Kathy Carrol Caroland

Kathy Carroll (Hobbs) Caroland, 72, of Merkel, Texas, passed away on January 15, 2026, in Abilene, Texas, at Hendricks Hospice.  

Kathy was born in Brownfield, TX, to Merlin and Nell Hobbs on May 5, 1953. She lived on the family farm in Ropesville, TX, and graduated high school from Ropes High School in 1971. Kathy then went to college at South Plains College and received an associate's degree in business. There she met her husband of 52 years, Eddie Caroland. Kathy and Eddie got married on September 22, 1973, at First Baptist Church of Ropes, and had two children, Cecily and Charles. They moved to Merkel, TX, in 1981, and Kathy started work at the Abilene Rehab Center driving a bus for Merkel children going to school at Abilene Rehab. This is when she decided to go back to school to become a teacher. Kathy went to Hardin Simmons University and got a Bachelor of Education with a specialization in Special Education in 1990. Kathy taught at Johnston Elementary in Abilene, TX, for 21 years. She was able to retire from teaching in 2011 and spent all the time with her grandchildren she could, pouring all her love into them. Kathy loved the mountains and going camping. She would vacation/camp almost every summer in Colorado since she and Eddie married. She was dedicated to all the children she taught and loved to see them excel once they moved on from her class.   

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Nell Hobbs; her younger siblings, Merlin Chris Hobbs and Melody Hobbs Lykins; and her in-laws Myron and Rose Caroland and brother-in-law Michael Caroland.  

Kathy is survived by her spouse Eddie, daughter Cecily Holder and spouse Roland of Midland, TX; her grandchildren Carsten Holder of Guam (Navy) and Ryla Holder of Midland, TX; her son, Charles Caroland of Abilene; her sisters Iva Roberson (husband John) and Charlotte Hawkins (husband Dan); in-laws Dirk Lykins, Kay Caroland, Ken Caroland (wife Jamie), and Kim Caroland; and many nieces and nephews.  

Funeral services will be held graveside only at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 1:00 pm. There will be a family and friends visitation Sunday evening at Starbuck Funeral home in Merkel from 5 PM to 7 PM.   

The family of Kathy wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Shudde, Kathy’s primary doctor, and Dr. Mossack and all the loving and caring nurses and staff at Hendricks Hospice who took such great and loving care of Kathy

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