April 18, 1969 ~ September 21, 2023 (age 54)
Carolyn Anne Braun Parker of Arlington, Texas was born April 18, 1969, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Her father, Bernie Braun, worked for NASA as an engineer the first year of Carolyn’s life. She was born in the Cape Canaveral Hospital. After the family relocated, she grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas. She spent many summer days and holidays in Stephenville, Texas visiting her grandparents. Over the years, there were many family reunions in Stephenville where she was often found playing with the kittens in the “blue room” with her sister, Mary, fishing at the lake with Michael, and playing with her cousins, Todd and Allison. She enjoyed the freedom of exploring the family farm and the joys of country living.
Carolyn graduated in 1987 from Grand Prairie High School. During her high school years, she played clarinet in the symphonic band, participated in color guard, played guitar in the jazz and pop choir bands, and most notably served as “The Gopher” mascot her junior and senior years. She was a straight-A student all through school and was a member of the National Honor Society.
She attended her freshman year of college at the University of North Texas. She transferred her sophomore year, graduating in 1993 from the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. During the summer of her senior year, Carolyn had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program which allowed her to travel and receive art and art history credit for school. She traveled throughout Italy, including Rome and Pompeii. Her studies continued throughout Greece, Crete, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel. It was a life-changing experience for her which allowed her to develop a life-long appreciation for travel, art, history, and people of all cultures.
Carolyn had a passion for art and music. She played guitar and sang with several bands throughout her
twenties. She made headlines in the Dallas newspapers and was featured on the local news when her band “Prom” was one of only two bands from Dallas area chosen to play Lollapalooza in 1995. Her bands Prom and Hush played clubs regularly for several years in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton and a few other major cities in Texas. They also played numerous other festivals including the Deep Ellum Arts Festival and Rock-the-Vote.
Professionally, Carolyn medically retired with 22 years as a graphic designer in Texas public education. She became the first Webmaster for The Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District in 1999. In addition to designing the district and campus websites, she also created the district’s videos and print publications. She won countless state and national awards in all three areas including Best-in-State for the district website.
In 2009 she spearheaded the creation of the district’s only art car. Working with students from the auto collision classes, they transformed a 1984 Toyota pick-up into a hippie-inspired boat in memory of her good friend Jeffry H. Morris. She helped raise money to take about 20 students to Houston to participate in the famous Houston Art Car Parade. Many of the students had never traveled outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The students were honored with People’s Choice Award as well as 2nd Place in the student entries. It is worth noting, Carolyn won a national award for her video documentary she produced of the project.
After 16 years with HEB ISD, Carolyn returned to her hometown. She accepted a position with Grand Prairie ISD as a Graphic Media Specialist where she continued to design award-winning publications and projects. She originated and designed the kaleidoscope theme and publications for the district’s groundbreaking schools of choice program. One big project included the design of the South Grand Prairie Warrior Band semi-trailer wrap, which represented her rival high school her husband Britt graduated from! Hailing from rival hometown high schools was something the two of them very much enjoyed.
Personally, Carolyn also used her talents in the community. She served voluntarily on the advisory board for Safe Haven domestic abuse organization and shelter. While serving, she created posters, t-shirt designs, and helped organize events to bring awareness to the community. She also spoke to high school girls about teen dating violence. Musically, she volunteered to play guitar for the praise and worship team for her church, Rock Church, now called Legacy Church, every Sunday for a period of about two years alongside the love of her life, Britton Parker. She and Britt also helped a local restaurant owner by hosting weekly open mic events to help bring in customers and give local musicians a place to perform.
Aside from her own immediate family, Carolyn’s biggest life passion was being a part of the Hippie Foundation which ultimately turned into her Hippie family. What started out as a foundation to bring awareness about colon cancer turned into an extended tight-knit family. In the early years, the foundation continued to show the art car in parades and car shows and raised money to donate to various causes. They also organized “Hippiefest” in Athens, Texas with three days of free live music and camping. The festival continued for about ten years until it began to get too big. Hippiefest lived on however, with a smaller family reunion type version of Hippiefest held at Lake Whitney.
The Hippie family continues to gather and still raises money for scholarships and other causes. Carolyn
designed many of the Hippiefest t-shirts and participated in the Hippiefest band. In 2019 the entire Hippie family went to Hawaii together! The Hippie family was one of the biggest joys of her life to be a part of. It was a second family full of love, she could rely on for anything.
Carolyn’s biggest love of all however, was her own family. She gave birth, raised and adored two loving
children, Alex and Amelie. They were the absolute pride and joy of her life and she made sure they always felt loved and put ahead of her own needs. She was also lucky enough to add to the family the most wonderful daughter-in-law, Alicia and most precious grandbaby, Daphne Elise. She loved becoming a grandma!
Although meeting later in life, she felt so fortunate to have finally met and married the true love of her life,
Britton. The two were affectionately known as “Brittolyn”. They bonded over music and guitars but mostly bonded with each other. They were inseparable. They shared countless hours of music, love, laughter and creating memories. They have hundreds of pictures together that represent just how happy the two of them were and how much they loved each other. The two were seemingly inseparable.
Carolyn also had a special bond with her cat, TeleCatster. She was often referred to as Carolyn’s spirit animal as she mimicked her and followed her everywhere around the house. She would even weigh herself after Carolyn got off the scale every morning. “Tele” would also curl up beside Carolyn during the long and many days she endured countless hours of chemo infusions at home. Nothing was more comforting to her.
Carolyn was a compassionate, creative and peaceful person, always flashing a peace sign for the camera. She enjoyed traveling, painting, designing t-shirts, live music, writing songs, and playing guitar and other instruments with friends. She loved family gatherings and getting together with friends. She enjoyed a good margarita, especially one made by and enjoyed with her beloved sister Mary. The last few years of her life she learned to be the captain of her own boat, a lifelong dream. She enjoyed time on the lake with her family and two best friends Cyn Ramirez and Mary Newton when her health allowed. Her simple message in life was to live life to the fullest, and she did.
Carolyn was preceded in death by:
Mother: Marilyn Adele Frazier
Step-brother: Buddy Elliot
She is survived by:
Father: Bernie Louis Braun, wife Glenda
Husband: Britton Allen Parker
Children: Alexandre Xavier Braun, wife Alicia
Amelie Chachere Marcantel
Grandchild: Daphne Elise Braun
Sister: Mary Elizabeth Necessary, husband Steve
Brother: Michael Louis Braun
Niece: Megan Necessary
Nephew: Nicholas Necessary
Step-children: Justin Lee Parker
Bobby Lee Parker, wife Kristin (children: Addison Elizabeth Parker, Kai Wesley Parker)
Amy Elizabeth Shrum
Step-sister: Juli Elliot Vrzak, husband Mark (children Cameron, Taylor, Rider)
Cousins: Jefferson Todd Frazier, wife Jennifer (children Mac and Kenzie)
Allison Frazier Balser, husband Eli (children Abraham and Ruth)
Uncle: Oscar Howard “Bud” Frazier, and wife Rachel
Funeral services for Carolyn will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Stephenville Funeral Home. Burial will follow at East Memorial Cemetery in Stephenville
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