Carole Ann Zea

1941 - 2025

Lubbock, Texas - Carole Ann Zea (Spence) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on December 16, 2025 at the age of 84.

She was born on July 16, 1941 in Lubbock, Texas to Paul and Evelyn (Jackson) Spence.

Carole Ann was a faithful member of her local church in Odessa, TX, serving as a greeter and on several committees; she had a love for missions. She also loved traveling, dancing, and bowling, even achieving the noteworthy "300 Club" status. As a teenager, she was an active member of the Pioneers youth group at the First Presbyterian Church in Odessa, TX.

She was a graduate of Odessa High School in 1959; she was active in student activities, participated in choir, and served as class treasurer. She continued and maintained connections with friends and consistently attended reunions until her health no longer permitted. She also attended Odessa College, where she was a member of the Señoritas De Las Rosas Bull Whip Dance Team.

Carole Ann's career path took her from banking as a teller and loan manager in the Fort Worth area to oilfield supply secretary in Elk City, OK, and ultimately paralegal work in Mineral Wells and Odessa, TX. Her life was marked by love and generosity for her Lord and Savior, for her friends and family, and for her church community and missions.

She is survived by her daughter Terry Cooke, granddaughter Cambrie Holguin and her husband Dustin, grandson Keegan Cooke and his wife Gloria, great-grandchild Annabelle Cooke, great-grandchild Brian Cooke, her sister Mary Jane Smith, niece Genevieve Smith and her husband Chad, and their son Ewan and the John Smith family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Evelyn Spence, brothers Jack and Ted Spence, brother-in-law John Smith, and son-in-law Brian Cooke.

The memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on January 25, 2026, at Combest Family Funeral Home, 2210 Broadway, Lubbock, TX. Chaplain H. Dean of Beyond Faith Hospice will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite mission.

Her friends and family will miss her earthly presence dearly yet we all rejoice in knowing that she is now at home, wrapped safely in the arms of her Lord.

Revelation 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."