Kathleen Carr
Kathleen Carr
She came into the world on June 12, 1940, in Marquette, MI, to parents Francis (Frank) R. and Frances A. (Choquette) Shaw. The following day, she was taken to “Camp” on Bass Lake to meet her grandparents, John S. and Ada Linnea (Mamo) Choquette. Kathleen enjoyed most of her childhood, filled with family and joy at Bass Lake. Her connections to the UP and the camp are strong. She delighted in singing, gathering blueberries, enjoying pea soup on the camp island, running barefoot all summer long at camp, and searching for arbutus and lady slippers. People often recognized her for her spontaneous singing.
During her upbringing, Kathleen resided on N. Front St. in Marquette, participated in Job’s Daughters and the 4-H club, sang in the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marquette, took dance lessons, ice skated at the Palestra, was a girl scout, and even performed a handstand walk across Kaufman Auditorium’s stage. She graduated from Graveraet High School in Marquette, Class of 1958, where she met her soulmate, William (Bill) R. Carr (also known as Carbil Nabana Yoshe). They were indeed a perfect pair. Selected as the inaugural Mining Journal Bride and Groom of the Month, they were featured in a special edition showcasing their local shopping escapades for their forthcoming wedding. The couple tied the knot on June 18, 1960, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and to everyone’s surprise and joy, Kathleen sang at her wedding because the contracted singer had a family emergency and could not perform. The following year, they took on the roles of leaders for the St. Paul’s Youth Fellowship.
Their initial home was in married student housing at Northern Michigan College (NMU). After Bill graduated, they moved away but returned five years later with their two children to settle in Ishpeming, MI, where Bill managed Credit Bureau Metro, and Kathleen ran Northern Showcase, a retail gift store. They later relocated to Marquette and started the Crown Card Shop, which they operated for over a decade. They moved to South Florida during the recession of 1980-1982, as Marquette County was severely impacted. While in Florida, Kathleen obtained her Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Barry University, and later, both she and Bill received a Master of Library Science Degree from the University of South Florida on the same day, working for the Broward County Florida Library System as librarians until their retirement. Kathleen could help anyone identify a song by merely listening to them hum a melody — a talent recognized throughout the library.
After dedicating many years to library service, Bill and Kathleen enjoyed their retirement by spending summers at Bass Lake in the U.P. and winters in Sunrise, FL. She delighted in gardening, participating in costume parades for the 4th of July along the camp road, sending gifts before Christmas, and assembling jigsaw puzzles. Kathleen enjoyed listening to Elvis, baking cardamom bread, raking pine needles, and reading non-fiction. While she held many interests dear, her greatest happiness stemmed from being alongside her husband. They were a constant presence in each other’s lives, celebrating 61 wonderful years of marriage.
She is survived by her parents, Frank and Frances Shaw, her older brother, Michael J. Shaw, her husband, Bill, and her younger sister, Mary F. Shaw.She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Kellie M. Carr of Kalamazoo, and son, David W. Carr (Becky) of Spring Hill, FL; grandchildren, Sean W. Rourk (Rachelle) of West Palm Beach, Dr. Megan K. Kemink (Timothy) of Hudsonville, MI, Joshua D. Carr (Shayna) of Spring Hill, FL, and Emily M. Carr (Rafael Alamo) of New York City; and great-grandchildren John J. and Carson F. Kemink and William J. Rourk.
A life celebration and memorial service will be held in Summer 2025 in the Marquette area.
umer
