Clifford Carroll, Jr. passed away early Thursday morning, Jan. 28 at the age of 90. He died quietly in his sleep at his home in the country. He was among family and in good spirits and comfort despite his failing health.
Clifford was born in Yoakum on Oct. 9, 1925 to Clifford Sr. and Josephine Bullard Carroll. He attended Lander School, a country school that he walked to each day, which was three miles from his home. Clifford was partly-disabled at a young age when he was working cattle on horseback and hit a tree branch. After a week in a coma, he never regained his hearing in one ear. His ability to persevere with this condition was an inspiration to those who were close to him. He lived in the country his entire life, and it was there he met his future bride, Bernice, at the Hebron store that her sister, Gladys, owned.
They wed on July 15, 1944, starting a family and forming a bond of unbounded love that lasted his lifetime and beyond.
Clifford and Bernice were married for 68 wonderful years, and their children and grandchildren remember them holding hands everywhere they went, displaying a love, respect and unequaled devotion to each other.
In 1953, Clifford and Bernice combined their entrepreneurial spirit and determination and started the Carroll Dairy on land they had inherited. Operating for 50 years, the Carroll Dairy became one of the largest dairies in South Texas, with both sons and nearly every grandson having worked at the dairy, learning hard work ethic from the difficult routine a dairy business requires. It takes an unmatched discipline and perseverance to operate a dairy business for 50 years, and those closest to Clifford know that his strength came from his faith in Christ Jesus. Friends and family will say that the legacy he left behind was that he kept his eyes on Jesus and had the strongest faith of anyone they knew.
Clifford prayed about and loved the “little church” at Fordtran that he attended all of his life, and was the Elder of the Fordtran Church of Christ for 40 years. He also served as Treasurer of the church during that same time. He also served on the board of the Peach Valley Christian Camp where all of his children and grandchildren went each summer, and in fact, two of his grandchildren currently direct the camp. He also served on the board of the Hebron Cemetery. As a business owner, Clifford was a member of the Dairy Farmers of America for 50 years.
His great fun after “retirement” was playing with his 11 great-grandkids, checking cows on his Gator, and he loved fishing. In his youth, he loved to fox hunt, wolf hunt, and when he finally purchased the boat he’d been pursuing, he loved to take the entire family to Coleto Creek. Affectionately known as “Pawpaw” by his grandkids and great-grandkids, he loved to take them out on the tractor and listen to the Astros on the radio, despite their current record. The family remembers sitting around the table listening to Pawpaw playing the harmonica, the room full of joy and laughter. His spirit is forever defined by unequaled passion, hard work, devotion to his wife and his family, and his love of God. It is said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and use words when necessary.” As a man of few words, but much influence, Clifford certainly embodied this powerful message.
He is survived by his daughter, Wanda Bishop (John), his sons Gaymond Carroll and Larry Carroll, and daughter Pam Daltry (Lewis). His eight grandchildren are Brad Bishop, Beth Ohrt (Toby), Brent Bishop (Jennifer), Jeni Garrett (Derrick), Joshua Carroll (Lexanne), Jason Carroll (Jennifer), Ryan Daltry (Kathryn) and Erin Moore (Jordan). His great-grandchildren are Dustin Ohrt, Tanner Ohrt, Cooper Bishop, Cody Bishop, Eli Garrett, Ethan Garrett, Maddie Colleen Carroll, Caleb Carroll, Jacie Carroll, Quinn Daltry, and Julie Carroll. Clifford was preceded in death by his wife Bernice and his brother Billy Carroll.
Pallbearers: Brad Bishop, Brent Bishop, Joshua Carroll, Jason Carroll, Ryan Daltry, Toby Ohrt, Derrick Garrett, Jordan Moore and Jamie Ratley.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 31st of January at Freund Funeral Home, at 213 North Gonzales in Cuero. The funeral service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 1st of February, also at Freund Funeral Home, and the interment will be held at Hebron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that a donation be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Freund Funeral Home, 361-275-2343.
