Carol Gene Reaves Hamilton, 77, passed from death into eternal life on Sunday, October 3, 2021. Carol was born in Conroe, Texas on June 14, 1944, to AE Gene and Norene Reaves.
Carol attended schools in the Conroe Independent School District and graduated from Conroe High School in the class of 1962. She enrolled in Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Oklahoma, to pursue a degree in music education and was awarded a Bachelor of Music Education degree in May 1966.
Carol had a gift and love for music and taught elementary music for thirty-three years before retiring from Conroe Independent School District in 2002. She taught at Anderson Elementary and BB Rice Elementary in Conroe, TX. She was an educator who loved her students and encouraged each of them to achieve and explore the many opportunities and challenges of learning.
Carol was a strong woman of her Christian faith. She was active in her church and worked in all areas of the children’s ministry including a Sunday School teacher and worker in Vacation Bible School. She was an avid student of the Bible and enjoyed attending her weekly Bible Study Fellowship meeting to learn, discuss, and apply the truth of the Scriptures to her life. She was a member of The Woodlands Methodist Church and the Perspectives Bible Study class.
She was a faithful servant in her church music programs including church pianist and organist. Carol was a gifted piano player with a gentle touch and notes full of emotion. She accompanied congregational singing, church choirs, soloists, and singing groups. She participated in many Christmas and Easter Cantatas and other programs over the years. Her love of music was also present in her personal life where she taught private piano lessons to children or adults that wanted to learn piano. She enjoyed working with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra as a board member and marveled at the abilities and commitment of the symphony volunteer players.
Carol is survived by her husband of fifty-five years, Dr. Jim Hamilton; daughter Lisa Horton and husband Dean of Pueblo West, CO and their three children, Jonathan Dean Horton and wife Shawndra of Pueblo, CO, Nicole Hiratuka and husband Vinicius of Madison, MS and Brandi Horton Day of Rye, CO; daughter Lori Henry and husband Travis of Waxahachie, TX; Granddaughters Tessa Grace Henry and Sophie Anne Henry; Brother, John Reaves and wife Connie of Conroe, TX; nephew Scott Reaves and wife Kari of Conroe, TX; niece Susan Reaves Chapel and husband Chris of Conroe, TX; Great-niece, Avery Reaves; Great-nephews, Lane Reaves, Cooper Chapel and Hudson Chapel; a large family group of an uncle, Steve Hampton, and cousins of the Hampton Family and the Reaves Family.
Honorary Pallbearers: Chris Chapel, Travis Henry, Dean Horton, Kendall Moseley, John Reaves, and Scott Reaves.
The family will receive friends and family from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at Cashner Funeral Home, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX 77303. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021, 2:00 p.m., at Cashner Funeral Home, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX with Dr. Keven Wentworth officiating. Interment and graveside service will be at Pearl Cemetery, Pearl, TX on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please give the Gift of Life by donating blood in honor of Carol to the local blood bank or to MDAnderson Blood Bank, 2555 Holly Hall, Houston, TX. You may also donate in memory of Carol to Bridges for Peace, PO Box 410037, Melbourne, FL 32941; Conroe Symphony Orchestra, 1500 N. Frazier Street, Conroe, TX 77301; Pearl Baptist Church, 5685 CR 139, Gatesville, TX 76528, or the charity of your choice.