Carolyn Sue Greene

Carolyn Sue Hollis Greene died peacefully in a Lubbock hospital late Wednesday night, February 23 ^rd , 2022 with her daughter by her side. Born January 3 ^rd , 1946 in Electra, Texas, it wasn’t long before her parents Mildred and Floyd Hollis moved the family to Snyder.

Carolyn was barely 14 years old when, during a neighborhood snowball fight, she met the love of her life John Greene. They married in 1963 and spent 58 years together until John’s death February 19 ^th , 2021. As a simple gesture and matrimonial afterthought, back on their wedding day in 1963, part of the wedding cake was carefully wrapped and placed in the freezer. That gesture would find a deeper significance half a century later.

On April 27, 1965 their daughter Ninette was born and this small family embraced the community, strengthened by so many close friends and family members for so many years. They lived in a tiny house out on the Camp Springs Road, pounded by relentless winds and surrounded by the plowed flat landscape of dry land cotton.  While John worked his way through the ranks at West Texas State Bank and helped his siblings work the family farm, Carolyn balanced motherhood with her employment at several local businesses and for many years, in accounts receivable at Patterson Drilling.

Years of persuasion from John to pick up the game of golf, Carolyn finally relented and, led by an intense competitive spirit, she seemed to have found her motivation to win, at all cost sometimes. As if trying to catch up on so many years that preceded her vigorous passion for golf, Carolyn’s game improved to the point where she qualified and dominated numerous tournaments, in Snyder and all over West Texas.

John and Carolyn built their dream home outside Snyder in 1995, and the home place quickly became a gathering spot for a circle of people, blurring the lines of friends, neighbors and family members.

Over the years, each time the Greene’s moved, Carolyn, much to John’s chagrin, would carefully transfer from freezer to freezer that portion of wedding cake from June 14 ^th , 1963. Exactly half a century after the wedding, on June 14 ^th , 2013, during a Caribbean Cruise, John and Carolyn unveiled that 50 year-old cherished portion of white cake and thick icing. Witnessed by hundreds of strangers aboard the ship, spellbound by the remnants of a 50-year-old cake, John and Carolyn each nibbled on a half century of protected pastry.  What that cake lacked in taste, it made up in memories. John’s death in 2021 left a profound sense of loss in Carolyn’s heart. Exactly one year after she had to say goodbye to her soul mate, Carolyn was hospitalized with heart problems in Lubbock. Somehow, supported by so many prayers, Carolyn’s suffering eased and she slipped silently away, finally reunited with the love of her life.

Carolyn Hollis Greene leaves behind her mother Mildred Hollis, a daughter Ninette Greene Hawkins (husband Brian Hawkins), granddaughter Melissa Blake Arena Eagle (husband Robert Lincoln Eagle) grandson Alec Andrew Arena. Great -grandsons, Harley Baron Eagle & Oliver Penn Eagle.  Brother Benny Hollis (wife Nicole), Sister Alice Townes (husband Andy), in-laws Bonnie Hollis, Judy Moss, Pete  & Donna Greene, Geral Mac Greene and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her father Floyd Hollis, brother Tommy, and of course husband John Greene.

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, February 26 ^th 5:00pm-6:00pm at Bell Cypert Seale Funeral Home. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, February 27 ^th at 2:00pm at Colonial Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Reid Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Bell Cypert Seale Funeral Home.