Carol Nan Ritchie, 77, passed away peacefully June 28, 2016, at her home in Seminole, Fla., surrounded by family and her two guardian angels.
Carol was born on Dec. 27, 1928, to Lee and Betty (Isabelle) Miller Robinson. She spent the early part of her childhood on a horse farm in Fowlerville, Mich.
Carol's grandfather, Charles Miller (originally Kazimiris Varnigiris) who immigrated to the United States from Lithuania, built the "beautiful" barn on their farm. This farm was a business where Carol, her brother Charlie and sisters Blondie and Georgia were expected to work very hard doing barn chores while caring for pregnant mares. They also collected the horse's urine, which was sold to pharmaceutical companies then used in making hormone medication.
At about age 13 Carol and her family moved to Cedar Springs where they raised, broke, then sold horses at auction. In spite of all the hard farm work, Carol loved riding horses! In 1954, Carol married Carl Morehouse and they had four children together. They eventually divorced.
Although Carol did not finish school, she later completed her GED. She loved to read and discuss anything about history and politics. In 1963, Carol married Jimmy Ritchie and they had three children. Carol, Jim and family eventually moved to Florida where she lived for more than 40 years. For several of those years, she loved working as a special education parapro at Bauder Elementary School in Seminole.
Carol eventually transferred her love of horses to dogs and began breeding, raising and showing champion English Bulldogs. After retirement she kept busy collecting, buying and selling antiques, taking after her mother Betty.
During her life, Carol faced and survived many challenges. Her courage remains an inspiration to her family.
Carol will be sadly missed by her dear sister and brother-in-law, Georgia and Bob Johnson; her children, Cheryl (Eric) Baculy, Carla (Bruce) Springer, Curtis Morehouse, Cindy (Doug) Burnham, Jamie (Mike) Conaty and Jacquie (Joe) McKenna; grandchildren, Lee (Viviana) Myers, Dean Myers, Cheri Nan (Juell) Porter, Jacob Stanton, Cynthia McKenna, Karlena Morehouse, Cody Conaty, Jonathan Baculy and Jimmy McKenna; great grandchildren, Chloe and Nolan Myers, Joshua, Daniel and Eli Porter; and many nieces and nephews. Carol is also survived by her guardian angels, Standard Poodles Hallie and Buddy.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim; son Joel Ritchie; her parents; her beloved brother Charles (Charlie) G. Robinson; and beloved sister LaVerna (Blondie) Townes.
A memorial luncheon will take place to share memories of Carol on Oct. 16. Contact family for more information.
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