Carolyn Marie Rowe Hill

Carolyn Marie Rowe Hill, age 77, passed away surrounded by her family on October 17, 2021 in Muskegon, Michigan. Carolyn lived a life full of family and music and maintained a passion for teaching and learning throughout her lifetime. As an undergraduate student of education at Eastern Michigan University, Carolyn graduated with a 4.0 GPA. As a lifelong scholar, her love of learning continued through her final days. She had just finished the first of several on-line “Master Classes” days before she passed. Carolyn began her professional life as a 1st Grade Teacher at George School in Ypsilanti, and concluded it as a teacher of adults in the Milan School district. Throughout the years, Carolyn was a small business owner, author and travel agent. Ultimately, however, Carolyn’s love of family led to her retirement in order for her to spend more time with her children and care for her grandchildren. She was the loudest cheerleader for all of her 10 grandchildren, attending as many sporting events, concerts and performances as she and her husband Bob were able. Carolyn was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bertram Freeman Rowe and Lota Marie Rowe, as well as her brothers Thomas Phillips Rowe and Daniel Bell Rowe. She is survived by her brothers John Miles Rowe and James Donald Rowe; her husband of 32 years Robert James Hill Jr.; her son Richard Thomas (Diane) Shafer and grandchildren Daniel James Shafer and Thomas Joseph Shafer; her daughter Heather Renee (Michael) Jones and grandchildren Amberly Rose Jones and Chelsea Marie Jones; her stepson Robert J. (Jennie) Hill III and grandchildren Marleigh Rochelle (Mike) Trathen, Bradford Wyatt Hill and Lindsey Hanna Hill; her stepson Makita Eric (Anicia) Hill, and grandsons Adam Garrett Hill, Shane Esposito and Jack Esposito; and countless nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm at The Peoples Church, 200 W Grand River Ave, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823. Please note that masks are required at the church (which houses a preschool), and the family asks that all in attendance be fully vaccinated. The service will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/3gZ0ffeICeU for those unable to attend. The family will greet visitors following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Operation Purple Program, 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 250, Alexandria, VA 22314 or the Special Olympics, Attn: Web Gifts, 1133 19th Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036.

The family's preferred florist is Smith Floral (517–484-5327 [email protected]) at 1124 E. Mount Hope, Lansing.