Carole Lee Cartlidge Hardeman, 78, of Waco, died peacefully Monday, May 14, 2018 after complications with pancreatic cancer.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 515 Columbus Avenue, in Waco with The Rev. Raymond Joe Waldon officiating.
Inurnment: will follow the funeral service at the church columbarium.
Reception: Please join her friends during a reception that will be held after the inurnment at 2725 Mountainview Drive, in Waco.
Carole was born January 11, 1940 to Starling and Myrtle Cartlidge in Athens and spent her childhood in Rusk. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
She began her career as an educator and achieved the title of Director of Special Education for the Connally Independent School District. Carole also thrived as an avid real estate investor.
Carole had a passion for living life to its fullest. She was known for her skills on the dance floor, but even more so, she danced her way through life with a happy heart. She loved her puppies, her family, her friends and her 50’s music. But oh, how she loved her bling! Carole was happiest when she was dolled up with a party to attend. She enjoyed cruising the seas at least a dozen times a year as a Royal Caribbean Pinnacle Cruise Member. When on land, her social calendar was rarely empty as she filled her days playing Bridge or teaching numerous folks how to play the game. No appointment was kept, or meeting met, when there was a Bridge game going on.
Her dear, loving husband, Edward Lent Hardeman, preceded her in death in 2014.
Carole is survived by her furry ball of love, Baylee; her best friend and chosen sister, Retha Tucker; step-daughters, Teresa Hardeman Martin and husband, John and Elizabeth Hardeman Beach and husband, Andy; stepson, Lent Allen Hardeman and wife, Desiree; step grandchildren, Elizabeth Martin Pickard and husband, Dean, Rebekah Martin Van Someren and husband, Ben, Rachel Martin Santee and husband, Justin, Justin Martin, Carole Beach and Thomas Beach; and great-grandchildren, Cooper, Madeline, Olivia, Ali, Jack and Maverick.
Carole lived. She laughed. She loved. As for the Tucker family, she will always reign supreme as our loving Aunt Carole.
In lieu of floral arrangements, memorial contributions in Carole’s memory may be directed to St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, 517 Columbus Avenue, Waco, TX 76701
Place of Service: St. Paul Episcopal Church , 515 Columbus Ave.; Waco, TX 76701
Print Obituary & Condolences
Carol was a great person to work for and friend. I enjoyed the years we spent together in the office.
I worked in the Special Education Dept. at Connally ISD with Carole. She was a delightful “boss” and friend who always had smiles and words of encouragement for everyone in our department. Carole wanted the best for each child in special education and she would work with others to try to make sure each child had the resources he/she needed to be successful. My condolences to all of Carole’s family.
Carole’s Family,
Carol will be missed and alway’s remembered,
Carole’S Family,
Carole will be missed and always remembered.
I want to express my sincere sympathy to the family and share some comfort and hope from God’s word. In it he promises to bring our loved ones back to life in a perfect world where there will be no more suffering or death. (Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 25:8) Until that time comes, Jehovah God assures us at Psalm 34:18 that he “is close to the brokenhearted” and “He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” So he understands your pain and grief and is eager to help you by giving you the strength you need to cope during this most difficult time. (Philippians 4:13)
This condolence is very late but I just learned of Carole Lee’s passing. She is a friend from high school and the sweet things said in her obituary about her as an adult are certainly an accurate reflection of her life as a teenager. I had very little contact with Carole Lee after high school, but I would like to share this story which I think reflects on her goodness. In 2000, my wife and I invited the Rusk High School Class of 1958 and their mates to our home in Kingwood for a mini reunion. Carole Lee and her husband were among the attendees. Most of us went to an Astros baseball game on Saturday afternoon, and sometime during the game, a man (not in our group) sitting in the row in front of us had a serious medical event, lost consciousness and slumped over in his seat. Carole Lee, who was sitting directly behind the man, immediately moved forward in her seat and cradled the man’s head and shoulders in her lap and arms for several minutes until the paramedics arrived. That she would show such kindness to a person that she did not even know really made an impression on me.
I put in a condolence last Monday or Tuesday and it has not been posted. Fortunately
I copied what I sent so it you need me to reinstate it I probably can.
I am sorry that I just learned of the death of my first cousin, Carole Lee Cartlidge Hardeman on January 21st, 2019, my birthday. It was a sad moment when I learned that she had died eight months ago. Carole was one year younger that I was and we were very close during our childhood. I visited Rusk, Texas where Carole lived many times attending rodeos, going to movies, and selling fireworks. I think that Carole’s first business was when she sold fireworks in front of her father’s drug store, and she asked me to participate. Nearly everyone in Rusk knew Carole Cartlidge. She was an outgoing individual. The Cartlidge families were very close as there were four sons and a daughter. This group had two sons and two daughters of which Carole and I
were a part of. The four cousins were very close and attended family events since we
all lived in East Texas at the time.
After graduating from Rusk High School, Carole attended the University of Texas at Austin for a year. She later settled in Waco and became a tremendous Woman in the
business world. She was very active in the real estate scene in Waco, buying, renting, and selling homes. She even had a crew that worked for her that kept the properties
in top notch condition. I remember that she could spot a vacant home at the drop of a hat and would say, “Lets stop and take a look.”
She later bought her beautiful home on Mountain View and remodeled it to perfection.