A Tribute to Richard Earl Carroll by Gayla Griffith Carroll

To our friends and family members in Tennessee, Florida and around the country. Richard Carroll went home to be with the Lord at about 10:15 last night. He was in Florida with his daughter Maria Boatwright and her husband Jimmie Sr., our son Aaron Noble and his wife Connie. He has another daughter Peggy Smith, husband Frank and their children in Michigan. Other survivors are his grandchildren Caitlyn and Richard Noble, Valerie and Sarah Noble, Jimmie Boatwright Jr., Jerome Boatwright, Iesha Boatwright and Ylonda Boatwright and her two children plus Emma Marie Key and her children all of Florida. Other survivors are his father George Earl Carroll and wife Louise, brothers Roger, Russell, Randy, and Steve Carroll all of Michigan and sister Joanne Carter and husband Chris of Diamond Bar, CA. He is also survived by Helen Wright the mother of his two daughters and his lifelong friend.
Richard was born 1-20-1947 in Royal Oak, Michigan to George Earl Carroll and Paula Anne Garber...their firstborn.
Richard had his moments when he was a Grizzly Bear but most of the time he was a big Teddy Bear who loved his family deeply. We had our issues but I regret no time I lived as his wife and as his caregiver for the last 6 years until he moved home to be with Maria in November. He also has a high school buddy Dennis Vertrees in the Detroit, MI area who hosted Rick in September when he got to visit with his father George, for the last time. Dennis was a very good friend to Rick, and his wife Chris and I enjoyed each other's company very much. About 5 years ago Chris and Dennis came to visit Rick and I in Rossville, GA and we all went to dinner at the Station House Restaurant a part of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Those two guys were like high school boys again that night. They asked the Station House singers to do THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT and I have to tell you for an impromptu performance it was excellent. I don't think I have ever seen Rick have so much fun before or since then and I am happy that they had that chance together to become teenagers again for a night and so happy I got to witness it. I am glad to have met Dennis and Chris through Rick. Lastly, He was a member of Fairview Nazarene Church in Rossville, GA. None of us were ready to say goodbye to him and his loss will leave a void in all of our hearts.