Ilene Marie (Darling) Carr

Ilene Marie (Darling) Carr passed away peacefully at River Inn Adult Foster Care Home on the afternoon of February 22nd, 2017.  Ilene was born in Portland, Michigan on Feb. 10th, 1927 to Leroy Nelson Darling and Bernice (Hale) Darling. Ilene spent much of her young life in Portland, Mi, attending grade school there. Sometime around the time she started Jr. High the family moved to Sebewa. It was in Sebewa that she met George Carr, whom she married on September 26th, 1943. George and Ilene remained in the Sebewa area and began to rent land to farm. Their family grew to include sons LaVern Edward(Helen) Carr and Kendall George(Jacqueline) Carr. And the farm grew to include several 1000 acres, which LaVern and Kendall continued to work after George’s death on November 16th, 1989.  In 1975 George and Ilene purchased a cottage on Morrison Lake and so began the families love for spending time there fishing, boating, water skiing, tubing, and just relaxing. The family cherishes this property and still gathers together there frequently.  In 1993 a gentleman named Jim Debler began to call on Ilene and their friendship continued until his death in May of 2016. Jim and Ilene enjoyed many evenings watching sports, listening to country music, and going to travelogues.  Ilene was a diligent wife, mother, and grandmother-always able to “make do” and care for her loved ones, never one to complain about her situation.  She always had a hearty meal prepared for whoever might be coming but especially for a grandchild coming home from school-ready and waiting on a TV tray in front of a favorite cartoon show. For several years, Ilene enjoyed baking and decorating cakes for weddings and birthdays in the Sunfield/Portland area. She was also an experienced seamstress-remembered by her sons for the fancy western shirts she made them. Ilene spent many hours doing what “country women” do- tending a garden, butchering chickens, picking strawberries at Brovants, and preserving fruits and vegetables, as well as keeping a home. Ilene enjoyed making and selling craft items also-many orders of calico chicken doorstops were delivered around the Sunfield community. Ilene had a circle of friends called the “Birthday Club” who liked to celebrate each other's birthdays-most have passed away but will be waiting to party again with her in heaven. Ilene loved to feed and watch the hummingbirds-that is why you see the hummingbirds here today.  Ilene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, special friend Jim, brothers Bill and Pete Darling, and sister Kate Hembree.  Ilene unconditionally loved her family and will be missed by her sons and their wives, grandchildren Cheryl(Jamie)Arnold, Karen(Dale)Hoppes, Dan(Teva)Carr, Kendra(Ryan)Bowser, Sara(Josh)Good, and Amanda(Matt)Plett, 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, special nephew Chuck(Karen)Darling , sister Ramona Burnham, sisters in law Barbara Darling and Bernadine Carr, along with numerous nieces and nephews.  The family would like to thank the staff at River Inn and Great Lakes Caring for their dedicated care of Ilene and their kindness to our entire family. They helped to make this painful and sad event more bearable.  In lieu of flowers please contribute to “No More Sidelines” 4332 North Wacousta Rd. Fowler, MI  48835, an organization which helps adults and children with autism. Ilene’s great granddaughter, Shelby Hoppes, has participated in several of these programs and events.  Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM – Tuesday Feb. 28, 2017 at the Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chapel, Sunfield, MI.  Visitation will be 6-8 PM – Monday at the Chapel.  Please visit the special page made for Ilene M. Carr to leave a condolence or light a candle: www.RosierFuneralHome.com

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