Caroline Kinney, aged 95, died on November 2, 2018. She was born in Camden, Arkansas, on July 27, 1923, to Edgar and Roy W. Roberts. She was an American beauty with flaming red hair and sky blue eyes who had an engaging personality and a keen wit. She grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the daughter of a university professor. She graduated as high school valedictorian of the Class of 1940 and earned her bachelor’s degree with high honors from the University of Arkansas in 1944. She balanced academics with an active social life as a loyal and dedicated lifetime member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After college, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she met her future husband, Harrison “Buzz” Kinney. They married on March 12, 1949 and honeymooned in Corpus Christi at which time she laid eyes on Port Aransas for the very first time, never guessing what an important part the PA community would play in her life. She and Buzz enjoyed 62 years of marriage raising a family, traveling the world and retiring in Port Aransas, until his death in 2011.
Caroline and Buzz started their lives together in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where son Harrison, Jr. was born in 1951. They moved to Dallas, Texas, where daughter Julie was born in 1954. The family lived in Dallas for many years but spent summer vacations in Port Aransas. They built a small summer house there in 1966 and retired in Port A in 1981. Caroline lived here until 2017, when Hurricane Harvey forced her to move to Corpus Christi.
Caroline was a loving and caring mother who instilled in her children a love of learning and independent, critical thought. She created a safe and caring environment for them through suffering many years of Cub Scouts and Blue Bird meetings, PTA committees and innumerable childhood events. As they grew into adulthood, she fully supported them to follow the paths in life they chose, though at times against her better judgment. She loved and was very proud of her grandchildren who have very fond memories of their “Grandma Eline”. She brought a sense of magic into their lives especially at Christmas, during which she would craft a Yule Tide wonderland.
She and Buzz were able to experience an idyllic 30 year retirement in Port Aransas. She made many close friends who she held so very, very dear. She and Buzz were finally able to travel the world with Morocco and Machu Picchu in Peru being her favorite destinations. Caroline was very active in PA community life. She participated as a member and elder with the Community Presbyterian Church. She was a past president of the Port Aransas Garden Club, and helped start the Port Aransas Clean Team, which later became Keep Port Aransas Beautiful. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, beachcombing, traveling, fishing with Buzz, and spending time with friends and family. She also liked to play dominoes and do crossword puzzles with her son-in-law, Butch Findley.
Caroline was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her son, Harrison, Jr. (Kathy) of Longview, TX, daughter, Julie (Butch) of Port Aransas; granddaughters Mari Haislip (Daniel) of Longview, TX, Elizabeth Lade (Jamey) of Frankston, TX, and Kate Findley (Isaiah Frizzell) of Los Angeles, CA; great grandchildren Audrie, Allie, Bryson, and Max Moses; and Ethan and Gavin Lade.
Memorial service will be held on November 24 at the Trinity-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
Loading Comments