Carole M. Locey

All who knew Carole Locey would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was the sort of person who never had an unkind word to say about anyone, and she was a stranger to none and a friend to all. It was easy to see the love Carole had for her family, and she loved nothing more than being surrounded by the love of her children and granddaughter. Life will never be the same without Carole here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

Life during the 1930s was anything but easy as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, the unemployment rate soared, and things only became more dire when a drought crippled our nation’s heartland for nearly two years during that time. Despite the trials around them, Daniel Sr. and Donna (Saye) Conway were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their lives as they welcomed the baby girl they named Carole M. into their hearts and home on October 27, 1939, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When she was three-and-a-half, her brother, Dan, completed their family. She contracted polio as a young girl, and this experience attributed to Carole’s strength and resilience for the rest of her life.

Raised in the family home on the East side of Kalamazoo near Nazareth, Carole was a young girl of her generation. She was very nurturing and motherly from a young age. Carole played piano and also attended local schools. Her high school years found her at St. Augustine High School where she was very social, involved, and could talk to anyone. Carole was always known as a straight shooter who spoke the truth. After graduating from high school in 1957 she attended Western Michigan University where she majored in education and French with plans of becoming a teacher.

Carole's life was forever changed when she became a mother. In 1961 she was blessed with the birth of her daughter, Ellen. It was also during this time that Carole graduated. In 1967, her son, David was born. She was very actively involved in the lives of her children in a variety of ways. Christmas and birthdays were always special in Carole’s home, and she loved decorating for the various seasons. Holiday celebrations were usually spent at her brother Dan’s house and her at her children's homes later on. She was very close to her niece and nephews. For years, Carole helped run the family business, Locey Oil Company, taking care of all the inside work as she was naturally business minded. She had a strong Catholic faith and raised her children in the church. As her family grew older, Carole loved helping out by watching homes for those who went South in the winter as she wasn’t really a big traveler herself. She also loved keeping up with family and friends by phone.

There were so many things that Carole enjoyed throughout her life. They had a cottage on Gun Lake, and as an avid reader she could often be found reading out on the boat or dock. Carole was second to none when it came to finding unique gifts and loved getting together with her family. More recently, Carole got into costume jewelry after retiring. She had all kinds of costume jewelry and sold her finds in small boutique stores, especially her antique jewelry. Music was an important part of her life, and she was in various singing groups including Kalamazoo Chorale and St. Catherine’s Choir among others. Carole also sang on Sundays or for funerals as well as at the Portage Senior Center. She simply loved being around music and also enjoyed the social aspect as she made many friends through singing. Carole enjoyed Christmas music, Barbara Streisand, and music from all types of movies. She was also a season ticket holder for both Miller Auditorium and the Civic Theater. Carole was part of a birthday group as well as a jewelry group as she was even reviewing jewelry at Rose Arbor. It was after a fall on August 9th when she suffered a broken hip that she ended up spending more than 40 days at Rose Arbor.

With her magnetic personality, outgoing spirit, and contagious zest for life, Carole Locey was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She was strong and independent while holding strong to her convictions and beliefs including the faith she held dear. She was deeply devoted to her family, and a friend of Carole’s was a friend for life. She always wanted the best for others, and she was there to support others in whatever way she could. Deeply loved, Carole will be forever missed.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Carole Locey who passed away on November 15, 2019. Carole will be forever remembered by her 2 children; Ellen Fillingham and David Locey; granddaughter, Autumn Locey; brother, Daniel Conway, Jr., niece, Kelly (Rich) Stack; nephews: Scott (Stephanie), Christopher (Laura) and Brian (Jacqueline) Conway, and their children. Carole was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister-in-law, Patricia Conway. Visit with family and friends while sharing food and refreshments from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 20th) at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900, where a Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 21st) at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. A luncheon will follow in the church hall and burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Please visit Carole’s personal webpage at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of her and sign her online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Community Chorale or Hackett Catholic Prep Athletics.