Carol A. Carlson passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, July 3, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior. She was born on July 6, 1935 in Fremont, Michigan, the daughter of Lue and Faye (Hollowell) Lubke. She graduated from Fremont High School in 1953 and went on to study elementary education and music at Western Michigan College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. At Western she met Robert Carlson who became her husband in 1957. They moved to Big Rapids in 1963 from the Flint area when Bob took a teaching position at Ferris State College. They built their dream home together and raised two children, spending many summers camping at Brower Park and other Michigan locales and skiing at Caberfae in winters. Carol taught school at the elementary level and later was a substitute teacher in the Big Rapids school district. Her greatest impact was teaching reading support to children at Brookside Elementary in the years prior to her retirement. In the past 30 years she enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. She also visited many states within the U.S. trying to include family and friends on those adventures. She was an avid reader, a student of life and faith, craftswoman, lover of music and all things flowering. She learned fly fishing through a cancer support group Reeling and Healing and enjoyed winter and snow skiing throughout her life. She is survived by her children, Eric (Jane) Carlson of Fitchburg, WI, Karen Dunham of Potterville, MI; four grandchildren, Jacob and Camille Carlson, Christina and Joshua Dunham; one brother, Dr. William E. Lubke of Daytona Beach, FL and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister; her husband and their first son Chris. A memorial service will take place 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2014 at the Trinity Fellowship Church in Big Rapids. The family requests memorial contributions be given to Grace Adventures Camp in Silver Lake, Michigan or Hospice of Michigan in lieu of flowers. Arrangements entrusted to Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids.