Carol Jean Roush

Carol Jean Roush, age 93, of East Lansing, MI, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 19, 2023. Born on July 14, 1930, in Ionia, MI, to the late Lester and Irma Covert. Carol was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was an energetic and curious woman who lived her life both creatively and conventionally, finding her own way of balancing work and family, celebrating all the milestones and accomplishments of those she loved, and leaving her mark on our hearts.

The daughter of a dairy farmer, Carol was the oldest of three children. She and her brothers, Stan and Gary, attended a one-room schoolhouse where Carol often helped teach the younger children. She graduated from Ionia High School and went on to attend Michigan State University, where she met her husband-tobe, Wayne Roush.

Fresh out of the military, where he had been stationed in Nome, Alaska, Wayne was instantly smitten and proposed to Carol on their first date. She turned him down, but he persisted and they married in September, 1950. Carol and Wayne spent their first two years as a married couple in the UP, where Wayne attended Michigan Tech. They made lifelong friends and adopted some Yooper customs, like the pasty making that became a Roush tradition before deer season. When Wayne took a job with the State of Michigan Highway Dept., they moved to East Lansing and bought their first home.

Carol worked as a legal secretary until their first child, Linda, was born in 1955. Diane followed in 1958 and Eric completed the family in 1960. They moved to what would be their home for decades to come, on Ridgewood Drive, close to their church, with a big backyard on the quiet street. Once the children were all in school, Carol returned to the workforce in a position with Secura Insurance. She advanced to become an adjuster, a challenging and rewarding career from which she retired in 1993.

Carol and Wayne were early members of Edgewood United Church of Christ in East Lansing, attending regularly and remaining active in their church community. Carol's work in the church gardens was deeply appreciated because she loved doing a task many gardeners dread: weeding. When she was 85 they presented her a T-shirt that read, "I'VE NEVER MET A WEED I DIDN'T WANT TO PULL." Friends and family were never surprised to see Carol bent over a flower bed in their yard, pulling a few weeds just for fun.

No matter how busy, Carol always made time for her favorite pastime: playing bridge. She was in several women's and couple's groups, and continued to play at Burcham Hills until she was around 90. Carol was also an expert seamstress and her 'theme' aprons are treasured keepsakes to this day. There was an apron for every holiday and occasion, and they truly express something essential about Carol - her practical nature, coupled with a sense of fun and celebration.

When Carol and Wayne retired, they were fortunate to be able to spend nearly 20 years traveling together. Their first big trip was to Hawaii, and a later trip to France with Linda and Jim made an indelible impression on them both. Every winter they took off in January and traveled between Florida and Arizona, visiting old friends, meeting up with family, and enjoying the warm sunny weather in new places along the Gulf Coast each year. There were also trips to the Pacific Northwest, where Wayne’s family resides. Summers were for gardening, shorter trips, and visits. Most years they attended church camp, bringing along grandchildren and great grandchildren. Carol was a great connector and it was always important to her to keep in touch, to visit, to spend time with family and friends. True to her adventurous spirit, Carol took a trip to Switzerland with an old friend not long after Wayne passed away. It was her last major trip before moving to Burcham Hills.

Carol Jean Roush is survived by her brother Gary (Eleanor) Covert of Cottonwood, AZ; her daughter, Linda Nuttall of East Lansing; her son Eric (Joanne) Roush of Menasha, WI; her grandson Daniel Beem; her granddaughter Stephanie Goodwin; and her great grandsons Tyler Beem, Hunter Beem, and Alex Heideman. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne Roush; her daughter, Diane Beem; her brother, Stan Covert, and his wife, Vonnie; and her son-in-law James Nuttall.

A memorial service will be held in June at Edgewood United Church, when the flowers she so loved are in bloom. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Edgewood for the care and support of the gardens that were Carol's passion, or to the Heifer Project which was near to her farm girl's heart.

Carol is deeply missed by her family and friends, but her memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.