Carol Fetty

FETTY - Rev. Carol Cotton Fetty, 88, of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away early Monday morning, Sept. 26, 2011. She happily spent 54 years of her life in active ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ. Rev. Fetty attended Central Bible College, Springfield, MO; Western Michigan at Kalamazoo and Garret Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. She started working as a Youth Director in Jackson, MI in 1942 while in college. In 1949 Rev. Fetty started traveling in Evangelistic Work, holding Revival Meetings in the South and East for Non-Denominational Churches. Pastored two years in Warron, Ohio and then became a pastor in the United Methodist Churches in 1955 at Brethren, Coral, and Amble Michigan. She was ordained an Elder in 1961 in the United Methodist Church as one of the first women ordained in the Denomination. She met and married Bernard N. Fetty in 1959. Together they Pastored United Methodist Churches in Riverdale, Elwell and Scottville, Michigan and United Church of Christ (Congregational) Churches at Fruitport and Baldwin, MI. She was Chaplain at North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven in the mid seventies. Rev. Fetty did a lot of her counseling on the Golf Course. It seemed that was where people opened up to her the most. In 1995 Rev. Fetty retired and moved to Grand Rapids, Clark Retirement Community in 1998. Rev Fetty was preceded in death by her husband, The Rev. Bernard Fetty, her daughter, Carol Bishop, and her son, James Fetty. She enjoyed being a mother to Bernard's four children and is survived by Sally J. DeRuiter of Caledonia, Judith L. (Mrs. Robert) Fox of Caledonia, daughter in law, Mrs. Carol Fetty of Riverdale. She had fun being grandmother to seven and great grandmother to eight children. She is also survived by a nephew, David (Marilyn) Cotton of Wacousta, MI; two nieces, Sue Carol Harmon of Grand Rapids and Barbara Cotton; and a very dear friend, Theresa C. Coleman of Grand Rapids and Florida. A Memorial Service of Celebration will be held in the Chapel at Clark Retirement Community on Saturday morning at 10:30 with The Rev. Ed Perkins, officiating. Inurnment will be in Payne Cemetery, Middleton, MI. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Clark Retirement Community Foundation, 1551 Franklin, SE; Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Family and friends may meet the Fetty family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service for light refreshments on Saturday at Clark Retirement Community. Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com