Obituary of Carol Jean Starkey

October 27, 1930 – November 23, 2017

Carol J. Starkey, Age 87 of Southgate, Michigan 48195.   

Beloved wife of the late Kenneth Starkey. Loving mother of Craig (Susan) Starkey, Laureen (Gary) Crocker and Kathy (John) Thies. Dearest grandmother of Erik Starkey, Lindsay (Crocker) Mack and Karli Crocker. Dear great grandmother of Bronson, Dalton and Preston Mack. Preceded in death by her parents Amos F. and Esther M. (Koch) Shiley and brother Clark F. Shiley. Memorials Appreciated to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 15600 Trenton Road, Southgate MI 48195. 

FAMILY TRIBUTE

Carol J. (Shiley) Starkey, age 87, of Southgate, MI passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2017 at Rivergate Terrace Nursing Home in Riverview, MI. She was born October 27, 1930 in Lorain, OH to Amos F. and Esther M. (Koch) Shiley. Carol’s father died in 1931 and she went to live on the Koch Family Farm with her mother, grandparents and nine aunts and uncles in Westlake, OH. Carol was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice and was well known for her love of singing. In 1948 she graduated valedictorian of her class at Dover High School. Shortly after graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth C. Starkey at St. Paul Lutheran Church LCMS in Westlake, OH and he preceded her in death on February 9, 1990. In 1952 Ken’s work transferred them to Michigan and they moved to Dearborn, MI and then to Southgate, MI. She was an active member of Christ the King Lutheran Church LCMS in Southgate, MI serving in various ways through the years but is best known as a 60 year member of the choir, sharing her soprano voice with the congregation. She was a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker known for her best ever apple pie. In her time away she enjoyed family camping trips all over the United States and also traveled to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Switzerland and England and cruised through the Panama Canal. Carol is to be remembered as a person of strong Christian faith and prayed earnestly for family, friends and all people to come to know Jesus as their Savior. In the end, it was her prayer to be taken home to live eternally in heaven.

Carol is survived by her children: Craig (Susan) Starkey of Flat Rock, MI; Laureen (Gary) Crocker of Washington, MI; Kathy (John) Thies of Oak Harbor, OH; 3 grandchildren, Erik Starkey, Lindsay (Crocker) Mack, Karli Crocker and 3 great-grandchildren, Bronson, Dalton and Preston Mack. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother Clark F. Shiley.