Carter Jane Bardwell

Carter Jane Fletcher Bardwell was born in Kilgore, Texas September 28, 1939. She was the
only child of Ruth and Wilton Fletcher. She grew up in Quitman, Texas making life long friends
who she loved and kept up with until her final days. She married Billy Michael Bardwell in 1957
and soon started a life in Dallas in the early 1960s. They had two daughters, Carolyn Michelle
born 1960 and DeLeigh born 1966. Although they divorced in the early 1970s they remained
good friends until Mike's death in March 2017. Miss Jane's early work life circled around radio /
broadcast management working for WRR, KXAS and Arbitron. She managed the Stoneleigh
Hotel in the 1980s and returned to Quitman to help manage the estate of C.E. Burden and write
a social column for the Quitman Democrat. In the late 1990s she was awarded Volunteer of the
Year, worked several years with Meals on Wheels, The Old Settlers Reunion, the Quitman
Kawanis Club and was the first woman to run for Quitman Mayor in 1998 losing only by 40
votes. She was an avid quilter and always had a ball of yarn close by. She hand made every
prom dress, dance costume and wedding dress and she NEVER missed a dance performance
or soccer game. If a grandkid had an event, YaiYai was there.
Carter Jane died Sunday, June 18 2023 from advanced Dementia. She had been lovingly cared
for by E and J Cottages in Dallas for over five years. She is survived by her daughters Carolyn
Michelle Bardwell Pettee and DeLeigh Bardwell Talbott, son in laws Jonathan Starr Pettee and
John Sutcliffe Talbott Jr. ; Grandchildren Twyla Skye Shelmire Thompson and husband
Christopher Duncan Thompson Jr., Jesse Bedford Shelmire V, Tiger Lily Shelmire, John
Sutcliffe Talbott III and Madeleine Fletcher Talbott; Great grandchildren Juniper Rose Shelmire,
Royal McRae Thompson and Rhett Wilder Thompson; Cousins Ed Goodman, Linda McClain,
Kenneth and Sharon Fletcher and John Fletcher. Lifelong friends Joe Lee, Shirley Beth
Courtney Banion and Brother Fred Marrow.
We will long to hear the jangle of your charm bracelets and your feisty comments. You will be
missed in this physical world but always alive in our hearts. We love you Momma,YaiYai, Miss
Jane.
Graveside service Saturday, September 30 2023, 10am Roselawn Cemetery Hwy 37, Mineola,
TX.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Kiwanis Club of Quitman-Lake Fork (#K14909)
403 S Main St, Quitman, TX 75783 (903) 394-8941