Mary Kathryn Roberts Carroll-Biggs

Mary Kathryn (Mary K.) Roberts Carroll-Biggs passed away Sunday, January 3, 2021.  A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 13, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, Texas, with Dr. Mark Bender, Senior Minister and Dr. David Hartman officiating.  The service is under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.  The Celebration of Life service will be live streamed at Facebook.com/FCCWF or search: youtube.com/First Christian Church Wichita Falls

Mary K. was born July 15, 1929, to Kathryn Barrett Roberts and Dr. Joseph F. Roberts in Borger, Texas.  She attended Wichita Falls public schools, Midwestern State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Christian University.  She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa while attending TCU.  Mary K. also attended additional classes at Texas Southmost College, University of Missouri, Stanford University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Alaska.

Upon graduating from TCU, Mary K. became director of youth activities at the Y.W.C.A., Wichita Falls, and also supervised monthly dances for Sheppard Air Force personnel. Her teaching career began at Crockett Elementary School in fourth grade English, History, and Geography and in later years she taught at Kate Haynes Elementary.

During the summers, Mary K. held interesting positions including a recreational director at Rainbow Trout Lodge in Colorado and once worked at a Mission School while living with family in Hong Kong. In the late 1950's Mary K. moved to Austin to work as Staff Services Director for Will Wilson, Texas Attorney General and later as State Women's Director of Will Wilson's campaign for the United States Senate.

In 1962, Mary K. and William R. Carroll married and moved "North to Alaska" to began their interesting life and travel with the Air Force.  Mary K. loved the United States of America and considered it an honor to be a military wife.  While living in Alaska, they survived the 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964 and a volcano eruption.  Mary K. taught in elementary schools in each location they lived including Alaska, California and Missouri.

After being stationed many places, Mary K. and Bill returned to Sheppard Air Force Base in 1979 just in time to experience and survive the Wichita Falls tornado.  While living there, the Carroll Family was privileged to be a "Host Family" to a returning Vietnam POW and his family. After Bill passed away July 1, 1987, Mary K. returned to teaching.  She became very involved in the Odyssey of the Mind program (creative approach to education) for the WFISD as a judge at the city, district, state and nine years at the world level.  She was a recipient of the West Foundation Award for teaching excellence.

Her passion for teaching and travel guided her to be an English as Second Language (E.S.L.) Teacher for Chinese teachers in Zhengzhou, Henan, China and also in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.  Mary K. was a lecturer on cruise lines through the Alaskan Inland Passage and a step-on-guide for bus tours in Anchorage, Alaska. Through her lifetime, she traveled extensively and presented travel logs to many schools and organizations, taking and leaving a better understanding of cultures.

James E. Biggs, Jr. and Mary K. were married in 2001 and continued their love of life and travel.

Mary K. was a lifetime member and deaconess of the First Christian Church in Wichita Falls.  She was on the board of directors of YWCA, YMCA, and The Women's Forum.  The State Alumni President for Midwestern State University and life member of the Texas History & Geography Society and Delta Kappa Gamma.  An active member of P.E.O. Chapter EA, Symphony League, Criterion Club, and The Rotary North Club of Wichita Falls where she was a Paul Harris Fellow. She was also a member of Air Force Wives Clubs, Wichita Falls Area Association of Retired School Personnel, Texas State Association of Professional Educators, and a graduate of Leadership Wichita Falls.

Mary K. loved her extended family at Rolling Meadows and was always ready and willing to help others in need.  A strong, vibrant, poised, beautiful lady with a great sense of humor who enjoyed life and her roles as daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend!   An amazing teacher who cared deeply for her students and was still in contact with many that she taught.

Mary K. graced our lives with her presence!

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. J.F. Roberts and husbands, William R. Carroll, Jr. and James E. Biggs, Jr., cousin, Eddie Williams and sister-in-law, Kathryn Grennell.

Surviving relatives include, daughter, Kathryn Ann Carroll (CO) and grandchildren, Christopher Anderson (TX), Jessica Bastable-Manning (MN) and Breanna Gayman (CO).  Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Charles and Beth Carroll (FL). Nieces and nephew, Margaret Grennell (TX), Barbara Durham (TX) and Myron Grennell (TX).  Cousins, Elizabeth Williams (AR), Kristin K. Williams (AR), Peggy and Tom Payne (MO), Peter and Patty Robison (CA). Others include a special friend, Katie Putman, neighbor and friends, Larry and Peggy Berend, many beloved students and a host of friends.

The family requests that memorials for Mary K. be made to First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, Texas 76308.