Donald Carothers

1935 - 2025

Donald Carothers
Sears Michigan
May 25, 2025
Donald James Carothers, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on May 25, 2025. He was one month shy of 90 years old.
Don was born June 25, 1935 in Reading, Michigan, the fifth of six children born to Dale Herbert and Gertrude Viola (Farnsworth) Carothers. Don joined the Air Force through the Delayed Entry Program before graduating from Reading High School in 1953. That summer, he and his brother travelled north to Big Lake in Evart where they decided to cool off and take a swim. They swam out to a stationary raft in the middle of the lake to rest and get some sun. Little did they know that decision would change the course of Don's life forever. It seems that the raft belonged to a family that was staying out at the lake. Their teenagers decided to swim out to the raft and run the trespassers off. It was at that moment that Don met Sharon Ann Head, the love of his life.
They married the following June right after Sharon graduated from Evart High School.
Don was very proud of his 22 year career in the Air Force. By the time of his retirement in 1975, he had earned the rank of Master Sergeant and was Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent for the 305th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana. One of his most exciting tales to recount from his early years in the Air Force was when he and 20 other airmen survived the fiery crash of their B-36 near Denver on November 16, 1956. You can be sure that Sharon did not find his experience exciting in the least. After the military, Don was a Pinkerton man for a while. He was tired of the moving around and decided to start a second career at Dean Foods by working 20 years at the Evart Dairy Plant. Don and Sharon didn't do much sitting around, even in retirement. They naturally became snowbirds and wintered in Florida and spending summers in Michigan, often out at Big Lake. The lake and park had always been a favorite gathering place for their large extended family over the years. So much so that Don and Sharon took over managing Crittenden Park at Big Lake for eight years.
Don's most important job, however, was family man. He was a devoted husband to Sharon for over 64 years until her passing in 2018. Together they raised three children: Richard, Douglas and Karren. One of Don's greatest joys in life was spending time with his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren sharing his love of the outdoors, fishing and hunting. It's very hard to sum up a life of hard work, service and love in just a few paragraphs. Don was a great presence in all our lives who was loved greatly, will be missed deeply and remembered always.
Don is survived by his three children, Richard (Mary Douglas) Carothers of Berrien Springs, Douglas (Leisa Massie) Carothers of Sears, and Karren Keena of Evart; grandchildren, Kacey (Jeffery) Lyon of Evart, Beverly (Aram) Street of Paris KY, Joseph (Jessica) Castillo of North Carolina, Nikki (Josh) Larson of Big Rapids, Corey Castillo of Big Rapids, Kristen Keena of Evart, Timothy (Cheyanne) Keena II of Evart, Amanda (Jordan) Saunders of Evart ; great-grandchildren, Landon, Brayson, Annelie, Gracie, Callie, Brantley, Emmaleigh, Vaughn, Audrey, Adeline, Henry, Camren, Samantha, Jordyn, Emery, Liam, Mallory, Layla, Brennan, Tillie; siblings, Bill Carothers of Florida, Harold Carothers of Florida; sisters-in-law Mickey Head of Evart, Janet Walls of Colbert GA, and LaVerne Crissman of Leesburg FL ; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Sharon Ann Carothers; his parents, Dale and Gertrude Carothers, sisters Helen Sharpe, Barbara Lambertson, Anna Horning; his in-laws Elden and Dorothy Head; unborn daughter Sarah Elizabeth, brothers-in-Law, Irv Crissman, Gene Walls; Son-in-Law, Timothy Keena Sr.; and several aunts and uncles.
Per Don's wishes, cremation has taken place and care has been entrusted to Corey Funeral Home. We will honor Don's legacy with a memorial service on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall located at 4681 85th Avenue in Evart. Directly after his memorial service, we will travel to Forest Hill Cemetery (7850 6 Mile Road) in Evart where a full military honors service will commence at Don's graveside. He will be laid to rest beside the love of his life, his beloved Sharon. Afterwards, all are invited to join the family for a luncheon at the VFW Hall to honor the legacy of this great man.