Dorothy Carriker

Dorothy Jane Dry Carriker, 99, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, grace, and devotion to family that spanned nearly a century. Born at her grandparents 'home near Rotan, Texas, Dorothy was the eldest daughter of Dewey and Rose Dry and grew up in Fisher County during the Great Depression, an experience that shaped her lifelong appreciation for hard work and community.

After attending Hardin-Simmons College, Dorothy taught school before marrying Captain Max D. Carriker on New Year's Day 1946 as he returned from serving 3½ years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Their partnership would anchor a rich family life that Dorothy cherished above all else. During her husband's political career, she served as an invaluable partner, managing correspondence and constituent relations with characteristic efficiency and warmth, all while running a household and facing the trials of life on a family farm. After Max’s death, she continued to expand her horizons, becoming a licensed insurance and real estate agent. 

She championed equitable treatment for all people and remained passionately engaged with public affairs throughout her life, in recent years vigorously voicing her dissatisfaction with the current administration. One of Dorothy's greatest joys lay in transforming the ordinary into something beautiful - as a skilled and devoted gardener, she turned a barren red dirt field in Roby into a garden oasis that she tended with the precision of a master groundskeeper.

A voracious reader with an appetite for biographies and historical nonfiction, Dorothy built an impressive personal library. She served as the family's historian, preserving stories and photos of Fisher County's heyday and relaying them with the same skill her mother Rose possessed, captivating listeners with tales that brought the past to life. Her love of learning and storytelling created a bridge between generations, ensuring that family history is never forgotten.

 And let’s not forget the fabulous, fantastic, fearsome foursome. Dorothy and her three sisters, Norma, Mae, and Shirley embodied longevity in friendship. They all stayed close companions for over 90 years, in later years attending everything together, from local musical events and shows to gathering at the nursing home once Dorothy didn’t feel up to attending the shows.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Max D. Carriker, eldest son, Stuart Carriker, and great-grandson Daxon Whitmore. She is survived by her son, former State Senator Steven Carriker and his wife Kathy of Dripping Springs; her daughter, Diane Carriker of Austin; grandchildren Jake Carriker and wife Sarah of Austin, Benjamin Wilkey of Round Rock, Karen Carriker of Austin, and Stephanie Carriker of Austin; great-grandsons Max Edward Carriker and Rocky Carriker of Austin; and her three cherished sisters, Norma Cave, Mae Clark, and Shirley Weathersbee. She also leaves behind numerous beloved nieces and nephews from the Cave, Clark, and Weathersbee families.