Betty Louise Carroll

Betty Louise Echols Carroll, 74 years old, died on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at MD Anderson Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
After a victorious fight with breast cancer in 1989, Betty’s battle with cancer resumed June 2016 in her lungs. Her strong will to live, steadfast faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends supported her through recent chemo and radiation treatments.
Betty was born on October 18, 1941 in Monroe, Louisiana.
After graduating Bastrop High School in 1959, she married the love of her life, William Edward Carroll, Sr., July 22, 1961 and started their family.
She worked as a nurse for The Women’s Clinic in Monroe while she attended Northeast Louisiana University to obtain her education degree. In 1977 she graduated with a B.A. from NLU and furthered her education and received a Master’s degree in Education plus 30 graduate hours in 1986 from NLU.
She fulfilled her life dream to be an educator working in Monroe City Schools and Morehouse Parish School Systems throughout her career. During her career as an educator she worked in a wide breadth of positions which included special needs teacher, an educational assessment teacher, Coordinator of Pupil Appraisals, Director of Special Education, and Personnel Director and Executive Director of Human Resources. Her passion was to ensure the educational rights of children by working as a strong and vocal advocate for adequate funding for public schools, the need for quality teachers in the classroom and equipping those teachers with the tools necessary to be successful. Following her retirement, Betty continued to work in the education arena by consulting with the development of the Beekman charter school program.
Betty was affectionately called “the heart” of her family. She loved planning and cooking for special events around birthdays and holidays. She loved gardening and watching the massive numbers of hummingbirds that visited her garden patio yearly.
Betty was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Monroe, LA. She loved singing in the choir and participating in prayer meetings, LWML events and social gatherings with her church family. She also was an active member of the Retired Teachers Association and the National Education Association.
Betty is survived by her husband, Bill; daughter, Cathi Howse and husband Neil of Swartz, LA; son, Edward Carroll and wife Frannie of Monroe, LA and daughter, Jenny Slack and husband Todd of Brandon, MS; sister, Mary Alice Echols of Eugene, OR; brother, Rev. William Echols and his wife Linda of Monroe, LA; Grandchildren: Michael McCallum, Nicole Slack, Jacob Carroll, Katey Slack, Ian Howse; and Great-Grandchild, Riley Jane Slack; and many nieces and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by her father, Don Henry Echols; her mother, Betty Jane Smelser Echols and her brother, Don Henry Echols, III.
Memorial services are 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1301 Oliver Rd, Monroe, LA 71201. Visitation will be 9:00 AM until service time Tuesday at the church.
Interment will be in the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Mausoleum, 3706 Bon Aire Dr, Monroe, LA 71203.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make a memorial donation to Susan G. Komen, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265 or WW5. Komen.org; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1301 Oliver Rd, Monroe, LA 71201 or St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 3706 Bon Aire Dr, Monroe, LA 71203.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA