Carla Stone Lee

Carla Stone Charlton Lee, born November 2, 1936, died on Monday, January 17, 2022 in Houston after a brief illness.  Carla was born in Houston to Evelyn Ernestine Moursund Stone and Orville Booth, who later divorced.  Her mother remarried Wesley Archer Stone in 1942 and he adopted Carla and her brother, raising them as his own children.  Throughout her attendance at Poe Elementary School, Lanier Junior High School, and Lamar High School (graduating in 1954), Carla took and taught ballet classes; her love of dance stayed with her always.  After one year of college at SMU, where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta, Carla married John W. Charlton, a naval pilot.  They moved to Japan, where their first child was born.  They subsequently lived in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Florida, having another child in each location.  Carla once commented that she adored babies and that was why she had so many.  After John Charlton’s death in 1966, Carla remarried Thomas H. Lee in 1967 in Houston and they had one more child, adding to Carla’s four and Tom’s two from a previous marriage.  Carla finished her college degree at UH and obtained a teaching certificate.  Carla and Tom shared much joy with each other and their friends, including a love of art, opera, and travel, taking trips with friends and family to Mexico, Belize, the Caribbean, and Europe.  Carla also loved the beach in Galveston, along with the Texas Hill Country, and spend many days in both places with family and friends.  Later in life, Carla obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the UT School of Public Health and a second Master’s degree in Physical Anthropology from UH.  She went on to form an archeological business with associates from UH and archaeology remained a lifelong passion.  Carla became the caregiver for Tom during the early 2000s and continued until his death in 2012.  As a widow she traveled often to visit her grandchildren in the Pacific Northwest.  She continued her interest in opera and dance, played bridge frequently, and, an avid reader, was a member of several book clubs.  She leaves behind old and newer friends who, along with her family, will miss her intelligence and beauty.  She is survived by John Kelly Charlton of Seattle, Wesley Wade Charlton and Jesse Moursund Lee, both of Houston, Thomas Steven Charlton of Tampa, Carla Elizabeth Charlton (Thilo Weissflog) of Portland, Oregon, Janet Lee Hudgens (Clark) and Thomas Henry Lee, Jr., both of Houston, along with seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.  A celebration of her life will be held at Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, 1734 W. Alabama, Houston on Friday, January 21, from 2-4 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, Carla would be pleased if donations were made to the Department of Anthropology, University of Houston, or World Vision International, which she supported for decades.