Carroll Eugene Ley, 79, of Somerville passed away on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. Visitation is set for Monday, Dec. 21, at Strickland Funeral home in Somerville, Texas, at 1 p.m. Service to follow at 2 p.m.
Carroll Eugene Ley was born Aug. 6, 1936, in Cuero, to the late Albert and Verna Ley. Carroll graduated from Cuero High School in 1954. He attended classes at Victoria College.
Carroll wore many hats throughout his life, working as a beer distributor for Carling Black Label, Schlitz and Miller High Life.
He worked for the Texas Railroad Commission and served as Cuero's Fire Chief for many years. He owned the Western Auto in Cuero and was part owner of Cuero Food Craft, where he was also the butcher. Later in life Carroll was owner and operator of Gate Security Services, offering oilfield services in Texas and Louisiana.
In May 1992, Carroll married Karen Gilbert Lehmann of Devine, Texas. There was not a woman on this earth more perfectly suited to love and care for him.
As owner of Gate Security Services, his clients knew that when Carroll was called the job was done right the first time. He took immense pride in the work he did and his relationships across the state speak to that.
More recently, Carroll assisted his wife, Karen, with her catering company, Jezebelles Catering and Specialty Foods. He himself was quite the grill master and there was often debate about who the "head" Jezebelle was.
Carroll was not a man to mince words, but with that stark honesty came years of hard earned wisdom and the heart of a lion. When you were in, you were in, loved beyond measure. His guidance and funny stories were a blessing to those that loved him and will be greatly missed.
He had a knack for navigation, there was not a backroad or a small town in Texas that he had not been through. Chances are if you were going, he could tell you how to get there. Wherever he went, he always came across someone he knew.
When it came to the family and friends that he held dear the word no was not in his vocabulary. He gave freely of himself and lived to spoil his loved ones. You never knew what sort of wonderful gift or surprise he would show up with. On family trips he sneak off and return with treats for all.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Albert "Poozie" Ley. He is survived by his loving wife Karen Ley; his daughters, Karen Webb of Victoria, Valerie Weber (Scott) of Bryan; grandchildren, Alyssa Tinsley (Klaus), Zachary Prescott, Bella Weber; and great-grandchildren, Thomas, Kate and Jane Tinsley of Nursey, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Carroll Ley Memorial Scholarship for Leaders in Agriculture at Somerville High School. Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville.
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