Carol Jean Tate Horsley

Carol Jean Tate Horsley

Age 88

December 28, 1931 – June 7, 2020

Carol was born on December 28, 1931 in her home in the small town of Osyka, MS, the third child of Roy Darrell Tate and Ruby Thompson Tate. She was not expected until February, but when her father got home from quail hunting three days after Christmas, he had a new baby daughter. The wonderful mid-wife who delivered her breathed into her lungs all night long to keep her alive. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age and lived for Him all of her life. She graduated high school from Saint Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS in 1950, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from Southeastern Louisiana College, Hammond, LA in 1954.

Carol was married to James C. Horsley, Jr. at the First Baptist Church, Osyka, MS on July 28, 1957. Throughout her life she was an Air Force wife, homemaker and mother of 3 children, always making family her primary focus. After meeting Jim while teaching at Base Elementary School on Eglin and getting married, they were stationed at Edwards AFB, CA, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, Hahn AFB, Germany, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, Luke AFB, AZ, Jackson, MS, while Jim served in Vietnam, and back to Eglin where Jim retired in 1972. Carol was a member of the First Baptist Church, FWB for over 50 years. She was active teaching English as a second language to many foreign born spouses of service members at the Church’s International English School for over 25 years. She took great care of Jim during his 12 year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Carol passed away in her home in Fort Walton Beach, FL on Sunday, June 7, 2020 after a brief battle with cancer.

Carol loved to cook great food for her friends and family, gardening, many different arts & crafts and shopping. She enjoyed sewing, especially heirloom sewing, smocking and tatting, and creating beautiful garments for her daughter, granddaughter and herself. She was politically active in groups like Women for Responsible Legislation, Panhandle Patriots, FWB Teaparty, textbook review committees and also worked the polls as an election volunteer for many years.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Sally Horsley Spencer and son-in-law, Chris, of Cary, North Carolina; her son, James Steven Horsley, of Fort Walton Beach and granddaughter, Allison Elizabeth Spencer, of Fairfax, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; son, David Tate Horsley; her sister, LaVee Tate Ott and Brother, Dr. Darrell Thompson Tate.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday June 17, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach, followed by a service at 11:00 A.M.  Reception to follow at the church fellowship hall. Carol will be laid to rest with the love of her life, Jim, at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola.

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