Carol “Dawn” Southard 1943-2020

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Carol “Dawn” Southard, 77, of Quitman passed away on April 13, 2020 in Tyler. Dawn will lie in state from 12 until 8 pm on Saturday April 18, 2020 at Lowe Funeral Home in Quitman. Family and friends are invited to pay respects and sign the guest register. During this time there will be no formal visitation with the family due to current COVID-19 restrictions. You may leave condolences for the family on lowefuneralhome.net. A memorial service for the public will be announced at a later date to celebrate her life. 

Dawn was born on April 8, 1943 in Arcadia to Lawrence and Kerline (Adam) Heitman. On Sept. 16, 1989 Dawn married Larry Southard. Dawn retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2008 after 26 years of service.  Dawn was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #296 in Mineola and The Marine Corps League Detachment #1278 in Mineola. Dawn was active in her community and volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She was a member of Myrtle Springs Baptist Church for many years. Her and husband, Larry, enjoyed extensive traveling together, spending time with her grandchildren and boating on the lake they loved. Over the years, Dawn and Larry enjoyed hosting their neighborhood for an annual fish fry. Dawn maintained numerous friendships throughout her life, many from as early as her childhood days in Arcadia. To know her is to love her. 

Surviving family includes her husband, Larry Southard of Quitman; daughter, Misty Holey of Tyler, TX; daughter, Kathy and her husband Dr. Jason Beard of Lindale; daughter, Karla Hudson of Lindale; stepson, Roger Southard of Lincolnton, Ga.; stepson, Christopher Southard of Mesquite; grandchildren, Brandon and his wife Micaela Burroughs, Amber Holey, Katelyn and her husband Wayne Hall, Courtney Holey, Madison Hudson, Kayla Beard, Rebekah Beard; and great-grandchild, Theodore Burroughs. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Tom Heitman; and sister, Joy Arnold.