Carolyn Virginia Coady

Carolyn Virginia (Ginny) Coady passed away March 4th one month after her 92nd birthday. A modern woman by every standard with an infinite desire to learn, move and love. Her constant energy built a lifetime of memories with her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, neighbors, strangers, students, dogs, birds and beloved friends. She insisted on family at life’s core. The wellbeing of each member and bond of the group connected her life more than anything else. Harold & Ruby Carter along with their son Scoot announced her arrival to Harvard, Michigan in 1926. She rode the waves of the great depression and World War II through her childhood and shortly after met and married her tall handsome man in a uniform, Maurice Coady, on July 16, 1946. They soon settled into the small northern Michigan town of Barryton and built a life for themselves with three children. While raising her young family, she entered Central Michigan University earning a Masters in Speech Pathology. She would spend 27 years sharing her passion with generations of children in the Mecosta-Osceola school district that needed help. The ‘Golden Years’ brought the Coady home to Portage, Michigan with a winter retreat in New Port Richey, Florida. Both locations perfectly suited to maximize her loving touch on family. The greatest joy of her life. Her small frame made an oversized impact. As a lifelong volunteer, civil servant and baker of pies, her spirit will be carried forward by all those who were blessed to know her. May we meet again someday. Carolyn leaves behind a husband, Maurice of 71 years, a son Jim (Kathy) of Paw Paw, Michigan, a son Terry (Laurie) of Tarpon Springs, Florida and a daughter Sue (John) of Scotts, Michigan, seven (7) grandchildren; Ryan (Noreen) Thomas (MI), Brett Coady (FL), Landon Coady (FL), Lindsay Dodd (Kevin) (FL), Ashley Smith (Nate) (CO), Kim Hawkins (Dan) (IL), Alysse Thomas (MI) and three (3) great-grandchildren – Liam & Una Thomas and Macy Dodd. She was also a gramma to special family friends “The Johnsons” who held a special place in her heart. A family celebration of her life will be held during the summer. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.