Carol Lee Lyle

Carol was born Carol Lee Reimer in 1949 and grew up on a farm in the small town of Inman, Kansas to parents John & Helen Reimer. She was the oldest of her siblings, Quentin Reimer (Meg Devine) who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Becky Burkholder (Vernon) who lives in Inman. Carol was baptized June 20, 1965, at the Inman Mennonite Church. She graduated from Inman High School in 1967 and went on to graduate from Hutchinson Junior College.

While growing up on the farm, Carol’s social circle was a tight knit family including fifty-nine cousins, most of who lived in or around her hometown. Carol was a talented musician and enjoyed playing the piano along with her mom and sister. She also enjoyed playing the saxophone in her high school band. Even though the sax must have outweighed her at 14. While in high school Carol also was a candy-striper and volunteered with the Mennonite Conference.

Moving to Little Rock, Arkansas Carol began her career in radio broadcast sales. After a few years, ready for a change, Carol relocated to Dallas, Texas where she met and married her devoted husband, Jim Lyle, in 1979. Carol gained a vivacious stepdaughter, Brittany Lyle (Jovich) at the time of the marriage. In 1984 Carol and Jim then had a daughter, Kristi Lyle (Kotanchik).

Carol was a dedicated mother, first and foremost, and considered that her most important job. That is how most people will remember her. However, there was more to Carol than that loving role she filled so completely. She was very tender-hearted and had great compassion for people and animals alike. Carol enjoyed cooking for her family and collected cookbooks. While she enjoyed experimenting with new recipes, she most enjoyed recreating dishes her mom had made when she was growing up. She relished playing card and board games for hours. Her stamina tended to outlast the rest of her family, save for her cherished sister.

Carol was very involved in politics and became the President of the Austin Republican Women (2000). She worked on campaigns for various candidates which culminated in attending the first inauguration of George W. Bush in Washington, DC. She made a great many friends through the ARW organization and continued to keep a keen eye on the political world in the ensuing years. Along with her husband and daughter, Carol traveled extensively around the country via long road trips. She especially enjoyed her 50th birthday celebration loop from Colorado to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and back.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Lowell Reimer. She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughters, Kristi, and Brittany; grandsons, Nick, and Luke; and siblings, Quentin, and Becky.

The family will have a private celebration of life gathering at the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home on Thursday, April 7th. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the SPCA in her memory. The family is very grateful for the compassionate care from her doctors and nurses at the hospital. Carol will be dearly missed.