Gloria Faye McCarty

Our precious mother, Gloria Cole McCarty, passed peacefully on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 8:05 AM, surrounded by her loving family.She died of complications from a stroke that occurred on Wednesday October 14th.She fought a valiant fight for eight days, shocking her family, but even more so, her doctor and the hospice personnel that had been by her side and ours this past week. Gloria was born in Sulphur, Louisiana on August 28, 1938.She fell in love with her husband Gerald McCarty at age 16, getting married at age 17 while he was fighting in the Korean War.Soon after his return they added son Geary and Gaylyn to the family but also extended her love and generosity by always having a house full of relatives and family that was known as “the” house to hang out at in the neighborhood. Gloria was an incredible woman and an even more extraordinary mother, grandmother and recent great-grandmother.Her personal legacy of unconditional love and compassion for family, friends and strangers was a true example of her faith in her God and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1969, an opportunity arose for the family to move to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.It truly was some of the happiest years of her life as she improved the lives of those around her by organizing safer busing and spreading the Word and music of Jesus through school.After leaving St. Croix the family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas.As the children grew older she decided to start a career in real estate.Even though she did not her real estate or brokers’ license yet, Gloria bought Brazosport Realty and partnered with a custom home and cabinet builder, Charlie Ballard. As her existing home sales grew, Gloria branched out and created the first custom home developments and apartment building complexes in Lake Jackson and surrounding Texas towns.Her leadership and creative nature in her many real estate ventures pioneered new business concepts held as common place today.She was extremely well known in her community and her work in the Lake Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the County Board of Realtors. She retired during her daughter’s senior year of high school and moved to Tyler, Texas in 1980 where she proceeded to renovate and grow a home rental business.Gloria also became an in demand real estate appraiser in Tyler. Gloria’s work was a great passion only second to her music.She was given her first guitar at age 8 and taught herself to play while she was up in the oak trees in her Mom’s yard (she loved trees and was always climbing them).Soon it became apparent she had a real talent for singing and playing the guitar as well as writing songs. People loved to hear her sing. Gloria and her husband enjoyed hosting many jam sessions throughout their time together.Her love of music was passed onto her son and daughter and lasted throughout her lifetime. She finally retired until age 73 when she moved to Dallas, Texas to be close to her children and grandchildren.She was 77 years young. She is survived by her children; son Geary Ausbon McCarty, her daughter-in-law Rachael McCarty and her daughter Gaylyn McCarty Hauser, and her son-in-law Tim Hauser; her two grandchildren Lori Michelle McCarty, Megan Danielle Rees and her husband Blake Rees; she also has two very young great-grandchildren Kolton Wayne Rees and Adelynn Willow Rees and her many beloved friends. Gloria was proceeded in death by her father Oliver Ausbon Cole (she was only 18 months when he died) and mother Annie Mae Cole Boudreaux.Along with her many other family members that she loved dearly. She was laid to rest at New Hope Cemetery in Sunnyvale, Texas.