Carrie Lindsey

The Story of Carrie E. Williams Lindsey

Carrie Williams Lindsey was born January 11, 1929, in a home on a hill above Negra, New Mexico. She was the fourth child of six born to Albert and Hallie Walker Williams who were homesteaders in the New Mexico Territory. At four years old she started to school in the one room schoolhouse across the dirt road from her house. She says she couldn't read until 4th grade but thinks the teacher would have sent her home.

She had many stories of growing up on the prairie. The Williams siblings loved animals, especially horses. She and her sister, Lelia, watched the A-Bomb mushroom cloud at the Trinity sight from their front yard. She told stories of the cattle being shot down by the government under the railroad bridge during the Depression and her brothers going off to World War II and coming home. She graduated from Encino Schools at age 15 and went off to ENMU with her older sister, Lelia. (Who discovered the flea that causes Bubonic Plague while in school at UNM. Her Research is in the Smithsonian Institute for Earth Science.) While at Eastern Carrie played in the Orchestra and Marching Band. (She played nine different instruments.) She graduated with a degree in Music Education at 19 years of age.

In 1948 she moved to Forrest, NM to teach choir and Home Economics. After a time, Ernest Lindsey, home at the end of WWII and farming on his parent's homestead near Plain, NM, noticed a "beautiful young lady with long blond hair and a pink sweater'' at a famous Forrest Pirates basketball game. They were married in May of 1951. He told a nephew he was going to Clovis and bringing back something with yellow hair. Bill searched all over the car, when they got back from the wedding, looking for little yellow chickens. Carrie and Ernest worked hard, saved, and later bought the land from Ernest's parents. Carrie taught school in Forrest, Melrose, Porter, Tucumcari, Rosedale, and Grady. She taught up to 3 generations of students in many families.

They raised 4 children in the Lindsey's green, stucco, handmade, adobe house. Lynn, LaNell, Connie, and Coy were all completely different in looks and personality. She tried to give all four piano lessons and Connie was her success with the piano and LaNell could learn a song in minutes. Carrie wished Biology came with lyrics so LaNell could make an A. She taught Lynn and LaNell to dance almost every dance they would need to know. Coy and Connie may have just not wanted to. She made sure her kids were in church and Vacation Bible School because they would each need Jesus Christ in their lives. She didn't push but all excepted Christ as Savior.

She played piano at Forrest Baptist/Methodist Church and had her student preform their choir arrangements. She remembered many of her students came to accept Christ as Lord and Savior during these times. She played at Grady Baptist Church while her kids were growing up and after retirement, she started back at the Forrest Community Church and just retired from the piano bench a couple of years ago. Over the years she taught 100s of children and some parents to play instruments.

While raising those 4 and teaching full time, she went back to ENMU and earned her Master's degree in Elementary Education. Earnest was so proud of her accomplishments and loved her so much. (One night he told LaNell "Never marry unless you love them as much as I love your mother!)

Earnest and Carrie were intent on getting their children the best education so they could be a success in

their chosen field. All 4 got at least 1 Masters and Connie received her PA at Texas Medical in Dallas. All

achievements were to their parents' delight.

Carrie had 7 grand-children and 16 great-grandchildren who she adored. She loved hearing about their adventures and getting their pictures and letters. She felt her family was her greatest achievement, but she was also inducted into the Grady Teachers Hall of Fame and received the Quay County and New Mexico Extension Association "Pioneer Woman of the Year''!

Carrie lived a long and blessed life. She was well loved and respected by generations of students throughout many communities.

Music and teaching were her Gifts from God. He gave her the delights of her heart with Christ, her husband and family. She loved her Lindsey place of honor in the last few years as the Lindsey matriarch and the love of her Williams family!

Carrie is survived by her son Lynn Lindsey (Brenda), Daughter LaNell L Leatherwood (Terry), son Coy Lindsey (Tracey). Grandchildren; Jason, Jarrod, and Joli Lindsey, Ryan Leatherwood, Nikole, Justin, and Brenton Lindsey. Sixteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, daughter Connie Lindsey, her mother and father, two brothers, two sisters, her mother and father in law, three brother in law's and two sister in law's.

Carrie Lindsey requested in Lieu of flowers please donate to the Connie Lindsey Scholarship Fund, 4007 CR O, Broadview, NM 88112