Rosemary (Young) Carter (January 14, 1940 to May 11, 2014)



Rosemary (Young) Carter was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, friend and patient. We are so blessed to call her our mom. We are forever grateful to her for her devotion to motherhood and our families. On Mother's Day 2014, she taught us how to let go, when we wanted to hang on most tightly. In her final days, she was surrounded by her family where we shared stories, music, games and laughter.

On January 14, 1940, Rosemary (Young) Carter was born to John and Irma (Garrett) Young in LaGrange, Indiana. Four years later, her sister Linda Jo was born. She shared endearing stories of her childhood with us.

Rosemary graduated from Sturgis High School in 1958 and worked at the Sturgis Public Library. While on a Methodist Youth Group hayride she met her husband Richard (Dick) Carter of Constantine, Michigan. Dick would later claim she left her blanket in his car on purpose to see him again, as they were dating other people at the time. She would giggle and explain the awkward predicament she encountered the night Dick chose to return her blanket to her at the library, as her other beau was there waiting to walk her home. Rosemary and Dick were married on May 28, 1960 at the Sturgis United Methodist Church. They would go onto endure many joys and hardships together.

After they were married, she worked as an executive secretary at Miles Laboratories. Shortly thereafter they moved to Vacaville, California where her husband served four years in the U.S. Air Force and she worked for the City of Vacaville. In 1964, her son Randy was born in California. With the birth of a new child, the distance between their families drew them back to Constantine to raise their own.

During this time, Rosemary assisted with her husband's custom car painting business on South Washington Street. Her daughter Robyn was born in 1967 and Rosemary devoted her time to her children. Employed in the clerical field over the years, her first and true calling was being a mother. She was our first teacher, teaching us about family, love and life.

Growing up with her was like having our own version of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Mary Poppins combined. She loved to play games with us and read stories aloud. She instilled in us a strong sense of family and love of books. She would recite poems like "Little Orphan Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley and sing a version of his poem "When the Frost is on the Pumpkin." This poem was particularly fitting as fall was always her most favorite season.

She loved singing and in her younger days performed in talent shows and at weddings. She participated in the United Methodist church choir for years in Sturgis and in Constantine. When she was happy, which was often, she would sing children's songs to us like "I've been Working on the Railroad," "Jimmy Crack Corn," and "Found a Peanut."

She was an amazing cook, famous for her Swedish Tea Rings and chocolate chip cookies. She would laugh and say, "I didn't get this size because I couldn't bake." Every Christmas, she made tea rings for breakfast for us and one for each set of our grandparents. One Christmas she took orders for her tea rings to earn some extra money. Somehow she managed to make all the orders, working almost round the clock for days in order to do so. We're certain she would do it all again just for us. Christmas morning was a magical experience in our household with memories we will never forget, including teaching us the reason for the holiday.

In the mid '70s, she went to work fulltime as the secretary at Riverside Elementary School. She was employed there for 34 years and retired in 2008 after her first stroke.

If the secret to living is the ability to cope with adversity, then mom had perfected it. She accepted the loss of her own mother at 17 and survived cancer three times, as well as numerous strokes and other health challenges. She taught us to persevere, remain strong and find a way to laugh regardless of the tough times.

Playing cards was one of her favorite past times and she was very competitive. Early in her marriage, Mom and Dad were playing Canasta with friends Bill and Vie Friesner, the guys against the girls. Caught up in the competition and annoyed with Dick's gloating, she tossed her Pepsi all over him. Over the years, she toned down her competitiveness and played bridge with many groups.

Reading and playing cards were her passion. She loved to play Bridge and Canasta and was a member of several bridge playing groups. In addition to her activities, Rosemary spent many a weekend at the Mottville Race Track and other events operating picture sales for our father as his photography hobby evolved and grew.

Rosemary's pride in her children and grandchildren was evidenced by the way she lit up when she shared stories about their many endeavors. She watched numerous sporting events, talent shows and dance recitals of Ryan, Katrina, Kyle, Tucker and Tatum. She loved to review the many memories Dick captured of the grandkids on film.

Over the last 25 years, visiting Robyn and her family in Alaska was always a highlight in her life. Eating fresh halibut beer bits, smoked salmon and fresh king crab were at the top of her Alaskan list of things to do.

Though Rosemary and her husband Dick grew apart in some ways, she enjoyed his daily visits after she moved into a nursing home. Her devotion and love for family was clearly demonstrated by the numerous pictures that covered her walls in the nursing home.

She never asked anything of us except that we love each other and remain close. She loved her family so very much and would want us to be happy for her. Today, we honor our mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. Mom, you always deserved recognition but never got a formal one. We know you are listening, so we say good bye and send our hearts with you, knowing you will be waiting for us.

Surviving are her son Randal (Kathy) Carter of Caledonia, MI, and their children Ryan and Katrina; daughter Robyn (Karl) Hagerman of Petersburg, AK, and their children Kyle, Tucker and Tatum Hagerman; sister Linda Jo (Rex) Stover and their children Shawn and Dora. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her step-mother Phyllis (Martin).

Relatives and friends will be received May 12 from 5-8 pm at the Eley Funeral Home in Constantine. Religious Services will be held at Constantine United Methodist Church on May 13 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Scott Manning officiating. Interment is in the Constantine Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Constantine Public Library.