Kathleen Carr

She was born on June 12, 1940, in Marquette, MI, to Francis (Frank) R. and Frances A. (Choquette) Shaw. The next day, she was brought to “Camp” on Bass Lake to meet her Grandparents, John S. and Ada Linnea (Mamo) Choquette. Kathleen spent most of her childhood surrounded by family and fun at Bass Lake. Her roots run deep in the UP and at camp. She loved to sing, pick blueberries, have pea soup on the camp island, run barefoot all summer at camp, and seek out arbutus and lady slippers. She was known for spontaneously bursting out in song.

Growing up, Kathleen lived on N. Front St. in Marquette, was a member of 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 walked “all the way” across Kaufman Auditorium’s stage on her hands. She attended Graveraet High School in Marquette, Class of 1958, where she met the love of her life, William (Bill) R. Carr (aka Carbil Nabana Yoshe). They were a perfect match. Chosen as the first Mining Journal Bride and Groom of the Month, they were featured in a special edition highlighting their local shopping adventures for their upcoming wedding. The sweethearts were married on June 18th, 1960, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and to the crowd’s surprise and delight, Kathleen sang at her own wedding because the hired singer, having a family emergency, could not perform. A year later, they became leaders of the St. Paul’s Youth Fellowship.

Their first home was married student housing at Northern Michigan College (NMU). Upon Bill’s graduation, they left the area and, five years later, returned with their two children to settle in Ishpeming, MI, where Bill owned and managed Credit Bureau Metro and Kathleen owned and managed Northern Showcase, a retail gift shop. They later moved to Marquette and opened the Crown Card Shop in Marquette, which they owned and operated for over 10 years. They moved to South Florida during the 1980-1982 recession – Marquette County was hit hard. While in Florida, Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Barry University, and later Bill and Kathleen both earned a Master of Library Science Degree from the University of South Florida on the same day and worked until their retirement for the Broward County Florida Library System as librarians. Kathleen was known to be able to help any person who needed a song name by just listening to someone hum a tune, a gifted skill known throughout the library.

After many years of library service, Bill and Kathleen retired and spent their summers in the U.P. at Bass Lake, returning to Sunrise, FL, in the winters. She had a joy of gardening, 4th of July costume parades down the camp road, sending pre-Christmas gifts, and solving jigsaw puzzles. She loved to listen to Elvis, bake cardamom bread, rake pine needles, and read non-fiction. Although Kathleen loved many things, her favorite activity was simply being by her husband’s side. They were inseparable and married for 61 wonderful years.

She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Frances Shaw, 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, 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.