Carol Sue Middleton

Carol Middleton was born on March 1, 1941 in Garard’s Fort, PA. She was the youngest of six born to Russell and Edythe Headlee. She attended Mapletown High School and proceeded on to the Pennsylvania State University where she received a degree in Accounting. After graduation she immediately left western Pennsylvania for the greener pastures of Washington, DC where her sister / best friend Jody lived. Her first job was with the U.S. General Accounting Office.

In order to meet people and to continue with her faith, Carol began attending Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in DC. It was there where Cupid’s arrow struck and she met her husband of 57 years, Peyton Middleton.

Her role as an accountant was cut short as she and Peyton welcomed their first son, Michael, in 1967 and their second son, David in 1969. Carol quickly found her stride as “mom-extraordinaire”. She also became deeply entrenched in various volunteer associations: neighborhood, school, scouting, etc.... The term “active” did not begin to describe her level of commitment.

When she was almost done raising her two boys she realized the leadership hole she would be leaving in the School PTAs, Boy Scouts, and all the various organizations once those guys were off to college. So, in 1982 she welcomed her third son, Mark, to the family and the world continued to revolve and all was right in volunteer-land. (You are welcome!). As a mother, she raised three completely different boys who still manage to laugh with each other when they aren’t laughing at each other. The running theme throughout her life with her sons was laughter.

In 2005 and after Peyton’s retirement, he and Carol moved to Austin, Texas. This put them geographically closer to the two eldest sons and their grandchildren at the time. Carol took on being a grandmother the way she did everything else. There was an open invitation to her grandchildren Caitlin, Peyton Garrett and Woodrow to join her for art projects, kitchen ping pong or speeding down the driveway on some sort of dangerous wheeled toy that was too small for her. Along the way, her youngest son married and added three more grandchildren to the roster: Mia, Orian, and Shay.

Carol and Peyton traveled the world drinking in new experiences. They regularly went to Myrtle Beach and picked up seashells for art projects. Their many cruises included Alaska, New Zealand and Africa (where the ship literally had to be diverted away from pirates). Covid halted several planned excursions, but lockdown afforded them the opportunity to clear off the dinner table and with precision teamwork complete roughly a million very difficult puzzles.

On top of all of this, Carol was wildly creative and was a perpetual learner. She had interests in photography, painting, collage, reading, history, knitting, needlepoint, and writing. Her needlepoint legacy lives on with all of the grandchildren having Christmas Stockings made for them by Grandma (along with ornaments, pillows, and more). And everyone knows of her legendary decorated cookies. Each Christmas she would make dozens upon dozens of Sugar and Gingerbread cookies to decorate. She decorated with her kids, her grandkids, and even invited their friends and their kids. But, the ones she decorated were perfection. These stunning edible pieces of art were shared with her church, her friends, everyone. She was talented, as well as gracious. She was an avid believer in the importance of physical fitness and activity. She consistently attended Body Business classes with a trainer and she completed a triathlon when she was 69. Of all her interests, writing became a passion for her and through her writing groups, she shared her stories and honed her craft.

Carol passed away on December 30, 2022 and is survived, quite simply, by a legacy of love and inspiration that spans generations. She lives on within each of us and we are better for knowing her.

Carol strongly believed in the Central Texas Food Bank, Planned Parenthood and St Johns UMC Endowment Fund and the family would love it if you would consider giving to one of these fine organizations rather than buying us flowers.

Her service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00am. It will also be live streamed at stjohnsaustin.org/live