Carol A. Curneal

On 7/14/21, the majestic gates of Heaven opened wide to welcome its newest resident for eternity, Carol Curneal, 77, of Kalkaska. She passed away at the Eden Center Long Term Care facility in Kalkaska, MI, following a stroke in July 2020, and several setbacks during the year following. Carol was born on January 14, 1944, in Kansas City, MO, and was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Harry and Jessie (Ruthsatz) Himes of Benton Harbor, MI, and her brother Richard Himes (Diane) of Coloma, MI. On April 19, 1979, Carol married the true love of her life, Larry Curneal, in Benton Harbor. Carol and Larry were high school sweethearts there in 1960, but broke up and went their separate ways before Larry graduated. The Lord brought them back together 19 years later following separate marriages and subsequent divorces, and she then cherished 42 years of marriage with her soul mate, Larry, who survives. Although legally blind, her working years consisted of many varied occupations. She was a partner in a television sales and service business and ran a group home for teenagers in Bellaire, MI, and was a home economics teacher for Immanuel Christian School, Benton Harbor, where she was also the food supervisor for the school and daycare. Carol also had her own dried floral business and did silk flowers and some food catering for weddings. Carol’s real passion was in food service, however, in that she managed a Bonanza Steak House in Benton Harbor, was a banquet manager for Shanty Creek Ski Resort in Bellaire, and owned and operated a mini-cafeteria as the only food service for a ten-story office building in Lansing, MI. Her Hot Spot Café was under the auspices of the Commission of the Blind’s Business Enterprise Program. Carol received two distinguished awards from the program and went on to become their first full-time trainer for the state of Michigan, training totally and legally blind students (and even one profoundly deaf and legally blind young lady) how to own and operate their own snack bars, cafeterias, and vending routes in federally mandated state and federal office buildings and all state freeways. Carol’s husband was also employed as her reader and driver, and they worked together for five years before retiring to Bellaire. Being legally blind did not deter Carol from enjoying other pursuits in her spare time. She loved riding her adult three-wheeled bike. She was a quilter, even teaching machine embroidery at Renee’s House of Quilting in Williamsburg. She also made beautiful wall hangings and three-dimensional greeting cards for her church to send out on special occasions. She loved the Lord and her church with all her heart, and she was endowed with many spiritual gifts such as being a prophet and seer. Also, she was involved for ten years with Larry as a team member in the Keryx Prison Ministry, putting on four-day “weekends” in state prisons and local churches. Carol leaves behind her loving and totally devoted husband, Larry, her children James (Carol) and John (Toby) Thomas, LeeAnn (Christopher) Bronikowski, and Joseph (Briana) Curneal, along with stepchildren Brian Curneal, Heather (Keith) Brookhouse, and Christopher (Katie) Curneal. She also leaves behind eighteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Rylan, of whom she was immensely proud! Cremation has taken place, and Carol’s family will host a celebration of life memorial service at the Coldsprings Christian Fellowship Church, 532 S. Cedar St., Kalkaska, at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 25th, with a luncheon following at the church. The family is being cared for by the Kalkaska Funeral Home. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all of you who have prayed for Carol and her family. May God bless you all!

Carol A. Curneal

January 14, 1944 - July 14, 2021