Margaret Jeanette Carr, age 86, of Three Rivers, MI. went to be with her Lord,Thursday March 7th, 2013 at Heartland Health Care. She was born January 18, 1927 in Monessen, Pennsylvania the daughter of Joseph Rodgers and Axeline (Bergman) Rodgers.
She soon moved with her parents to Dayton, IA to help care for her mother’s father in failing health. Upon his death, the family moved to Chariton, IA. to live and work on the Bergman farm. There she attended and graduated from high school. Margaret and her parents then moved to the Fort Dodge, IA. area where her father worked for the Webster County Road Commission and was a blacksmith in Burnside, IA.
Not long after she moved there, she met and married Calvin Carr on March 10, 1945. They made their home near Burnside where three sons and a daughter were born. They farmed there for 19 years and then moved into Ft. Dodge where she worked as a seamstress for J.C. Penny Co. and as a Physical Therapist for the Hospital. They attended the Nazarene Church where she served as Missionary Society President and Church Board member. She and her husband were both very active with the young people and children.
In 1979, because of Calvin’s failing health, they decided to buy a motel in Hermitage, MO., this was something they could do together. They operated the motel for 7 ½ years and then sold it and moved to Olathe, KS to help their daughter Elaine with her two children. Later when Elaine’s work transferred her to St. Louis, MO. Calvin and Margaret also moved with them to continue helping out. While there, Margaret enrolled in a nurse training program and graduated as a licensed practical nurse at age 60 – thus finally fulfilling her life long dream.
Calvin and Margaret then moved back to Hermitage, MO and resided there 14 years to enjoy retirement and fishing in the Ozarks. Calvin helped build the Nazarene Church at Wheatland, MO where they became charter members and Margaret continued to serve directing the Missions program. They took in foster children as they felt they could share God with them. In all, they took care of 11 foster children.
In 2001, they moved to Lincoln, MO, and enjoyed the small friendly town. In 2002 they moved to Three Rivers, MI to be near their son, Gary for a couple years where Calvin resided at Heartland Health Care. Upon Calvin’s death, Margaret moved to South Carolina to live with her son Correy for six years. After that time she returned to Three Rivers, Mi. and became a resident of Heartland Health Care where she continued to enjoy being a member and going to the Corey Church of the Nazarene, where her son Gary was pastoring.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Gladys Heinkel of Sacramento, CA. and Shirley Rodgers of Burnside, IA.
Margaret leaves to cherish her loving memory three sons; Gary (Jan) Carr of Three Rivers, MI., Michael (Patty) Carr of Fernandina Beach, FL., Correy Carr of San Antonio, TX. and daughter Elaine (Les) Thomsen of San Antonio, TX.; Two sisters, Carolyn Shelton of Chariton, IA. and Kathryn Beebe of Townsend, MT. She has 8 grand children and 14 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Saturday March 16th ,2013 from 10a.m. until the time of services at 11:00a.m. at the Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers, MI. 49093 with Pastor Gary Carr, officiating. Interment will be at Riveside Cemetery, Three Rivers, MI.
Memorials may be given to the Corey Church of the Nazarene. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hohnerfh.com.