Carol Lee Tate Forrester

On February 14

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, 2023, devout Methodist, sixth-generation Texan, devoted wife, loving mother, entrepreneur, and civic champion Carol Lee Tate Forrester passed to her eternal reward after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Memorial services will be held at

10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Polk Street United Methodist Church

, 1401 S. Polk St. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount.

Carol was born in Seguin, Texas on January 12

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, 1943, to Dr. Robert Spence Tate, Jr. and Ella Mae (Starcke) Tate. Her father was a United Methodist Minister who led the Oak Park United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi, Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio, and the First United Methodist Church of Austin. Her mother was a descendant of the Knolle Family.

Carol graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1961.  She graduated in 1965 from SMU where she was a Zeta Tau Alpha.  She was a teacher in San Antonio for two years before attending the University of Texas for a Master’s in Social Work.  She married Robert Forrester in Austin, Texas, September 7

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, 1968, and moved to San Francisco.  In 1972, they returned to Robert’s hometown, Amarillo, with Robert Jr., in time for Heather Lee to be born a Texan. Margaret and Tate followed, respectively.

She was a member of the Amarillo Junior League. As a member of the Junior League, Carol was Chair of the committee to place the Houghton House on the registry for National Historic Places, Chair of the renovation of the Bivins House Entrance and the Chair of the Food and Beverage Committee for the first Fun Fest. In the last role, she and Robin Russell invented the recipe for “Steak on a Stick”.

Pursuing her lifelong love for travel, in 1983 she co-founded The Travel Store, eventually becoming the sole owner until she sold in 2015 due to her progressing illness. She was fortunate to travel to five continents and was pursued by clients for her extensive knowledge of Europe.

She was the consummate chef and loved entertaining, from intimate dinners to parties for hundreds. Her table was always filled with eclectic guests and lively conversation. She used her skills as a hostess to raise money for hundreds of causes. She was the chair for fundraising for Fireworks at the City Center sponsored Downtown 2000 New Year’s Eve Party.

Carol’s endless well of patience for her husband and children was only exceeded by the love and pride she had in them. She adored all her grandchildren and each one of them is confident in the belief that they were her favorite.

She was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Amarillo Rotary Club and past member of the Amarillo Symphony Guild, the Art Force, the Amarillo Garden Club and many other cultural and philanthropic organizations. As a Democrat, she attended numerous state conventions as a delegate. She was a proud United Methodist and attended Polk Street United Methodist Church for 50 years.

Predeceased by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Spence Tate, Jr. (Ella Mae Starcke), and her brother, Robert S. Tate, III.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; sisters Margaret Ezzell (Mike) and Jennye Brennan (Chad) and four children: Robert Forrester, Jr. (Katie) of Lancaster, PA, Heather Russell (Hugh) of Amarillo, Margaret Forrester of Amarillo, and Tate Forrester (Kirk) of Birmingham, AL; nine grandchildren: Gavin O’Donnell, Tres Forrester, Finneghan Forrester, Lauren Russell, Holden Russell, Bess Forrester, Reed Forrester, Mack Forrester, and Sam Forrester, numerous nieces and nephews as well as many wonderful friends. The family would also like to thank Amber McLemore, Ashley Perreault and Hailah Burkham for their loving care of both Carol and Robert for the last several years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one of the following organizations: The Alzheimer’s Association of West Texas, the Mack and Arla Forrester Scholarship Fund at Amarillo College or the charity of your choice.