Carrie Johnson Hays

Carrie was born on April 20th, 1951 in Austin, TX. After college and marriage, she was blessed to build a house near Dripping Springs and Austin, where she lived happily her entire life with her family.

Carrie was part of the first graduating class of Crocket High School in South Austin. She obtained a BS in Elementary Education from Abilene Christian University. While at college she met and fell in love with Thomas (Doc) Hays and married the love of her life. Upon graduation, Carrie moved back to Austin and taught 1st grade at Sunset Valley Elementary where she was a wonderful teacher. After 5 years of teaching, Carrie had her first of two sons, Chris and Patrick, and her profession enthusiastically changed to that of a full time mom.

Carrie was a creator. She loved being a mom, her children being her best creations. She had the soul of an artist who drew, painted, and was also a great calligrapher. Carrie loved being an astronomer and avid star gazer, looking through a telescope at the wonderment of the Universe and Stars. She embodied the musician and played the piano, who could transpose to different key signatures on the fly, guitar, banjo, flute and piccolo. Carrie enjoyed life as a poet, writer, and songstress who wrote with her music teacher friend, Kay Greenhaw, creating amazing

children’s musicals and plays for the Doss Elementary 5th grade choir. There are countless student lives forever touched by theater. She was a Trekkie, a huge fan of Stargete SG1 (who by the way had a minor character named after her because she impressed the show’s script writers at one of the fan conventions). Carrie was witty and had a wickedly great sense of humor. MST3k became an instant favorite and, with her quips and observations added to the mix, we as a family endlessly laughed while watching bad movies with the Robots and Joel on the “Satellite of Love.”

She loved singing and performed in a quartet with other Austin area elementary music teachers, the Fair Village Four. They made regular appearances at churches and retirement centers. She had a passion for singing with her church and Praise Team. Singing soprano with the Austin Civic Chorus was one of her favorite things to do, performing with a grand symphony. Carrie sang with her husband and sons every chance she could get. And then, a little known fact for the Dr Pepper company, Carrie personally did her best as a loyal customer to help keep them in business.

Carrie lived a beautiful life, and had a beautiful story. She touched the lives of many in a positive and loving way. She loved her family and God fiercely, and them her, to the end. Carrie, will forever be missed and loved.

Carrie is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Virginia Johnson. She is survived by her husband, Thomas “Doc” Hays; her sons, Chris and Patrick Hays; various extended family members and her beloved cousins.

Celebration of Life service at Western Hill Church of Christ, 6211 Parkwood Dr, Austin, TX 78735 on December 7th, 2024 at 2PM. For those not able to attend, there will be a ZOOM meeting that will access and broadcast the service.

In remembrance of Carrie’s life and love, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, any charitable donations be made to St. Jude, your favorite Children’s Home, or, to the Arms of Hope Children’s Homes through the “Kids Giving” fund at the Western Hills Church of Christ (you can donate through the WH App indicating the ‘Kids Giving’ Fund, or by check indicating ‘Kids Giving’ on the memo line)