Carleton Pope

With deep sadness, we announce that Carleton N. Pope Sr. passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 58. He will be missed tremendously by his family and everyone who knew him. He left this world too soon but left a deep mark on our souls that never could be forgotten. Family was everything to him; love for one another was unconditional. He was everything to us and we are blessed to have been able to spend every moment we could with him, especially the precious time after the West Nile virus almost took him from us in 2017. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. In Jesus’ name, we say, Amen. 'Till we meet again.

Carleton is with our Lord, Jesus Christ, and God, our Father in Heaven above, and is reunited in eternity with his parents, Norma and Donald Pope, where there is no more suffering, just God’s love. Carleton is survived by his devoted wife, Dora Pope; their children: Carleton Pope II, Austin Pope, Jessica Bond, and her husband, Donovan Bond; sharing a strong loving bond with them all that only the words "I love you more" can cover. Carleton is also survived by his brother Nathan Pope and his son Roger Pope, with whom he shared great familial bonds with in his earlier years.  Carleton loved spending the 4th of July with Miguel and Tina Lee, family time that just warmed his heart and which he cherished every moment. He also enjoyed the holidays spent with all of Dora Pope’s side of the family, the Lee family: Mother-in-law Dora G. Lee, Miguel Lee and family, Jeanette Lee, Diana Lee Navarro and family, and Elizabeth Lee Garcia and family. Carleton relished the time he spent building a close friendship with Dr. John Wilson, who made him laugh and smile and helped take care of him for a good many years, becoming like family.

Carleton and Dora met at work and went on their first date in February 1997, seeing the movie ‘Fools Rush In’ and the song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love with You’ that resonated deeply. Carleton and Dora married three months later, building a life together where good times and hard times never shook their commitment and love for each other and their children. Carleton enjoyed smoking meats and grilling, and was, to us, a genius, as he could figure things out in fixing anything with the house or cars or gadgets. Before the West Nile, we would go on family vacations: from visiting his parents in Tennessee to seeing sites such as the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the White Sands, national parks, caves, mountains, and San Antonio to see the Alamo and the River Walk. After West Nile, he loved to go fishing and target practice with his boys and was content making memories when the family was all together, especially during the holidays.

Carleton’s bright light will continue to shine even though he is gone from us physically. No matter what, he will forever be beside us in everything we do. 

Carleton’s memorial service will be at Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home: 2343 Lake Road, Lavon, TX 75166, at 1:00 pm on February 24, 2024, followed by the burial at Lakeview Cemetery.

Please send flowers to Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home.