Carol Anne Lawler West

Carol Anne Lawler West passed away Sunday February 28, 2016 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia following a brief illness.

Carol was born in Carrollton, Georgia on February 17, 1935 to Thomas Jackson Lawler and Mary Nalley Lawler. She spent her childhood in Carrollton as the youngest of seven children and graduated from Carrollton High School where she participated in many activities including band and basketball.  After high school graduation, Carol married the love of her life, Jimmy Truman (Jim) West, her husband of 61 years. Carol and Jim and their two young boys moved to Marietta and eventually Gainesville in 1962 where she resided remainder of her life.

Upon moving to Gainesville, Carol and Jim chose Lakewood Baptist Church as their place of worship and created many lifelong friends through their church family. Carol taught swimming at Brenau College before settling on a career in bookkeeping with the Gainesville City School system. She began her career at Enota Elementary and eventually moved over to the newly constructed Centennial Elementary. She enjoyed her work and maintained an endearing love for her co-workers and was especially close to Charlotte Watson and Principal Shirley Whitaker, of whom she worked with for 30 years until her retirement.  Carol was an avid reader and a crossword puzzle whiz.  She had a dry wit and humor that was greatly appreciated by all that came to know her.  She, most recently, forged strong bonds with her many caretakers at Dogwood Forrest Assisted Living in Gainesville.

If you knew Carol, you knew of her love for her family. She adored Jim and her two sons, Tommy and Tim, and their families. She was always supportive of all of their personal and professional endeavors, but will perhaps be remembered most for her attendance at all of their many ballgames as they grew up. It was rare for her to miss a game, but when that did occur it no doubt gave the umpires or referees a bit of solitude. She had an incredible knowledge and understanding of baseball, football and basketball, and when she was vocal at a game she was almost always correct.  If she wasn’t, you were not going to argue with her. Her comment was always that she “only offered the referees help when they required it.”

Carol was proceeded in death by her husband Jim West, parents Thomas Jackson Lawler and Mary Nalley Lawler, sisters Mary Ceylene McGinnis, Mamie Edna Harris, Rebecca Jane Gilbert, Joyce Lawler and brother James Thomas Lawler.

She is survived by sons Timothy Victor West (McKemie) of Gainesville, Georgia and Thomas Cleveland West of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; brother Dr. Jack Lawler (Sheri) of Columbus, Georgia; grandchildren Thomas Lawler West of Helen, Georgia, Hope McKemie West Mann (Aaron) of Gainesville, Georgia and Turner Watkins West of Dallas, Texas; sister in law Virginia West Carroll (Wendall) of Bremen, Georgia; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00a.m. on Tuesday March 1, 2016 at Lakewood Baptist Church. Reverend Tom Smiley and Dr. Jerry Gill will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lakewood Baptist Church Missions Fund in her name.

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Hwy. Gainesville, GA 30501 is in charge of arrangements.