Carolyn Dolores McCafferty's Obituary
Carolyn “Dolores” McCafferty was born February 17, 1942, in Houston, Texas, to Guy Whitaker and Margaret Sanford Whitaker, the youngest of three children. A proud 1960 graduate of Austin High School, she joined the Houston Police Department on November 13, 1963, at just 21 years old. During her 21-year career, she served in Narcotics, Homicide, and Juvenile before retiring in 1984. She later worked in bank security then returned to HPD as a civilian criminal analyst for 12 more years. It was at HPD that she met James Ray McCafferty, “Mac,” a fellow officer; they married on January 11, 1965. In 1985 the couple planned a move to Pearland to be near Dolores’ sister Helen and Helen’s family, but Mac passed away on October 23, 1985, while their home was being built. With strength and determination, Dolores completed the move and made Pearland her home for the rest of her life.
Though she had no children of her own, she was devoted to her family, especially her sister Helen and her nieces and nephews. Known as “Dolores” to friends and “Honey” or “Aunt Honey” to family, she was fiercely loyal, generous, fun-loving, and famously early to every gathering. She loved fishing, mystery novels, all kinds of card games, watching sports, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes. Dolores loved to gamble whether it be poker, slots, or the dog track and could be found every Saturday attending her weekly poker game with her dear friends. Those who knew her loved her, and once you were her friend, you were her friend for life. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Margaret Whitaker; husband, James McCafferty; brother, James Whitaker; and brother-in-law, Luther Cunningham. Left to cherish her memory are her nieces, Kelly Day and husband Steve, Wendy Schneider and husband Jason; nephew, Kyle Cunningham and wife Kimberly; sister, Helen Cunningham; and a host of many other family and friends.
Funeral services for Dolores will be held at Clayton Funeral Home of Pearland on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. Her family will receive guests from 10:00 to 11:00 am, with the funeral service commencing at 11:00 am. A private interment will take place at South Park Cemetery at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Christian Helping Hands.
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