Carolyn Carter Thompson

Carolyn Carter Thompson was born in New York City on the 17th of February 1943, to Carolyn Laura Bryan and Dr. Frederick Roeck Thompson. As Carolyn was the issue of two long-time Texas families, particularly the Thompson clan from Galveston, a family friend arranged for a container of Galveston sand to be placed beneath Carolyn’s birthing bed so that she could claim the privilege of being Born On the Island. She passed away on Saturday, the 8th of May 2021 after complications from a major stroke. She was 78 years of age.

Carolyn grew up in Manhattan and attended The Chapin School, Bennett Junior College and Hunter College. She lived a good life horseback riding and jumping, fly-fishing with her father, shooting birds, training dogs for hunting and show, participating in school sports, and spending family summers in East Hampton. Carolyn loved books and was conversant on many varied topics, including history, politics, and the Spanish and French languages. As a debutante, she was a beautiful, vivacious, elegant and charming lady from an era of good manners, enjoying being a good hostess for her own parties, and she was an excellent listener with a great sense of humor. She was still maintaining her long-term membership in the Junior League of Houston at her death. Yet, far from being all gloss, she was a shark at card games, particularly gin rummy where she tended to win by “going down for points instead of ginning” – much to her opponents’ chagrin and ire. She was also an excellent soprano, singing in the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church choir for many years where she was a member during all of her time in Houston beginning in 1970.

Carolyn’s first marriage was to a Texas native, Gary Morrison, and they had two daughters, Ashley Morrison Fraser and Carolyn Heather Morrison. After their move from New York City to Texas, they divorced.

Carolyn married another Texan in 1977, Gwynne Edward Old, becoming a loving companion and partner with him for almost 44 years. A son, Carter Andrews Old, was born to them, and Carter, along with his older sisters, Ashley and Carolyn Heather, were fortunate to have in their mother a deeply-loving, conscientious (but also strict) mother who was constantly alert to ways of helping and advancing them in life. Carolyn helped to provide for them an always fastidious, comfortable home, enhanced by her love of gardening.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Carolyn Bryan and Frederick Thompson; and her brother, Guy Thompson. She is survived by her husband, Gwynne Old; her daughter, Ashley Fraser and her husband Christopher of Sydney, Australia; her daughter, Carolyn Morrison of Austin; her son Carter Old and his wife Henley of Houston; her sister, Eleanor Cave of Auckland, New Zealand; her grandchildren, Nicholas Fraser, Connor Fraser, Calum Fraser, Annabel Fraser, Owen Old, Lucy Old, Charles Old; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 18th of May, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector, will officiate. Guests are invited to view the livestream of the service at https://youtu.be/e-7zGT_xF-w or by clicking "Join Livestream" below.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the services.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Carolyn’s honor be directed to St. Martin’s General Fund, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056; or to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030.