; a son and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Judy Stallwitz of Bushland; She was known as “Granny-Grumps” to four grandchildren, Ben and Jessica Stallwitz, of Amarillo, Texas, Garrett Stallwitz, of Dumas, Texas, Marshall Stallwitz, of Amarillo, Texas, and Crysta Stallwitz, of Dumas, Texas.  She had one great-grandson, James Stallwitz, of Amarillo.  She is also survived by a niece and her husband, Cory and Greg Finch, and her grand-niece and grand-nephew, Chase and Kelsie.  She had one nephew, Von Husbands, of Colleyville, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Lucille Husbands, and a brother, Harold Husbands.
There will be a visitation at the Moore County Art Center, Thursday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
Memorials can be sent to Moore County Art Center or First Presbyterian Church in Dumas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *