Carlos Carroll Ashley Jr., 82, formerly of Llano, died June 9, 2015

Carlos Carroll Ashley Jr., 82, died June 9, 2015, in Fredericksburg, Texas, after a long life that as well-lived.

A fifth-generation Texan and a descendent of Hill Country pioneers, Carlos was born in San Saba, Texas, on Oct. 20, 1932, to Carlos Ashley Sr. and Cynthia Johnson Ashley.

He spent his childhood in neighboring Llano, where the family moved after his father was elected district attorney.

As a boy, Carlos, known as “Buzz” to family and friends, often rode horseback, dug caves with his friends in the alley (The Old Birdtown Road), played rubber-gun war (the guns made by the owners), rode bikes, skated, played marbles and read everything from “Big Little Books” to comic books to classic boys’ books of the era. He continued to love reading the rest of his life.

In 1944, Carlos moved with his parents and sister, Adele, to Austin, where he attended University Junior High School and Austin High School, finishing his secondary education at the Shreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas.

Carlos went to college at Texas Christian University, where he met and fell in love with Celia Alene Johnson, a former Miss Fort Worth. The two were married in October 1955. Celia later gave birth to an infant son, Timothy Michael, who tragically died within weeks of his birth.

While at TCU, Carlos was a member of the ROTC and, upon graduation, was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. He served as a radar officer in Osaka, Japan. While this was a serious position, he also had fun tracking the flight of Santa Claus and his reindeer for the enjoyment of American children.

After leaving the Air Force, Carlos earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University and joined the Tuchen & Mehl Law Firm in Fort Worth, where he and Celia lived for several years.

In 1964, Carlos and Celia moved back to Llano. Carlos was elected Llano County attorney and became a partner in his father’s law firm, where he continued as a sole practitioner after Carlos Sr. retired, specializing in criminal law, estate planning and real estate. He also acted as counsel for People’s Savings & Loan.

The couple were blessed with a son, Blake, and daughter, Caroline, who brought great joy into their lives.  They lived an active social life and developed many close friends in Llano while also maintaining close ties with TCU and friends made there. Carlos remained an avid fan of TCU athletics throughout his life.

Celia tragically died in a car wreck while on the way to Austin in 1980, leaving Carlos to raise Blake and Caroline as a single parent.

In 1984, Carlos married Janeane Raesener, who brought two children from a previous marriage, Dan and Mandy, into their family life. Janeane taught Spanish at Llano High School, and the couple developed a passion for Mexico, spending time there, especially the province of Oaxaca, where they thought about living when they retired. They loved collecting Mexican folk art, including carvings, sculpture, masks, textiles and paintings, often buying directly from the artists. His marriage to Janeane sadly ended with her death from cancer in 1995.

Carlos faced more than his share of grief and hardship, including the deaths of an infant son and two wives and two bouts of cancer, but he always responded with grace.

In retirement, Carlos enjoyed meeting his buddies at The Burger Bar for afternoon coffee and operating his ranch in San Saba County. He continued pursuing his interest in reading, cooking and collecting Mexican folk art — especially Mata Ortiz pottery. His love for the visual arts was such that he painted the facade to his office in downtown Llano Frida Kahlo blue.

He was proudest of his children and grandchildren and loved spending time with them. When his son, Blake, and his family relocated from Llano to Fredericksburg, Carlos moved there as well, so he could be close to them. Many tears of joy and pride were shed at the childrens’ sporting events and school performances.

Carlos was preceded in death by his parents, Sen. and Mrs. Carlos Ashley; wives, Celia and Janeane; infant son, Timothy Michael Ashley; and niece Susan Waide.

He is survived by his son, Blake Ashley and daughter-in-law Wendy Ashley of Fredericksburg; daughter, Caroline Cuthbertson and son-in-law Steve Cuthbertson of Dallas; grandchildren, Haley Sladek, Rachel Sladek, Blake Ashley Jr., Benjamin Ashley and Celia Ashley, and twins Etta and Aiden Cuthbertson; sister, Adele Ashley Waide and brother-in-law Jack Waide of Austin; nephew John Waide and wife Barbara of Nashville; great-niece Kate Waide of Nashville; niece Cynthia Waide of Austin; and numerous family members and friends.

A graveside ceremony will be held at the Gray Cemetery near Cherokee with a reception immediately following at The Dabbs Hotel in Llano.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Heritage School, 310 Smokehouse Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300. Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.