My beautiful mom Carolyn Ann (Weeks) Reuther was freed from pain July 29, 2013 at the Laurels of Bedford in Battle Creek, Michigan after a lengthy illness. It’s still hard for me to wrap my brain around this even though it’s been 10 years. She struggled with so many health issues…a result of a lifetime of smoking. She was born on May 5, 1936 in Saranac, MI to Hilton D. and Dorothy G. Weeks. She told me that as a teenager she would hide in the cornfields with her cousins and smoke the husks. I vividly remember when I was 11 years old that she would send my brother and me to the store to buy cigarettes (something that is unthinkable today). She loved to sing and as a young woman she performed in school choirs and on the Lowell Showboat. At the age of 30 surgery to remove thyroid cancer forever changed her voice and she was no longer able to sing the way she used to.
Growing up my mom was my hero. My view of her was that of a strong, independent and capable single mom who, even in the face of so much adversity, could accomplish anything she set her mind to. She became a mother herself at a very young age. Her first marriage to William Monroe MacPherson brought my two brothers David and John. Her second marriage to Duane Frederick Reuther brought my brother Steven and me (Linda). Our childhood was challenging. We moved 18 times and lived in 4 different states before I was 15. During those years of many challenges I saw my mother prevail. With few resources she found a way to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table (sometimes it was only government cheese and bread, but we were fed). She put herself through nursing school while raising us and working full-time. She was a rock star to me and I always, always knew I was loved! She endured many setbacks both financially, physically and mentally, but she kept going. When I got married (the last one to leave the nest) I began to see a different side of my mom. I don’t want to say she gave up, but it seemed as though she was tired. Tired of the struggles, tired of the constant setbacks and tired of the many, many health issues that had begun to plague her by then. I believe she knew I would be okay (that all 4 of her kids were) and at that point was able to rest in this truth. Her remaining years were spent in and out of the hospital enduring several surgeries. Sadly, through all of them she continued to be gripped by her addiction to cigarettes. Even though she was a nurse and knew better she couldn’t break free of them.
Happiness for her was found in family. She successfully hid the fact that she suffered from anxiety and low self-esteem (something I realized much later) and though she may not have always been able to reach out, her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. If nothing else, she raised four really good human beings and each one has made a beautiful life in their own way. She taught me right from wrong, to follow my own path, how to make the best chocolate chip cookies and how to laugh. She is always with me (especially when I look in the mirror!) and she was my biggest cheerleader. I am forever grateful for the many gifts she gave to me.
Rest well mama and thank you.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her father Hilton Weeks, mother Dorothy (nee. Root) Weeks Wright, stepfather Justin Wright and brother Richard A. Weeks. She is survived by her four children: sons David (Jane) MacPherson of Holland, Michigan, John MacPherson of Moab, Utah, Steven Reuther of Battle Creek, Michigan and daughter Linda (William) Young of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her grandchildren: Andy (Kate) MacPherson of Lansing, Michigan, Joe MacPherson of Berlin, Germany, Bennett (Emma) Young of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Mary Emma Young of Detroit, Michigan, six great grandchildren and great granddog Freya.

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