Carmen Viola Courtwright

Carmen Viola Courtwright, 94, formerly of Buffalo, Texas and currently residing in Palestine, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2023. A celebration of her life is schedule for 10 A.M., Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Walters' Buffalo Funeral Home, Buffalo, Texas. A brief visitation will take place prior to the service from 9 A.M. to service time at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held later that afternoon at 2:30 P.M. in San Jacinto Memorial Park Cemetery, Houston, Texas.

Carmen was born in Montgomery County, Texas on February 24, 1929 to Cornelius Vanderbuilt Vick and Elsie Elzoria Rose. She married the love of her life, Robert Courtwright, in 1947, and would later have two children named Elsie and Rhonda. Carmen and her husband, Robert, enjoyed raising their children in Channelview as Robert worked at Armco Steel and Carmen spent time at home being a homemaker and fulfilling her role as a wife and a devoted mother. In the early 80's, Carmen and Robert decided to retire outside of the city closer to their children where they would dedicate their time to be nanny and pawpaw and help with grandkids. Carmen joined First Baptist Church of Buffalo and quickly became connected with everyone and enjoyed her Sunday school class, as well as being the greeter at the church. Carmen never met a stranger and never had a frown on her face, as she always said, "it caused more wrinkles to frown than it did to smile!" When Carmen was not involved in church activities, she could be found every Friday at the hair salon getting her shampoo/set, with friends or spending time with the grandkids/great-grandkids. There is nothing more she loved than spending quality time with family and was the most amazing mother, wife, sister and nanny. She rarely watched tv but when she did, she enjoyed The Price is Right and usually enjoyed working on cross word puzzles.

A little historical fact about Carmen is she was a descendant of one of the original 300 settlers of Texas. Her uncle, Samuel Chance, was one of the original settlers that came with Stephen F Austin. His sister came to Texas a few years later and she was one of Carmen's ancestors.

Carmen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Courtwright; her parents, Cornelius Vick and Elsie Rose and son-in-law, Rodney Gore; as well as her sisters, Gerry Hendry and Claudia Anderson; and four sisters and two sons from a previous marriage.

She is survived by her daughters, Elsie Allphin and Rhonda Gore; her four grandchildren, Ken Williamson, Rod Gore, Rachel Ethridge and Robin Jansen; as well as her four great-grandchildren Brayden and Brylee Ethridge, Asha Gore and Olivia Jansen. Carmen is also survived by her brothers, Wilbert and Cornelius Vick, and their children and grandchildren; and her nieces, Carmen Roberts and Holly Blue, as well as their children.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Legacy at Town Creek in Palestine, Texas for the loving care they provided to their mom/nanny.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carmen's name to the Alzheimer's Association to help fund research and help those affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters' Buffalo Funeral Home, Buffalo, Texas.