Gayane Ashkhen Carr passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, in the loving embrace of her family after a short battle with cancer. Gayane was born on October 28,1948 in Teaneck, New Jersey, to Armen Babayan and Virginia Babayan (née Keosian). She was the first of four children.
Gayane graduated in 1970 from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. A portion of her degree program included a year abroad at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. After obtaining her degree, she joined the U.S. Peace Corps, teaching Biology at the Homa Bay Boys School in western Kenya. It was there she met her future husband, David Carr, also a Peace Corp Volunteer teaching Chemistry at the school.
Gayane and David were married in 1973 in Coldwater, Michigan. Gayane was a strong life partner to her husband and a loving, devoted mother to their two children, Jacob and Jennifer. She was honored to be named a Lifetime Member of the Texas PTA for her work at Bowie Elementary School in Grand Prairie, Texas.
When her children were grown, Gayane became interested in accounting and tax preparation. This led her to a career as an H&R Block tax preparer for nearly twenty years in Texas, Colorado, and California. She was certified as an Enrolled Agent for tax preparation.
Gayane loved travel, gardening, reading, cooking, knitting & needlecraft, and a good puzzle. In addition to Michigan and Texas, she lived in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado and Illinois. She traveled to many countries in Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, including Sierra Leone, Kenya, Morocco, England, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Montenegro, and New Zealand. She particularly liked spending time in Colorado, where she grew beautiful flowers.
Gayane is survived by David, her husband of fifty-three years; as well as her brothers, Haig (and his wife Claudia) and Garo (and his wife Brenda); sister Hasmig; son, Jacob; daughter, Jennifer (and her husband Jay); seven grandchildren, Azure, Steel, Alastair, Dilan, Kaitlin, Kylee, and Danielle; two great-grandchildren, Olsen and Koda; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and cherished friends. Gayane was preceded in death by her parents, Armen and Virginia, and her brother-in-law, Barry.
Gayane’s family and friends will remember her peaceful and loving nature, great humor, piercing intelligence, and commitment to helping those she loved to navigate the challenges of life.
Services will not be local.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society, Lewy Body Dementia Society or the Charity of your choice.