Carol Elaine (Ballengee) Priest

Carol Elaine Priest, 83, of Amarillo, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. Funeral services will be held on Monday January 9, 2023 10:00 am at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive with Cary Pratt officiating. A private family burial will follow services. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Rowley Funeral Home.

Carol was born August 9, 1939 in Amarillo to Virgil and Juanita Ballengee. She graduated from Amarillo High and went on to earn a business degree from West Texas State University. Carol married the love of her life Gerald Priest on May 5, 1961. They spent 45 wonderful years together before Gerald’s passing in 2005. Together they have two daughters, Diana and Debbie. She worked for McPherren Law Firm for many years as a legal secretary and retired in 1995. Carol enjoyed spending time at their cabin in New Mexico and many trips to Florida over the years to visit loved ones. Most of all, she derived great pleasure being with her grandsons, Brandon and Nathan and always bragged to anyone she knew about them. She was an avid lover of dogs and had many beloved dogs over the years that meant the world to her. Carol was known for her wide range of music taste that included everything from gospel to heavy metal.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Virgil and Juanita and her husband Gerald Priest.

Survivors include her two daughters, Debbie Smith of Amarillo; Diana Lewis and husband Jimmy of Amarillo; her beloved dog Cody; her sister Gloria Reynolds and husband Harley of Amarillo; her brother Jim Ballengee and wife Debbie of Grapevine; her two grandsons, Brandon Lewis and wife Megan of Amarillo; Nathan Lewis and fiancé Bethany of Amarillo.

Her family would like to thank the BSA ICU team, the staff at Plum Creek Assisted Living for taking great care of her and her home health Nurse Jerry Rodriquez, whom she loved dearly.