Carol Coomer

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Carol Coomer lived a life of purpose filled with special moments shared with the ones she loved most. She was never one to worry about building wealth or gaining possessions, rather, her focus was on sharing her gifts, blessings, and special touch with all who were within her reach. Carol was a devoted wife and mother if ever there was one, and there was nothing she treasured more than being surrounded by her family and friends. A blessing in the lives of everyone she met, Carol will be deeply missed while her memory remains forever near and dear to the hearts and lives of all who were blessed to know and love her.

The 1950s were an exciting time in American history when we were making great strides forward. Elvis Presley took the music world by storm with his rock ’n roll music while James Dean made young girls swoon on the silver screen. Blue jeans became part of our wardrobes and coonskin hats were all the rage among young boys. Serious matters came to light during this time, too, such as the day Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus as this act of defiance created the spark that would become the flame of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Amidst this eventful time was an exciting time in the lives of James and Mary (Miller) Pelham as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the lengthy summer days blanketed the city of Adrian, Michigan. The big day finally arrived when the baby girl they named Carol drew her first breath on June 25, 1954. She was one of three children in her family and was raised in the family home alongside her brother, James Jr., and her sister, Marcia. In many ways, Carol was a young girl of her generation who experienced so many things that impacted her for the rest of her life.

New and exciting changes were in store for Carol when she met the young man with whom she would write a love story that would span 38 years. His name was Rick Coomer, and they were smitten with one another nearly right from the start. They began dating shortly after meeting on a trip to Cedar Point, and over time the couple fell deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Carol and Rick were married in the mid-seventies.

During this same time Carol completed her studies at Kellogg Community College, earning an Associates of Nursing and becoming a Registered Nurse. She began her nursing career, first in a private office, and then at Bronson Hospital. Later on, she would work as a pediatric nurse at Pediatrics P.C. in Portage. When she was no longer able to work full time as a nurse, she volunteered her time at the Kalamazoo Health Clinic. She valued education throughout her life. In the early 1980's she obtained a degree in Accounting from Western Michigan University. After retiring from nursing, she continued to keep her mind sharp by taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She strove to be at the top of any class she was a part of.

After marrying, the newlyweds settled down and were eager to begin their new lives together. Together Carol and Rick welcomed three children including Eric, Ryan, and Jenny into their hearts and home. From the moment she became a mother, Carol’s children gave her unending joy. She and her husband raised their children in a loving and nurturing environment. As her children grew older, Carol welcomed a son-in-law, Bob, into the family as well. In her last years she also adopted a daisy puppy dog named Molly, which became a valued companion. She valued the time her family would spend together. This was particularly true at Christmas. She strove to make each Christmas a special experience for her family - spending months shopping and planning for the special day. She also enjoyed going on vacation with her family, whether it was to Mackinac Island, New York City, or North Carolina.

Although she never considered herself creative, most people that knew her would disagree. Carol greatly enjoyed knitting and sewing, taking classes to enhance her skill. She also liked to scrapbook. This gave her the opportunity to reminisce about good times and create attractive backgrounds for her pictures.

All who knew Carol Coomer would agree that she was a woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She lived each moment to the fullest, never taking anything for granted, and her love for life was easy to see. Carol was kindhearted and thoughtful, and her primary concern was loving and caring for her family. A blessing to everyone she met, she will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Carol Coomer, of Portage, died on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids. Members of Carol’s family include her husband, Rick, 3 children: Eric and Ryan Coomer and Jenny (Bob) Miner; siblings, James Jr. (Mary) Pelham and Marcia (Kenneth) Garrison; and many nieces and nephews. Learn more about Carol, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). Funeral Services at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Michael Lutheran Church. (7211 Oakland Dr., Portage). Please visit Carol’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.