Carolyn Sue Gambrell, 84, of Rowlett, Texas. died February 6, 2023. Born July 8, 1938, in Walters, Okla., Sue was the daughter of Ethyl Irene (Whiteaker) and Edwin Harvey Amyx. Carolyn was personable, outgoing and could make friends anywhere she went. She was beautiful, vibrant and sassy. Carolyn was strong in her faith and loved the Lord. “Granny” loved her family dearly, they were everything to her.
Carolyn is survived by her husband: Robert “Bobby” Gambrell; sons: Michael Norwood and Adam Crum; daughter: Susan Rowland (husband Ted); stepdaughter: Cortney (husband Ryan); stepsons: Chris Nuncio (wife Marcy) and Craig Nuncio; grandchildren: Candice, Mark, Jessica, Daniel, Natalie, Brittani, Vance, Matthew, Jordan, Troy, Emily and Leo; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers: Eddie (wife Billie), Bill (wife Kay), James (wife Sherry); and a host of numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. She was preceded by death by her son: Mark Norwood and her parents.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, February 13, at Eastridge Church of Christ in Rockwall, Texas. A gathering of family and friends will take place one hour prior to the funeral from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church.
Growing up in the Amyx family with “Sue,” as we cousins called her, was a great time. Four of us were born within four months of each other in 1938: Sue in July, David in September, and Connie Mae and Glenadine in early October. The only ones older than us were Gailya Nan, Eddie and Mary Ann, so by being in the older part of the family we became the ones who helped set the family precedent of games and activities.
Sue was outspoken, as was duly noted by a family member and we as being younger in the group listened, but usually she was out voted. I don’t remember her participation in many of the China Berry fights held in Grandma and Grandpa Amyx’s backyard, because she was usually dressed nicer and was warned not to get dirty. As time passed and we marched through the school years, Sue was one of the first of all the cousins to marry and in due time became a mother to Mark and Susan. I remember keeping in touch with her by letters when she moved to California, but time and distance kept us from keeping the close bonds we had had as children. Through the years I have enjoyed getting to see her at family occasions - cousin get-togethers, and the not so pleasant funerals of dear grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles.
When Bob and I moved to New Mexico during the 60’s, I lost touch with many of my Amyx relatives and hated that I missed out on a lot of Sue’s really good years and especially getting to know her children. She developed a very distinctive chuckle that slipped into her conversation alot, and her eyes sparkled when she would get mischievous. She also became a “fashion plate” for me because she loved to dress up and look gorgeous - qualities that my being so short have not been easy. She always referred to herself as David Porter’s “favorite cousin” just to get a rise out of me. We talked occasionally on the phone in the last few years, as she was busy with Bobby’s daughter who she treated as one of her own. She had a couple of severe falls and mentioned in one of the last conversations that she was not bouncing back like she would like.