Arbutus "Boots" Lillian Carr

Arbutus “Boots” Lillian (Kemp) Carr, age 92, of Rudyard, Michigan, died at the Pennington Home in Pickford, Michigan, on June 8, 2023. She was born in Rudyard on May 20, 1931, to Ervin J. and Lempi Julia (Larsen) Kemp. Boots grew up in Rudyard and graduated from Rudyard High School. Boots met the love of her life Clifford Herman Carr, while in high school, and they married on October 7, 1947, in St. Ignace, Michigan, and they started their family. She worked as a waitress at Linda’s Restaurant for several years before she began cleaning houses on the U.S. Air Force Base in Kincheloe, Michigan. Later, Boots started working at Rudyard High School as the secretary in 1972, she worked with many principals that always said “Boots makes my job easy” for over thirty-one years, she helped many teachers, principals, and students. She retired, ready to tend to her beloved animals and live out her golden years with Cliff. Boots served as a deacon for the Rudyard Presbyterian Church. She actively donated to several charitable organizations. She also was a member of the MARSP -Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. Boots loved cooking, sewing, crocheting, and creating countless crafts. She loved spending time with her family and animals. She was a great singer and enjoyed singing in her church choir, along with attending bible study, and playing the piano and organ. She also loved going out to eat, spending time at the cabin and on the beach, and was an avid QVC shopper and loved her shoes and purses!! Boots is survived by her daughter, Maryann Engle of Elkhart Indiana; grandchildren, Wendie (Tim) Crawford of Gower, Missouri, Brandie (Andy) Layne of Johns Island, South Carolina, Kasie Carr of Rudyard, Scott (Valerie) Housour of Fife Lake, Michigan, and Katie Carr of Rudyard; great-grandchildren, Kaylynn Carr, T.J. Mowry, and Jeremy Mowry; sister, Kathy (Steve) Fountain; brother, Gary (Ellie) McDonald; nieces, Cindy & Kelly Kemp of Rudyard; sister-in-law, Yvonne McDonald; brother-in-law, Don Thompson; several great-great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Boots was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Lempi; husband, Clifford; son, Rodney C. Carr; granddaughter, Christie Ann LaBar; stepfather, Lloyd McDonald; sisters, Sharon (McDonald) Thompson, Corrinne (Roger) Fountain, Vera Taylor; brother, Bill McDonald and brother & sister-in-law, Leo (Eileen) Kemp. The family of Boots would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of the EUP in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Pennington Home, and Dr. M. Eby for all their care and compassion they provided in her final days. Visitation will be held on June 15, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Galer Funeral Homes, in Pickford, with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 PM Entombment will follow at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Twp., Michigan. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Chippewa County Animal Shelter, 3660 S. Mackinac Trail, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, or to the Pennington Home, P.O. Box 203 Pickford, MI 49774. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.

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Arbutus "Boots" Lillian Carr

May 20, 1931 - June 8, 2023