Phyllis Lucille Falzbot Carnes departed her earthly home, peacefully, very close to her regular bedtime, on Friday, February 18, 2022, 11:43pm. Funeral services are 10:00am Thursday March 3, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church 5050 East Sam Houston Parkway South Pasadena, Texas 77505. Visitation will be begin at 9:00 am at the church. Burial will follow at Houston National Cemetery.

She was a beloved mother of five, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of five during her incredibly long life of 98 years. She will be most remembered for her complete devotion to her family.

She was of German decent, born in Burlington Township, North Dakota on February 15, 1924 to Archie and Martha (Werner) Falzbot during a blizzard. She graduated in 1942 from Burlington High School. Upon graduation she boarded a train and went to Seattle, WA to find work. Shortly thereafter, she went to live in Los Angeles, CA where her family members had moved seeking employment. She worked for Alcoa Aluminum where the plant had been converted for war use. Her job was to test hydraulic systems for airplanes.

She married (Clem) Fred Carnes. She loved our father, Fred, unconditionally and long past his unexpected death in 1977. While in California, they had four children. In 1959, they relocated to Texas in time to give birth to the only Texan and fifth child. Our mother would want most to be remembered for the successful rearing of her children. She was diligent throughout our lives in reinforcing the importance of family ties. She was fiercely protective of her children and instilled the duty in each of us that we should love and support each other.

Her family was first and foremost in her life. She sacrificed any and all luxuries to provide for her children. Her mother-in-law often said no mother was more committed to her children; wherever you saw Phyllis you saw five kids in tow. She spent all of her days ensuring her family circle would not be broken. We will carry on just as she taught us, right or wrong, we will lift and protect our family units.

Her lessons are engrained in the fabric of our being forever and it is our job to pass these family value teachings along.

Phyllis retired from the UT Dental School in 1992. She thoroughly enjoyed her employment and sometimes referred to her job as 'therapy'. Raising five kids probably required an 8 hour work day to regroup! During her career, she was in charge of the tooth room for the students at the dental college and was referred to as the "Tooth Fairy".

Phyllis was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for many decades. Although she could no longer attend services, she was an active participant with Zion's Young at Heart group. She still managed and mailed out monthly greeting cards to the YAH Members Group. She loved her Portals of Prayer Books and read it each and every morning without fail.

She was predeceased by her parents, sister Jean and two brothers, Jack and Bob. Her hardest losses were husband, Fred Carnes, and youngest son, Craig Carnes.

Phyllis is survived by her sister, Iris Wunderlich and sister-in-law, Lucia Halverson. She will forever be dearly loved and remembered by her children, Caron F Gallier (Rusty), Cathy F Carnes (Don), Cynthia F Kutch (Lou), and Curtis "CC" F Carnes (Lynn), daughter in law Terrie Carnes; the five grandchildren, Kristen Brown (John), Jeff Gallier (Barbie), Justin Kutch, Eric Kutch (Allison), Callison Carnes and five great grandchildren: Luke and Avery Brown, Cooper Davis, Skylar Kutch, and Carter Kutch. She was so looking forward to the birth of a new baby Kutch this year.

Phyllis leaves behind a host of step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. She so enjoyed her phone calls with nephew, Gary Pfalzbot and her nieces, Ivy Green and Kim Falzbot, as well as her sister-in-law, Lucia Halverson.

Our family would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to her very dear neighbors who assisted in so many ways to help our mother live out her years in her own home: Pam Lane, Moira Ramirez, Daryl Holdt, and Laura Bennett.

Pallbearers are Curtis "CC" Carnes, Rusty Gallier, Justin Kutch, Eric Kutch, Daryl Holdt and Luke Brown. Honorary pallbearers are Don Yarbrough, John Brown, Lou Gallio and Jeff Gallier.

In lieu of flowers memorials donations may be sent to the Santa Fund that was created in memory of her son, Craig Carnes. Craig was the Eustace, Texas Santa for many years to provide gifts to children. Link to the Santa Cause Fund is: paypal.me/CraigsSantaCause

Checks can also be mailed to Curtis CC Carnes 9211 Kirkmont Drive Houston, Texas 77089.