Carol Jean Skrhak

Carol Jean Skrhak was born on December 25, 1947 to Emil and Clara Widmer in Taylor, Texas. She was raised on a farm with her two brothers and sister in the Hoxie community near Taylor. As a young girl growing up on the farm she often helped her parents and siblings gather eggs from the chicken coop on the farm to sell to the local Red and White market in exchange for groceries. Carol attended Thrall High School where she met her sweetheart, Wayne Skrhak. In high school Carol was involved with the Future Farmers of America where she raised and showed a grand champion capon chicken. She was an honor student and an active member of the Thrall Marching Band. Carol enjoyed serving as a Sunday school and vacation bible school teacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor. Upon graduation from Thrall High School in 1966, Carol joined the Teacher Retirement System of Texas in Austin, Texas. While working at TRS her high school sweetheart, Wayne, was deployed in the Navy during the Vietnam War and upon his return from active military duty they were married on June 7, 1969 in Taylor, Texas. Shortly after their marriage Carol and Wayne expanded their family and had their first born, Kristi in 1973 and a second child, Jason, in 1978. Carol’s dedication to work was demonstrated by her commitment to TRS for over 35 years. She spent most of her career at TRS, working in the Beneficiary Claims Department where she helped answer questions and process the death benefit claims from beneficiaries of TRS members upon the member’s death. It takes a special person like Carol to interact with others and help them cope with the loss of a loved one as it’s a stressful time for the beneficiary. Carol’s kind and compassionate demeanor made her the ideal type of employee to empathize with their sorrow and, at the same time, calmly guide them through the process. Her dedication and loyal service will always be admired and remembered by her co-workers. In 2001, she retired from TRS but continued working with the Don Hughes Insurance Agency in Round Rock, Texas. Carol assisted the Insurance Agency with various clerical needs for over 10 years. Upon full retirement from TRS and the Don Hughes Insurance Agency she enjoyed caring for her young grandson, Grayson, who was born in 2008 in Houston, Texas while her daughter Kristi returned to work. Carol was a very loving wife, mother and nana and always put others needs before hers. Her closest of friends and co-workers remember her as hard-working, loyal, pleasant and just and all around great friend to so many. Some of Carol’s favorite things to do in retirement were catching up with friends and co-workers for lunch or dinner and an occasional movie as well as exercising at the local gym. Carol loved pampering herself and every two weeks you could find her in the local salon getting a manicure or pedicure. She loved passing time while watching some of her favorite TV shows like Good Morning America, Dancing with the Stars, The Millers and Ellen. Carol also enjoyed watching hummingbirds feed and taking care of the wildlife in their backyard. On April 12, 2014, at age 66, Carol passed away from complications related to her aortic dissection and aneurism in her home of over 35 years with her family by her side. Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Emil Widmer and Clara Widmer of Taylor, Texas. She is survived by her husband Wayne Skrhak of 44 years; daughter: Kristi Albaugh; son: Jason Skrhak; grandson Grayson Albaugh; two brothers: Howard Widmer and Darvin Widmer; and one sister: Darlene Menk.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissections at iradonline.org.