Carol Ann Fisher

Carol Ann Fisher was born February 6th 1950 to Warren (Bud) and Sally Day. As the oldest of eight children, Carol began fulfilling a role that would persist throughout her life: the role of caregiver. Helping to clean the house, cooking meals, and looking after her younger siblings were chores she did not mind because they served to help both her parents and her brothers and sisters. This natural inclination to nurture others inevitably directed her toward a nursing career where she could help those who could not help themselves. Carol continued working as a nurse even as she cared for her own three children at home.

In 1980, Carol met Bob Fisher, the man who would eventually become her husband and the love of her life. She finally decided to take a break from nursing so she could focus on her growing family. In 1984, after she and Bob had their son, Kevin, Carol began running a daycare from home, helping friends, family, and neighbors. This, however, was not simply a nine to five job. Carol always made her home a place of welcoming, treating those she babysat  like her own children. When holidays., birthdays, or other special occasions came around, Carol invited these families into her home to celebrate. Never once was she heard to say no when asked to babysit weekends, early mornings, or late nights, and if she knew that a family was struggling financially, she gladly did her work without expectation of pay. Carol enjoyed loving and caring for others, and those dozens of children -- many now adults -- can testify to this outpouring of affection. Even as Carol battled her own sickness, one of the foremost thoughts in her head was how she could continue babysitting.

Amazingly, Carol was able to do all this while also raising her own four children, all of whom she loved without reservation. This love and affection was amplified when she began having grandchildren. She never missed a school function, sports game, or other important event in their lives. Some of her favorite memories stem from small trips she took with them and their reactions to the Christmas and birthday presents she spent hours thinking about, and in some cases, wrapping.

In the few instances when she had free time, Carol enjoyed taking trips with her family, sometimes to destinations 14 hours away, some just to discover the backroads around Kalamazoo. She also enjoyed going to the movies, concerts., or out to dinner. Many nights you could also find her quietly working on a crossword puzzle, playing solitaire, or muttering under her breath as she watched Fox news.

Carol is survived by children Denise Franklin (David "Smalls" Nette), Scott (Nicole) Schnurr, Tracey (Robert) Masterson and Kevin Fisher; 7 grandchildren: Matthew, Alex, Nathan, Brandon, Ryan, Helen and Harriet; 7 siblings including Jane Day, Mike (Jody) Day, Barbara (Dan) Mottert, and John Day. Along with the family, some of the significant people who share in the loss of Carol include Bret Franklin and Nicki Schnurr. Carol was preceded in death by her son, Craig, and husband, Bob.