Carol Ann Webb Sparrow

Born in 1937 to Charlotte (Hammond) and Daniel Webb in Wyandotte, Michigan, Carol graduated from Okemos High School in 1955 before earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University. In 1959, she married Thomas Richard Sparrow, and they had four children. Following their divorce in 1975, as a single mother, Carol returned to work to support her family, advancing from medical technologist to blood banking researcher at Ingham Medical Hospital (now McLaren).

Carol was an exceptional cook who hosted holiday celebrations every year for friends and family, including "Titanic Dinners,” during which she would recreate the menu from the ill-fated liner. She was a classic movie buff and knew the names of all the actors and directors from her generation. After retiring in 2004, Carol enjoyed summers spent with family at her cottage on Fife Lake, especially evening cocktail cruises on her MSU green pontoon boat. A huge fan of Spartan Basketball, she was following the team closely during her last illness and would have liked nothing better than to see them win it all again this year.

Carol came from a musical family, and she raised a musical family. She could play any song on the piano by ear. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, Give My Regards to Broadway, Roll Out the Barrel, You’re a Grand Old Flag, Bye Bye Blackbird and other old-time songs comprise the fondly-remembered soundtrack of childhood.

She is survived by her four children: Jennifer (Robert Harris), Thomas Hamond, Richard Blair, and William Tremewan (Aubrey Pakenas). She is also survived by her niece, Janet Webb, and her beloved grandchildren: Jack, Sophie, Adsel, Henry, Kara, and Charlie.

Bye Bye, Blackbird. We love and will miss you.