Saturday, August 31, 2024
Joe Hal Carothers, age 81, of Kempner, passed away Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, at his home.
Joe was born March 31, 1943, in Big Springs to Joseph William and Sarah Carothers. His family later moved to Coryell County where he grew up on the family farm with his three siblings, Bobby, Carol Ann, and Gary.
Joe was a gifted athlete at Gatesville High School. He was named Most Valuable Back, 2nd team all-state quarterback, and 3rd team all-state defensive back for football in 1960. In the regional finals playoff game against Taylor, Joe earned the nickname “Golden Toe Joe” after kicking the game winning field goal with time expired. Joe and the entire 1960 football team were inducted into the Gatesville Hall of Fame in 2021.
He graduated from Gatesville High School with the Class of 1961. After High School, Joe attended Texas Christian University on a football scholarship later transferring to Tarleton State University in Stephenville and then to Baylor Law School where he received his Juris Doctorate in May of 1972.
Joe opened his first law practice in Kingsland in 1973. He moved his firm to the Copperas Cove area in 1974 where Land Exchange Abstract & Title and his law practice have served the area for the past 50 years. In 1981, Joe opened Land Exchange Abstract & Title in Killeen venturing into the Bell County market. Joe valued and appreciated his customers, the realtor community, and the homebuilders he was able to serve over the years.
Joe was an exceptional leader for all his employees; he loved and appreciated their dedication and commitment.
Joe was also a homebuilder and land developer in the Central Texas area.
Joe served as the president of the Central Texas Homebuilder’s Association in 1979 where he also served on the board of directors. He also served as the secretary for the Copperas Cove Industrial Foundation and as a board member for 20 Years.
He was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting, boating, and fishing. He tried his hand at many things in life, including riding bulls at the age of 17. In his younger years, Joe traveled to Colorado and broke horses. His love of equine continued throughout his life on the Oakalla ranch. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. He spent many years perfecting his thoroughbred breeding program where he produced many championship bloodlines.
He was a published poet and a member of the Academy of American Poets. He had an extensive library where he researched some of his favorite topics such as ancient history, gemology, and herbology. He also enjoyed having fun with his family, playing shuffleboard, listening to music, and dancing with his wife, Nancy, in the ranch game room. Joe could really “cut a rug” and have a good time, earning him the title of “Cocktail Mixologist Extraordinaire” from friends.
On July 2, 1998, Joe married the love of his life, Nancy Sisco. This union blended their families into a beautiful new chapter. His role expanded from father of six to “Papa” of nine grandchildren that he adored.
His parents; a son, Joshua H. Carothers and a sister, Carol Ann Dillard, preceded Joe in death.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Nancy Sisco-Carothers, of Kempner; two sons, Joe Keith Carothers and his wife, Nicole, of Kempner; Jason Hedlund and wife, Tara, of Austin; three daughters, Tanya McMillan and husband, Mark, of Kempner; Kristin Williams and her husband, James, of Lampasas; and Kara Hedlund and her husband, Kevin Wilson, of Austin; two brothers, Bobby Carothers and his wife, Nelda, of Gatesville, and Gary Carothers of Washington State; nine grandchildren, Tiffani Walthrop, Xander Walthrop, Bella Grasso, Colton Carothers, Gia Grasso, Luca Grasso, Sovi Williams, Finn Hedlund, and Freyja Hedlund.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, in the Chapel of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove. Joe was laid to rest on the family ranch in Kempner.
Serving as pallbearers were Xander Walthrop, Colton Carothers, Skyler Carothers, Canyon Carothers Connor Carothers, Jason Hedlund, Mark McMillan, and James Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Finn Hedlund and Luca Grasso.
For those that desire, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be given to the Copperas Cove Education Foundation in memory of Joe H. Carothers, P.O. Box 943, Copperas Cove, TX 76522.
Words of Comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordbowersfuneralhomecopperascove.com.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove.
