With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Archie Benford Carroll, who left us on August 30, 2024, at the age of 86. Born on November 19, 1937, Archie was a great man, who lived an extremely full life, spanning hardships and successes, failures and achievements.

Archie was deeply loved by his wife of 56 years, Pamela Jo Carroll, whom he married on August 16, 1968, in Houston, Texas. A few years after their marriage, and with a third son on the way, they moved to Montrose, Colorado, where they acquired the Red Barn Motel.

Together they raised their four boys in Montrose, and have remained involved in each of their lives, watching them create families of their own, with 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The life they created together genuinely formed the foundation for the whole Carroll family tree.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Clinton and Ida Mae; as well as his siblings, Thomas Clinton Jr., Pearl Marlin, Willie Mae Martin, Lucille Carroll, and Leon Carroll.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Pam; his sons and their wives: Shawn and Tammy, Wade and Traci, Jacob and Rachel, and Jeremy and Cindy; grandchildren: Bryce, Scottie, Elise, Morgan, Sam, Alice, Ruby, Clara, Jack, Mali, Beau, Tanner, Mason, Landon, and Paden; and his sister, Melba Carter. Archie also leaves behind his great-grandchildren: Gage, Cash, Emmit, and Brixton.

Archie grew up the son of a sharecropper in east Texas. He lost his father at age 6 from tuberculosis. Having survived the many ensuing hardships, he was still able to attend Texas A&M University. Archie received his Bachelor of Education and his Masters of Education Administration from A&M. Beyond academics, Archie played basketball for the Aggies, leading the Southwest Conference in scoring and eventually he was drafted into the NBA by the St. Louis Hawks in 1960, though he never officially joined the team.

Achievements aside, Archie's life was marked by hard work, loyalty, faith, music, and the outdoors. An avid, self-taught, banjo and mandolin player, he loved to master a tune.

The only activity he may have loved more was time in the mountains with a good horse, a good friend, or one or two of his boys. He truly had a heart for the woods and the wild. Although quiet about it, there was no doubting Archie's faith.

If you were alive on Sunday morning, you were going to church. It was foundational for the Carroll family, and the basis for most family friendships. Some perceived him as a hardened, gruff guy. But those who truly knew him saw a man with a huge heart, soft on the inside and as genuine as a man could be.

It's impossible to sum up someone's life in a few paragraphs. Books are written about men like Archie with chapters like, "Take Your Shoes Off!" followed by, "You're Worthless Without Your Shoes On!" He was a good man, a good friend, a good husband and a good dad. He will be mightily missed.

Rest in Heavenly peace, Archie. "We love you… sort of…" (to quote his famous words to all whom he loved best).

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Andrew's Chapel Cemetery in Schulenburg.