Obituary of Carol Bryant

`Loving Memory of Carol Lousie Bryant

September 11, 1937 - November 6, 2023

Tucson, Arizona

Carol Lousie Bryant, a loving mother and grandmother who embraced life with a spirit of humor, love, and deep connection, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona. Born on September 11, 1937, in Marysville, Kansas, she lived a life filled with love for family, road trips, making friends, card and board games, and cherished moments.

Carol survived her parents and siblings. Her parents were Harvey H. and Neva L. Brightbill. Her siblings were Lucille Pahlke, Rodger Brightbill, Marian Pratt, Bruce Brightbill, and William Brightbill.

Carol held her family close to her heart. She was a caring wife to her late husband, Billy W. Bryant, and a loving mother to her sons, Stephen D. Bryant, Garry K. Bryant, and Tobin W. Bryant – and her son-in-law, Allan C. Golston. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Tobin, and her beautiful memories of him remained etched always in her heart.

Carol's love extended to her granddaughter, Candace M. Bryant, and her great-granddaughters, Mya R. and Ava M. Ruiz, whom she adored, cherished, and visited often. Her nurturing spirit and boundless love will continue to embrace them throughout their lives.

Carol lived with her brother Bruce Brightbill and his wife Dorothy Brightbill through high school in Abernathy, Texas. During this time, she met many of her lifelong friends. One of her greatest joys in life was to regularly return to Abernathy and attend her high school reunions. After High School, Carol went to Business College and while raising her boys achieved an associate degree and became a Licensed Practical Nurse.

While Carol had several jobs including food services and nursing, her life’s calling was care giving. She spent nearly twenty years as the primary care giver to her brother Rodger Brightbill who was a disabled World War II veteran. She would consider this loving work one of her greatest accomplishments.

Carol's journey through life was marked by her curiosity about people's life stories. She had a rare gift for making friends wherever she went, and her warm and welcoming

nature endeared her to all. She never got off a plane where she did not know the life story of her seatmate.

Being a sports fan was an ever-present aspect of her life. She was a 100% sports mom to her three sons. Along with Billy and Tobin she watched thousands of hours of University of Arizona team sports. Most recently, she joined Garry and Melba Howel at numerous University of Arizona baseball games.

One of her greatest joys was embarking on road trips, where she relished the adventure of the road, the opportunity to visit family and friends. For nearly eight years, Carol and Billy spent their summers on Camano Island in Washington State with Stephen and Allan. She regularly travelled with Garry to visit Candace and the girls in Los Cruses, New Mexico.

Carol's enthusiasm for puzzles and board games was most evident over the last five years while living at the Fellowship Square Senior Retirement Community in Tucson. Nearly every day she was at one activity or another including weekly Bingo, Poker, Pinochle, and Rummikub gatherings along with two weekly games of Chair Volleyball. Her community spirit and laughter were a hallmark of these cherished moments. In addition, over the last five years she formed many true and dear friends within the Fellowship Square community.

Along with Billy, Carol had a deep connect to her faith community at Tucson’s St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Her Sunday school class, of at least fifty years, was a source of strength, comfort, and inspiration, but mostly a tight circle of loving friends.

A celebration of Carol's life will be held to honor her memory on December 9, 2023, at 10:30 am at Tucson’s St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to a charity close to your heart in her honor.

Carol's departure leaves a void in our hearts, but her memory will continue to inspire and warm us. Rest in peace, dear Carol. Your light will forever shine in our hearts, and you will be dearly missed.