GEORGE ANN BROWN CARTER BAHAN

Fort Worth, Texas - George Ann Brown Carter Bahan died peacefully at home on Wednesday, September 7, surrounded by her family. She was 95.

Family and friends will gather from 4 to 6 pm Monday, September 12, in the Great Room at Robertson Mueller Harper.  A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held at 1 pm Tuesday, September 13, in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 800 W. 5th Street, with a reception to follow in the church’s Wesley Hall.  The service will be live streamed at FUMCFW.org/live.  She will be laid to rest privately on the family plot in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, George Ann was the only child of George and Eulema Riley Brown. The family eventually made their way to Fort Worth via Kilgore.

George Ann graduated from R. L. Pascal High School in 1943. After graduation she attended Mary Baldwin College in Virginia for 1year before transferring to the University of Texas in Austin, and graduating in 1948.  She joined the Tri Delta Sorority and many years later was thrilled to pin her granddaughter, Carter Ann, when she joined.  George Ann was a Steeplechase debutante in 1948.

After returning to Fort Worth, George Ann met the love of her life and future husband, Amon Carter Jr. at a party.  Amon always said he was attracted to her cute hat and had to meet the pretty girl wearing it.  George Ann always loved hats after that.  They married in 1953 and remained happily together until his untimely death in 1982.  She and Amon had three children, Nenetta Carter Tatum, Amon G. Carter III and George Riley Carter. 

Family was everything to George Ann and she was devoted to them, especially her grandchildren and great- grandchildren.  She loved having them drop by to swim and the food of choice always was Kincaids hamburgers. 

George Ann was a talented, and perhaps frustrated, performer who got her dream fulfilled when she performed in several musicals at the Granbury Opera House. Amon was extremely proud of her and would hire buses to take their friends to see her.  She worked extremely hard on her dancing and singing since she never wanted to let the other performers down.  The comraderie with the younger and talented performers was very rewarding to her.  They even took lessons from her on how to apply stage makeup.

George Ann was also very involved in her community.  She was a past president of Casa Manana, the Jewel Charity Ball, the Junior League of Fort Worth and the Assembly.  In addition, she was a founding member of Fort Worth Country Day school.  She enjoyed serving on the symphony Board and was thrilled to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University.  George Ann also loved being with friends and belonged to a water ski group for many years as well as her Tuesday poker group.  These women would have done well in Las Vegas and were very serious players. They only stopped playing five years ago.

The second chapter of her life came in 2001 when she married Bill Bahan, also a widower. They used to drive carpool together way back in the '60's and lived down the street from each other. Bill had five children and she enjoyed having this new extended family. They were happily married until his death in 2020.  They built a home together and had a small pool where her two great-grandsons loved to come swim and make her nervous by always jumping off a wall which they of course continued doing.  Eventually her great-granddaughter started coming and these were always special times for her. 

Fort Worth has lost a great patron and citizen.  George Ann  loved Fort Worth and was proud to carry on the tradition of charity and community support. She leaves an aching hole in many peoples' hearts, but her spirit and zest for life will remain.

Her family would like to thank Dr. Robert Kelly for the care and wisdom he provided through the years, especially the last year. They would also like to extend their deepest thanks to her dedicated assistant, Kiki Jocob, and devoted housekeeper, Katarina, who made life so much simpler and enjoyable for her.  In addition, heartfelt thanks are given to her devoted caregivers, Courtney, Gladys, Channing and the staff at Benevolent Hearts.  All of them cared deeply for her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Eulema Riley Brown, her husbands, Amon Carter and Bill Bahan, and her son, George Riley Carter.

In addition to her daughter, Nenetta Carter Tatum and her husband, Steve, George Ann is survived by her son, Amon G. Carter III; grandchildren, Carter Ann Tatum and her husband, Van Wilson of Austin, Stephen Lyle Tatum Jr. and his wife, Carly of Fort Worth, and Amon G. Carter IV “Chance” also of Fort Worth; great-grandchildren, Samuel Carter Tatum and Colin Douglas Tatum of Fort Worth, Lyla Marie Wilson of Austin, and Clover Ann Carter also of Fort Worth. 

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan Street, 76105, Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, 76107, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, 330 E. 4th Street, #200, 76102, in her memory, is suggested.