Carla Burgoyne

Carla Rochelle Burgoyne was a woman who loved her family, who had been strengthened by adversity and who knew what hard work was all about. She was perfectly happy spending time with her loved ones and didn’t need thousands of flashy distractions in her life. Carla had a full, caring heart, and everyone who spent time with her felt the warmth of her presence.

The 1950s were a bustling, optimistic time in American history. Neighborhoods and schools were bursting at the seams in the post-war Baby Boom. Families moved from cities to stake their claims to a comfortable life in the suburbs, where new domestic technologies promised to make the average American life easier. Carla Rochelle Watson was born during this period of robust exuberance to Archie and Gladys (Brimmer) Watson of Lansing, Michigan, on June 28, 1954. The oldest of three children, Carla was later joined by two brothers, Archie Eugene II, and John David. Being the only girl, Carla was said to be the “little princess” of the family, and had a bubbly, outgoing personality, which helped her win a hula hoop contest at the age of 3.

Carla’s father earned a living as an educator and, as such, the family moved around quite a bit to be near the schools where he taught. Their first move was to Flushing, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, where her father taught secondary education. He then took a teaching position in the Flint-Bentley Community Schools, which eventually led the family to move to Mount Morris, three miles north of Flint. By the time Carla was of school age, she began her education in the Flint area schools and then transferred to a school in Genesee. Her father’s teaching career eventually took them back to the Lansing area when he joined the faculty at Michigan State University. Carla graduated from Everett High School in Lansing.

It was while in high school that Carla met her first husband, William Fuller. They married shortly after graduating, but Carla still went on to attend Lansing Community College part-time for two years, while also working at a bank. Over the next few years, the couple also had four children together: Amy, Alicia, William, and Jennifer. However, Carla’s marriage to William eventually ended in divorce.

By this time, Carla was working at Wyeth Laboratories as an Administrative Assistant and Computer Support. It was there she met a fellow colleague named Mike Burgoyne, who was also going through a divorce. They would often confide in each other about the turmoil of divorce, but, more importantly, lean on each other when needed. After their legal proceedings were final, Mike went a step further and asked Carla out for coffee, which became a regular thing for them. The two dated for three years before Mike asked Carla to be his wife, but she turned him down saying, “You have no idea what you are getting into!” With great persistence and lots of love, Mike wore Carla down, and they were married in a quaint church in Bath, Michigan on April 29th, 1995.

The happy couple and Carla’s four children settled into married life together in a home in south Lansing, along with their two dogs, Patches and Sushi. For a few years, Carla commuted to work each day from Lansing to Ann Arbor, but the couple eventually bought a house in Whitaker, southeast of Ann Arbor. During one of her commutes, Carla was involved in a terrible auto accident, but luckily only sustained minor injuries. This was good because Carla had a constant battle with various other health problems, including three different types of cancer, which were successfully treated. While living in Ann Arbor and Whitaker, Carla’s daughter, Alicia, and her son, Tye’Reyce, joined Carla and Mike which gave them great joy. Chelsea, the cat, joined the family at this time.

When it came to her leisure time, Carla enjoyed watching cooking shows and the DIY network; perhaps this was why she was especially handy around the house. She enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series and craft magazines. For her listening pleasure, Carla enjoyed music of artists similar to Carrie Underwood and Celine Dion. What brought Carla the greatest joy, though, was hearing the laughter of her grandchildren, whom she adored. They were undoubtedly the shining beacon in her life.

When Carla was a young adult, her parents had divorced and her father later remarried, bringing five step-children to the family. That marriage also ended and her father was now on his own. In 2006, Mike’s work became scarce, and, after visiting Carla’s dad for Father’s Day, the couple decided to move to the quiet town of Lawton and live with her father. Excitedly, in the summer of 2007, Carla opened her own craft corner in Lawton’s Village Gallery. After some time, Carla’s daughter, Amy, and her daughter, Maelynn, also came to live with them, making it a four generation household. This really brought all of us closer and made us a stronger family unit with many happy moments. Sadly, Carla died unexpectedly in her home on Saturday, February 23, 2008. A loving wife and mother with a passion for her grandchildren, Carla will be deeply missed and frequently remembered.

Learn more about Carla, visit with her family and friends and view her life story film on Thursday, February 28, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw (657-3870). A service to honor her life will be held on Friday, February 29, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Lloyd Jewett officiating. A luncheon will be provided immediately following the services at the funeral home.

Carla is survived by her husband, Mike Burgoyne, father, Archie Eugene Watson I, mother, Gladys Mae Gaskill of Lakeland, Fl., former step-mother, Carole Ann Watson of Paw Paw; four children: Amy Fuller of Lawton, MI, Alicia Fuller of Manchester, MI, William Fuller and his wife Sara of Owosso, MI, Jennifer Fuller of St. Louis, MI; two grandchildren: Tye’Reyce Fuller of Manchester, MI, Maelynn Fuller of Lawton; two brothers: Archie Eugene Watson II of Williamsburg, MI, John David Watson of Bellevue, MI; five half brothers and sisters: James Butler of St. Johns, MI, Richard Watson of Saginaw, TX, Terry Butler of Plano, TX, David Butler, Oshkosh, WI, John Butler of Richardson, TX; MI; and a dear family friend, Shannon Kelley of Lansing and her daughter, Heather Kelley, of California. Please visit Carla’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.