Burl Caraway

Burl Caraway transitioned from this life to the next on January 12, 2022. As he would say, “holy mackerel” it was a life well lived with few regrets. Burl was born on September 23, 1941, to the late James Pershing Caraway and Ruth Culver at Hotel Dieu in Beaumont, Texas. Burl’s formative years were shaped by his friendship with his best friend and brother, James (Jim) Caraway. Jim and Burl lived a life filled with music and art. Burl played the saxophone and later the bass guitar while Jim played everything you can imagine. They filled the air with their talent (mostly in the Caraways’ garage on Ricky Lane with Granny Caraway playing piano in the background). Driving his first car, a ‘46 Ford coupe, Burl graduated from French High School in 1960. He’d rather not disclose whether he was on the honor roll or not. However, his shoulders were held high when he was voted “most likely to succeed”. Indeed, he found success, as he went on to begin his career first driving a bread truck, laboring at both Dupont and Goodyear, then in 1977, he made the brave decision to continue his career in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Burl married Barbara Kay Wigington in 1963 and they traveled the world with their three children, Robyn, Stephanie, and Bryan in tow. Visiting places like Egypt, Iran, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, England, and Scotland; their life was colorful and filled with joy, adventure, and many wonderful memories. In every country he visited, Burl never met a stranger, and always represented a true Texas man. He loved people of all color, religion, ethnicity, and culture and was a friend to all and an enemy to none. After settling back in Orange, Texas, Burl met and married Peggy Joyce Weeks on St. Patrick’s Day in 1997. He was a loving stepdad to Tammy Robbins and Kim Goslin and even helped raise his step-great grandson, Joseph Caiden Goslin, whom he loved very much. If you were looking for Burl, you’d surely find him either hard at work or playing his favorite game of golf. His favorite foods were pita chips and cheese dip, butterfingers, and butterscotch malts - who can blame him? Burl was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Caraway, and survived by his brother, Jim Caraway, his children, Robyn Blackmon, Stephanie Cumpton and Bryan Caraway, and his stepchild, Kim Goslin. Burl has 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and a step-great grandchild, Joseph Caiden Goslin.

Burl’s funeral service will be held at Claybar Funeral Home (504 North 5th Street, Orange, Texas 77630) on January 18th from 1pm-2pm, with a private viewing from 12:30pm-1pm. The burial will immediately follow the service at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park (5450 US Hwy 90, Orange, Texas 77630). The family would like to thank the staff of Focused Care Nursing Home, specifically Cecilly and Willamena for their loving care of Burl at the end of his life. To share a memory of Burl or send a condolence to his family, you may email stcumpton@gmail.com , please specify if you’d like it to be read out loud. Arrangements can be sent to Claybar Funeral Home.