Carol Kott

Carol Kott was a devoted wife, mother, and grandma who tried each day to share her happiness with her beloved family. She was a selfless woman, and she always thought of others before herself. Carol was the happiest when she was with her family, and in their company a familiar smile always brimmed over her lips.

The decade of Carol's birth is better known to most of us as the Great Depression, documented in history books for its struggles, scarcity and uncertainty, but Leo Miller and his wife Jeanne DeVries looked toward a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on February 8, 1937 they welcomed their daughter Carol into the family home in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The second eldest of six children, Carol grew up in Kalamazoo with the company of her five siblings. After her freshman year of high school, the family relocated to the nearby town of Vicksburg. Carol continued her education at Vicksburg High School where she was a cheerleader. She graduated with the class of 1955.

In the first few weeks of her sophomore year, a young man named Gerald "Jerry" Kott introduced himself. He was attracted to Carol's cute looks and charismatic personality. They easily fell into a conversation, and they were immediately smitten with one another. Carol and Jerry fell in love, and they dated throughout high school. Their courtship ended with marriage on August 11, 1956. This was the first chapter of a storybook marriage that would last fifty wonderful years.

After the wedding, Carol and Jerry settled in Vicksburg. They have spent the last forty years in their home on Indian Lake. Carol was a natural wife and a wonderful homemaker. She loved to cook and clean, and she always thought of the needs of others before her own. These traits also made her an excellent mother. She and Jerry were blessed with two daughters, Diana and Ann. Carol spoiled her girls with love and attention. She always made sure that they had everything that they wanted, and each day she found ways to let them know how special they were.

Carol loved to be in the kitchen. The sweet aroma from her baking always announced a fresh treat. Her family especially loved her chocolate chip cookies and apple pies. For the most part, Carol cooked from scratch. Her chicken noodle soup was one of her most popular dishes. She learned many unique recipes from the Food Network. If she was watching the Food Network, her family never asked to change the channel - she wouldn't even let Jerry switch to a live sporting event!

Over the years, Carol dedicated herself to a variety of hobbies. She loved the outdoors, and she spent a good deal of her free time golfing and fishing. She and Jerry loved to go golfing together. For several years they played in a couples league. Carol was even a member of the KWGA, the Kalamazoo Women's Golf Association. Because they lived on Indian Lake, Carol and Jerry never had to wander far to go fishing. They simply walked to the end of their dock and threw their hooks into the water. Carol was a knitting fanatic, and she made afghans for everyone. She even made bushel baskets of little hats for the newborn babies at the hospital. In recent years, Carol discovered a love for slot machines. She especially enjoyed going to Blue Chip Casino. True to the gambler within her, she also enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and the Game Show Channel.

In her later years Carol was thrilled to see her family grow with the blessing of several grandchildren. In the same way that she spoiled her daughters with love and affection, she also spoiled the grandkids. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren in all of their sporting activities.

With retirement, Carol and Jerry discovered more time to spend with one another. They shared a love for travel, and they visited a variety of locations such as Greece and Hawaii. They also visited many states throughout the United States. For the last ten years, they have spent their winters in Orange Beach, Alabama. Their home in the South was the site of countless wonderful memories.

Among her family, and among the many people whose hearts she touched, Carol will be remembered for her generosity and compassion. She was the kindest soul around, and she will be greatly missed.

Carol Kott died suddenly June 8, 2006 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Learn more about Carol, view her life story film and visit with her family and friends Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, Vicksburg, 409 S. Main where a funeral service will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. Members of Carol's family include her husband Gerald, her daughters Diana & Hal Blanchard of Vicksburg, Ann & Rick Hughey of Vicksburg, her grandchildren Erin & Kyle Courtney, Tiffany Sehy & her fiancé Andre Bouvrette, Allen Hughey, Kati Hughey, her sisters Mary Lynn & Donald Knapp of Kalamazoo, Sue & Bill Hunt, Kris & Jim Swope, all of Vicksburg, her brothers Peter Miller of Three Rivers, John & Ethylene Miller of Vicksburg and many nieces & nephews. Please visit Carol's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the American Diabetes Association.