Carolyn Kay

Walker

Carolyn Kay Walker 86, of Colorado City, passed away on October 8,2026, surrounded by her loved ones. Carolyn was professional artist, athlete, educator, coach, wife and mother. She was born in Inadale TX on October 12, 1939 to Rudolph J. Baumann Sr. and Josephine Onken Baumann. Carolyn grew up attending the Roscoe and Loraine school districts, while also working on her family cotton farm. She understood the value of education and after graduating high school, attended McMurray University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Her degree allowed her to pursue a career that combined her passions for art, sports, and teaching. Carolyn went on to earn a Master of Education from Sul Ross State University and a Master of Fine Arts from West Texas A&M University. Always in pursuit of improving her skills as an artist, Carolyn studied with numerous professional artists of both national and international renown, including Frederick Taubes, Al Brouillette, Bud Biggs, Jan Herring, William Henry Earle and Michael McCollugh. As an artist and educator, Carolyn shared what she learned, teaching privately in Colorado City, teaching art at the Jan Herring Art School, and founding the Walker Art School in Cloudcroft, NM. Over the years, Carolyn taught numerous art workshops and gave painting demonstrations across West Texas, East Texas, New Mexico and Nebraska.

Carolyn began her career in public education at Shiner ISD before moving to teach at Colorado ISD. In 1965 she met Charles Walker, Court Reporter for the 32nd Judicial District. Charles and Carolyn were married on August 12, 1967, and recently celebrated their 59th anniversary. . Through the course of their marriage, they welcomed two sons, Mark and Scott and enjoyed a marriage filled with many happy memories of water skiing at Lake Colorado City, snow skiing in New Mexico, playing tennis and traveling throughout the Southwestern United States. Above all else, Carolyn’s happiest memories came from time spent at the family cabin in Cloudcroft, NM.

As an athlete, Carolyn played basketball and tennis for Loraine ISD and tennis for McMurray University. In addition to teaching art and history, Carolyn also had a long and successful career coaching high school and middle school sports. She first coached at Shiner ISD and later Colorado ISD. She coached Girl’s volleyball, basketball, track and tennis at the high school and middle school levels as well as Boy’s tennis. During her career she coached her boy’s and girl’s tennis teams to multiple district championships and took athletes to regionals each year. She also coached Laura Baum to the state tournament.

Carolyn is included in the 1980 edition of American Artists of Renown for her painting “The Bird Nest”, and she is also listed in the 1984 – 1985 edition of Notable Women of Texas. In 1979 she illustrated “Red Raiders Retaliate: The Story of Lone Wolf, The Elder (Guipagho), by J. Lee Jones, Jr.. She entered her work in many art shows over the years, receiving commendations, including Best of Show, First, Second, and Third Place.

Graveside Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, October 13,2026 at 11:00 am at the Roscoe Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mccoyfh.com.