Carol Lee Frances Gandy (nee Kautz) was born on December 11, 1933 in Atchison County, Kansas, to Alice Lorine (nee Ray) and Leo Francis Kautz and passed away on May 28, 2024 in McKinney, Texas. Carol was the oldest of eleven children, six of whom survived to adulthood. She grew up in Atchison and graduated Atchison High School in 1951, the same year she married her first husband, Emmett J Sands. She relocated to San Francisco, California sometime before the birth of her first daughter in 1955. While in San Franciso, she worked as a civilian secretary for the U.S. Navy
After the dissolution of her first marriage, Carol accepted a position with North American Aviation and relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1958. While working as a secretary, she met her future husband James “Jim” Gandy, and they were married on July 2, 1959. The couple would go on to have two more wonderful children together. They lived in Garden Grove, California while raising their three children. Carol and Jim were very involved in their community; they participated in local politics, were very active in their children's schools, and coached girls' softball and little league baseball, amongst many other activities. Carol worked for many years at May Company, where she gained the skill of wrapping presents beautifully.
Five years after her husband retired from his job in 1989, Carol and Jim relocated to Harrison, Arkansas. They purchased a lovely home on five acres where they enjoyed feeding the deer and watching the local wildlife. Though retired, the couple stayed engaged with their community. They made many friends through the Republican party and Jim's volunteer work with the Boone County Election Commission. Carol joined a local bowling team, and immensely enjoyed her time with them. At least once a year Carol and Jim either hosted their children and their families at their Harrison home or went to visit their children.
Carol was known for her generous spirit; she was always buying gifts for people and taking her children and grandchildren on shopping trips. She had a love of sweets, though she would never admit it. She loved scary movies, fancy jewelry, and watching her kids and grandchildren play sports. She delighted in small acts of fun; when her children were small, she used to have them sing and dance to “Mississippi Mud” for her coffee guests. Carol’s laughter was contagious, and her smile would light up any room. She will be dearly missed by everyone she left behind, and joyously welcomed into heaven by all who came before her.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Jim, who died in 2021. She is survived by her three children: Pamela Jetmore of El Paso, Texas, Michael Gandy of McKinney, Texas, and Brenda Ortiz of Foothill Ranch, California; ten grandchildren: Clayton Jetmore, Jae Smith, Derrek Jetmore, Lauren West, Melissa Gandy, Matthew Gandy, Christopher Gandy, Emily Ortiz, Nolan Ortiz, and Angela Ortiz, and eight (soon to be nine!) great-grandchildren: Judah Jetmore, Eleanor Jetmore, Emmett West, Mackenzie West, Austin West, June Gandy, Merritt Gandy, Howard Gandy, and future baby Smith.
Services to be announced later.