Carol Lynn Blackstone Poteet, 80, of Dallas, Texas, died at home on May 12, 2026. True to her name, Carol lived her days in joyful song, celebrating her faith, family, and friends.

Carol was born October 12, 1945 to Theo and Margaret Blackstone of Houston. She was baptized at First Christian Church, where she sang in the choir under her father's baton. At First Christian, the Blackstones met and became fast friends with Jim and Mary Metz and their son Steve, whom they always counted as family.

A graduate of Lamar High School, Carol attended and sang at Austin College, from which she graduated in 1967. After college she began what would be her 30-year career as a junior high and middle school math teacher. She continued to sing with church choirs, the Dallas Opera Chorus, and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston.

In 1970, Carol married the Rev. Robert M. Poteet. When she died, they had been married three weeks short of 56 years. They raised three children, sharing with them their joy in living. Many mornings, Carol would wake her children by singing, "This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

Carol, Bob, and their children lived in several cities: Dallas, TX; San Antonio, TX, where Carol taught piano, organized and directed the handbell choir at First Presbyterian Church, and starred in several of that church's "Off-Off-Broadway Players" summer musicals; Raleigh, NC, where she sang in the White Memorial Presbyterian Church choir; and Houston, TX, where she sang in the Grace Presbyterian Church choir for 20 years. In every choir she made many dear, lifelong friends.

Carol and Bob moved back to Dallas in 2008. She volunteered as a tutor with Literacy Achieves, and loved singing in the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir. In 2016, she was ordained a deacon in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She moderated the PHPC Board of Deacons for a year, and continued to write and send detailed notes of encouragement even after her term of service ended.

Family and friends remember Carol's bright "Blackstone smile" and ringing laughter, her sparkling eyes, her persistently positive outlook, and her deep tenderness and compassion.

Carol is survived by her husband, Bob; her son Mike, daughter-in-law Karen Nelson, and grandchildren Carl and Hannah Nelson-Poteet (Havertown, PA); her daughter Mary, son-in-law Jan Fernandez, and grandchildren Isabel, Evan, and Lily Fernandez (Austin, TX); and daughter Margaret (Harrisburg, PA).

A memorial service will take place Saturday, May 30 at 10:30 am at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church (9800 Preston Rd., Dallas, TX, 75230). In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church Music Ministry.