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Carol Mallory

May 23, 1931 - April 30, 2015
Kalamazoo, MI

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Visitation

Saturday, May 2, 2015
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Paw Paw Location
60900 Michigan 40
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-3870
Driving Directions

Service

Monday, May 4, 2015
1:00 PM EDT
West Oshtemo Baptist Church
10460 W KL Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49009

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Map

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Children's Tumor Foundation
120 Wall Street- 16th Floor
New York, NY 1005-3904
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Schafer's Flowers Inc.
3274 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(800) 760-7050
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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A lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo area, Carol Mallory was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She was a talented and hardworking woman who lived fully in each and every moment she was given. Guided by an unwavering faith, Carol found peace, comfort, and strength within the pages of her Bible. Blessed to find the love of her life, she experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. Although she cherished her role as a mother, Carol just may have argued that becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother was her greatest gift. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

It was in 1931 that Carol made her arrival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on May 23rd. She was the fourth of five children in her family and was raised on the family farm alongside her sisters, Evelyn and Gladys, and her brothers, Lowell and Earl, who arrived on her fifth birthday. Although upset at first, she soon realized that no girl could have received a better birthday gift! She was a young girl of her generation who experienced a typical upbringing. Carol attended a one-room schoolhouse at the corner of 1st and Red Arrow Highway, walking to and from school each day, which ended up being a couple of miles. Her high school years started at Mattawan High School, but because she had a love for music and Mattawan had no music program, Carol spent her junior and senior years at Kalamazoo Central. She was very social and popular among her peers there.

After graduating from high school in 1949, Carol was eager for all that life had in store. She spent some time working at Upjohn, but it was her personal life that soon became very interesting as she met the man who would change the course of her life forever. His name was Russell Bush, and they were married on August 19, 1950. Together they made a home in the area. In 1964, Russell died.

There was never anything that was of greater importance to Carol than her loved ones. She was blessed to find the love of her life, Willis Mallory, and they were married on June 17, 1965. Carol also treasured her role as a mother to her four children including Dianne, Lindy, Pamela, and Kelly. From the moment she became a mother, she fully immersed herself in the role and worked tirelessly to nurture and care for her children. Carol was also her husband’s biggest supporter as she worked alongside him. Whether he was building a house, cutting down trees, enjoying the outdoors, or spending time with friends and family, she was there. doing whatever needed to be done. She was an early riser who efficiently got her household chores done so she would be ready for whatever her husband or children needed. Carol was a fantastic cook, and when holidays came she always went over and above to make them special, fixing everyone's favorite dish. She also cherished any days that were special to the family such as births, weddings, and other days to celebrate. In 1990, Carol was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved husband, Willis.

Throughout her life Carol kept busy in a variety of ways. She could often be found out in her immaculately kept garden, and she had the most beautiful yard to show for her effort. Carol especially enjoyed the springtime when her flowers first began appearing. In the summer, she loved taking it all in when everything was in full bloom. Carol loved the colors of autumn but wouldn't allow a fallen leaf to remain on the ground for long! She also loved her outdoor birds that she kept well fed, especially her hummingbirds and her Rufus Bird. She loved watching the many deer as they wandered through her yard, even when they ate from her bird feeder, only getting upset when they would try to feast on her beautiful rhodadendrum outside the front window! Carol was a lifelong music lover who enjoyed a variety of music including country and songs that were easy to sing along with. When relaxing, she enjoyed a good book and could most often be found reading romance novels, magazines, biographies that interested her, or her Bible. One of her favorite chapters in the Bible was the book that is often referred to as the chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13.

She maintained an active lifestyle throughout her life, often able to dance circles around her children and grand-children. Carol’s health began to decline during her last month. Even then, she enjoyed her garden as it was prepared for spring. She continued to do a little every day; a little raking, pulling some weeds, filling her bird feeder, and just walking or sitting on her porch or by her front window as she waited for the right weather to add some annuals to her perennials. She watched, in joy, as some of her family members got together to remove every stray leaf in her large yard. Each emerging weed was pulled from her flower gardens. Only in her final five days, was she away from the home and gardens that she loved, but was surrounded by her family and friends and knew the everlasting love they have for her.

With unending love for her family, Carol Mallory devoted her days to putting others first and foremost in her life. She was a lifelong resident of the community she loved and treasured being able to be near her children. It has been said that Carol was never one to let grass grow under her feet, although it would have been better said that she never let a weed grow under her feet as she was meticulous in caring for her breathtaking flower gardens! This applied to every aspect of her life. She liked to get things done in order to enjoy the rest of each day. Life will never be the same without her here, but Carol’s timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in grace, selfless sacrifice, unconditional love, and abiding faith will be carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

Carol Mallory, of Lawton, died on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Rose Arbor Hospice. Carol’s family includes her 4 daughters: Dianne Hughes, Lindy Mallory, Pamela (Wayne) McCord, and Kelly (Mike) O’Keefe; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren (with more on the way); and brother, Earl (Norene) Maxam, along with several cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. Carol was proceeded in death by her first husband, Russell Bush, and her second husband, Willis Mallory; sisters, Evelyn Hilbert, Gladys Johnson; brother, Lowell Maxam, and several neices and nephews. Services for Carol will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at the West Oshtemo Baptist Church, 10460 West Kl Ave. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Please visit Carol’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guest book. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

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