Joan May Carroll, a devoted wife, mother, and friend passed away peacefully on November 15, 2023, at home in her beloved Lake Kiowa community.
Joan was born on July 10, 1934, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Burleigh Barney Hughes Patterson and Irene May (LeRoy) Patterson. She was raised in Holland, Michigan and grew up in a very musically gifted family. She learned to play the violin. Eventually she played first chair violin in Holland’s local college orchestra and was asked to perform in the Michigan Symphony. Joan went on to attend Michigan State University where she graduated magna cum laude in 1956. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, National Scholastic Honorary and Pi Gamma Mu, National Social Science Honorary.
Michigan State University is also where she met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) G. Carroll. They married in Grand Rapids, MI on June 15, 1957. Together they raised two sons, David and Paul. Dick’s career took them to live in various locations, but they eventually landed in Dallas, Texas. When the boys were older, Joan decided it was time to return to her teaching career where she went on to receive a Master of Education degree from the University of North Texas in 1980. She continued teaching for twenty-five years at Vivien Field Middle School, Farmers Branch, Texas where she taught Texas History.
When she and Dick retired in 1994, they decided to move to Lake Kiowa. They loved to play golf, go boating, play bridge and meet new friends. Some of her most treasured memories were spending the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends at Lake Kiowa. In addition, she and Dick loved to travel to various islands in the Caribbean with family and many good friends and neighbors they knew from Lake Kiowa.
Joan became very involved in their community. She joined Lake Kiowa Women’s Club where she served in various roles including president from 1998-1999. She went on to serve as co-chairman of the Gourmet Group and co-chairman of Garden and Nature. Joan also served as secretary of the Lake Kiowa Property Owner’s Association for several terms. After serving on LKPOA, she served as secretary on the board of the Kiowa Homeowner’s Water Department.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Burleigh and Irene Patterson, her brother, Roger Patterson, and her husband, Dick Carroll.
She leaves behind her son David and his wife Marlene of Tampa Florida; her son Paul and his wife Christen of Dallas; and seven grandchildren.
Joan exemplified strength, compassion, and grace. She will be dearly missed. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may we find solace in the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s honor may be made to VISTO (Volunteers In Service To Others): P.O. Box 607, 1305 N. Culberson, Gainesville, TX 76241, www.vistohelps.com/donate.
Memorial service details will be forthcoming.
