Pauline Cecilia Carmichael

Pauline Cecilia (Lipsmire) Carmichael lived an adventurous and fulfilling life.  She leaves a legacy of 44 descendants (and counting) over her nearly 97 years.  She was an incredible woman who did life her own way and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  Pauline was born on January 25, 1927, in Jacksonville, Illinois, and died on January 6, 2024 in Garland, Texas.  She was the second of six children born to William and Ann (Mandeville) Lipsmire.

Her longevity, keen mind, and zest for life can be attributed to her active lifestyle and witty perspective on life. Her great-granddaughter recently asked her which place she had traveled to in her lifetime was her favorite. Her response summed up her ‘joie de vivre’. She replied that her favorite adventure was always what was coming up next!

Her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when she was a child.  She always enjoyed physical activities and excelled in academics. She became one of only 5% of women in the United States to receive a college degree in 1949 and one of even fewer women to receive a STEM degree in that era in Medical Technology.  She attended St. Louis University and was offered an opportunity to attend medical school on a scholarship.  While at the University she met her future husband Paul Louis Carmichael of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while he was attending medical school there. Paul and Pauline were married 56 years before his passing in 2006.

After working as a medical technologist for a short time, Paul and Pauline married in 1950 and eventually settled in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania where they raised their family.

Pauline was remarkable having 8 children in 10 years! 

Pauline loved to travel the world throughout her life and even cruised the Amazon River on her own at the age of 88!  Over her lifetime she lived in Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Utah, Florida, and Texas.

She enjoyed sports and the outdoors, especially tennis, swimming, and skiing.  She was a skilled cook and studied French cuisine at the Julia Dannenbaum School of Cooking in Philadelphia. She especially enjoyed cooking with herbs and vegetables from her own garden. She had many hobbies and pursuits and always enjoyed learning something new.  Pauline was a skilled bridge player earning masters’ points and continued to play competitive duplicate bridge well into her 90’s.  She acquired a ‘pinch hitter’ flying license in order to land her husband’s airplane in an emergency.  Branching out into business for a time, she owned a tree farm in Pennsylvania.

Expanding her diverse interests, she learned the fundamentals of playing a standing bass.  She also enjoyed doing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. Her avid enjoyment of jigsaw puzzles has become a tradition through her descendants, especially during the holidays. She also volunteered in her community including as a judge of elections while living in Park City, Utah.

Beyond a doubt, she was most passionate about following and investing in the stock market.  She tells the story of how she began her successful investing career by observing the quantity and type of trucks she saw on the road conducting daily commerce.  In her later years, she watched daily financial shows to keep up with the stock market, making her last trades in October 2023.

A lifelong Catholic, Pauline was a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Garland, Texas at the time of her death. Pauline left this life on her own terms surrounded by her loving family in the comfort of her own home.  Pauline was loved and admired by those who knew her.  She will be greatly missed but her zest for life and learning will continue through her descendants.

Pauline is survived by her 8 children: Paul Carmichael Jr. (Patrice Johnson) of San Antonio, Texas, Mary (MK) Carmichael of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Carmichael (Cindy) of Houston, Texas, Kevin Carmichael (Maria) of Naples, Florida, Joseph Carmichael (Maureen) of Kenmore, Washington, Patricia Hannan of Garland, Texas, Robert Carmichael (Ruth Maria) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Christopher Carmichael (Gabriella) of Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Pauline is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way! In addition, she is survived by her 100-year-old older sister, Mary (Lipsmire) Quartz of Bellville, Illinois.