Willard I. Carrick

Willard Carrick was a kind-hearted, easygoing man, always ready to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. Mechanically gifted and with a seemingly inexhaustible store of energy, Willard liked to keep himself busy. He dedicated his life to caring for his beloved family, and he in turn was blessed with a long life, rich in friends, family, and memories. Willard was born on December 29, 1921, to proud parents Jacob and Ruby May (Swan) Carrick. He was their first child, soon to be followed by a younger sister, Joyce (tragically, Joyce died of leukemia at the age of 12). The Carrick family had a farm in Coleman, Michigan, where Jacob was a crop and dairy farmer. Willard was a hard worker, and shouldered many responsibilities at the farm. He attended schools in Isabella County until the eighth grade, at which point he left school to work on the farm full-time. On the weekends, Willards father played in a band to earn extra money. Willard often accompanied his father to gigs, and was known to occasionally fall asleep under the organ if they stayed out too late! In 1942, Willard joined the U.S. Coast guard, signing up for three years. He chose the Coast Guard because he figured as long as there was a boat, he would have a bed to sleep in. The men of the Carrick family were never afraid to do their duty, and served in three generations of wars: Jacob Carrick served in World War I, 25 years later Willard served in WWII, and 25 years after that Willards son Ronald served in the Vietnam War. Willard returned safely home to Northern Michigan in 1945. One evening, while attending a dance held at a Wise Township school, he met a young lady named Vernetta Weihl. Willard and Vernetta hit it off right away, and soon started dating. Romance blossomed, and the happy couple was married on January 14, 1945, in a country church on Wise Corner in Coleman. In the years to come, Willard and Vernetta were blessed with two sons, whom they named Ronald and Richard. Willard loved being a dad, and always supported his children when they needed him. He was a loyal fan at their bowling competitions, even out-of-state, and in one memorable incident helped his son Rick dismantle a car engine and rebuild it from scratch. Willard supported his family by working a number of different jobs over the years. Although the jobs varied, they shared a mechanical theme " Willard had always had a knack for repair, and he enjoyed doing mechanical work. These jobs included driving a truck, working for Dow Chemical in Midland, and working as a mechanic for Krapohl Ford in Mt. Pleasant. At one point, Willard and Vernetta owned a gas station, with Vernetta working in the store and Willard handling the mechanical side of things. For the last twenty years of his working life, Willard was a loyal employee of Central Michigan University. At CMU, he drove busses and serviced the vehicles in the bus and car pool divisions. Willard enjoyed his work, although he did develop a little road rage from all those years of driving! In his forties, Willard went back to school and completed his GED. After retirement, Willard and Vernetta moved to Zephyrhills, Florida, where they lived for seventeen years. Willard enjoyed growing oranges, grapefruit, and bananas in the balmy Southern climate, and usual had a good crop. Always generous, Willard would bag up the fruit, set it by the side of the road, and allow people to take it free of charge. In his free time, Willard liked to keep busy, and enjoyed making puzzles and playing card games. He also loved bowling, and did so well into his eighties. Two years ago, Willard and Vernetta moved back to Michigan. Willard greatly enjoyed the chance to see more of his family, and made every effort to attend their special events. Sadly, Willards beloved companion Vernetta passed away on April 20, 2012, ending a loving and committed marriage of 67 years. Easygoing, generous, and hard-working, Willard was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members. Willard I. Carrick died on October 5, 2012, at the age of 90. Willards family includes his son, Richard (Janine) Carrick of Big Rapids; his grandchildren, Andrew and Williard J. Carrick, Marianne (Leon) Wilcoxon, Melissa (Brett) Bittenbender, and Richard A. Carrick; his great-grandchildren, Brittany, Andrew, Aydin, Collin and Jacob; and his in-laws, Mildred (Duane) Acker of Greenville, Marian McDonald of Mt. Pleasant, Edwin (Linda) Weihl of Coleman, and Carole (Jerry) Gualdoni of Canadian Lakes. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vernetta; his son, Ronald, in 1999; his sister, Joyce; his sister-in-law, Velma Marble; and his brother-in-law, Jerry McDonald. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9, at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and on Tuesday one hour prior to the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association (envelopes are available at the funeral home).