Carolyn W. Otey

February 14, 1926 - January 10, 2018

Carolyn Otey

Carolyn (Willis, Ernst, Rutherford) Otey passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2018 at her home in Sugar Land, Texas.

A sweetheart for 91 years, she was born at home in Latexo, Texas on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1926, the only daughter of Callie Mae (Laseter) Willis and Walter Wayne Willis.

She grew-up in Grapeland and graduated from Grapeland High School in 1944. Shortly thereafter she moved to Houston and later settling in Port Arthur with her husband Charles Ernst. She worked for Sears and Roebuck for nearly twenty years, was a member of the Port Arthur Women’s Business Association, was in Eastern Star and was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Groves where she served as head Eucharistic Minister and head lector for many years. In her later years, she supported Mount Mariah Baptist Church in Rosenberg.

After the death of her first husband, Charles Ernst, she married George Rutherford and they shared a life together for 28 years in Groves. After the death of George, she met and married Herbert C. Otey Jr. and for the next ten years she referred to him as “the love of her life.” They lived in Port Arthur until his death in 2006. Carolyn lived her remaining years with her oldest daughter, Karen in Sugar Land.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Wayne and Callie Mae Willis, her much loved grandson, Randy Allen Hollier and husbands Charles E. Ernst, George R. Rutherford and Herbert Otey.

She leaves behind her brother Wayne Willis and his wife Judy of Athens, TX; her three daughters Karen Makin of Sugar Land, Jennifer Abraham and her husband, Michael of Austin, and Carol Ann Lauder and her husband, Bob of Austin. Also, she is survived by her granddaughter, Kimberly Zeringue and husband James of Austin and her great granddaughter Kendra Zeringue.

The family wishes to thankKim Earle and Michelle Green for their loving care in recent years.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in her honor to support victims of hurricane Harvey.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 5 PM until 8 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home, with a Vigil to be held at 6:30 PM at the funeral home. A 10 AM funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the funeral home, celebrant will be Rev. Kevin Badeaux. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.