Caro Ann Mabbitt

Caro Ann (Spendlove) Mabbitt, 77, of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed peacefully November 11, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She leaves a legacy in the lives she brightened through many connections made easily and genuinely, embracing her soul's enthusiasm for others and inimitable curiosity.

Born in Saginaw, Michigan on September 19, 1948, to Herbert William and Anne L. (Wacker) Spendlove, Caro and her older brother Jon grew up close to cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family members.

Her father served in the Air Force during World War II, and became an editor at the Saginaw News, deepening Caro's ties to and affections for the Saginaw community. Caro always took pride in her father's military service and career in journalism. Her mom, Anne, helped cultivate Caro's appreciation for serving others, current events, and politics. Journalism as 'the first draft of history' sparked a lifelong interest in historical preservation. Later in life, Caro contributed artifacts to collections at the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History and The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

Caro said her greatest aspiration growing up was to attend Saginaw's Arthur Hill High School. However, Herb's service to journalism called the family to Jackson, Michigan, where Caro would graduate from Parkside High School in 1966.

Following in her parents' footsteps, she enrolled at Alma College later that year. There, Caro found a group of friends (later deemed 'the Yayas') who would remain as close as sisters for the rest of their lives. And just as Herb and Anne had met and fallen in love on the small Mid-Michigan campus, Caro met and fell in love with Robert Curtis (Kurt) Mabbitt Jr.

Caro graduated from Alma in spring 1970, started her career as an elementary school teacher in Livonia, Michigan in fall 1970, and married Kurt in Jackson, Michigan on a sunny, autumn-colored Saturday, October 24, 1970.

While Kurt served in the U.S. Navy and completed law school at Wayne State University, Caro taught in Livonia Public Schools through 1975. That year, the couple moved from Westland to Portage, Michigan, where Kurt had been hired as an assistant prosecutor for Kalamazoo County.

Caro and Kurt's son, Robert Curtis Mabbitt III, was born in Kalamazoo in 1976. A year later, a professional opportunity for Kurt brought the family to Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1980, their daughter, Anne Whitney Mabbitt, was born.

Among Caro's many talents was her ability to imbue every situation and every interaction with texture, a spirit of togetherness, and the perfect dose of whimsy. Her multi-decade, multi-continent rock project is such an example. Weaving together her passions for history, travel, storytelling, and curation, Caro gathered, labeled, and displayed stones from Hearst Castle to Hadrian's Wall. True to form, friends and family eagerly joined the effort, collecting rocks from the Great Wall of China to Al Capone's hideout.

Caro took Christian teachings to heart and put them into action through deeds and demeanor. She also drew wisdom, inspiration, understanding, and comfort through her love of music, books, art, film, other religions, and of course, other people.

Her greatest joys in life were her family and her friends.

Caro is survived by her husband, Kurt; children Bob (Melodee) and Anne (Sam); granddaughter Elizabeth; brother Jon Spendlove, his wife Betsy, their daughters Robin (Charles) Lee and Jennifer (Dale) Barbour, and son Jonathan (Carolyn) Spendlove; brother-in-law Larry Mabbitt, his wife Nancy, their daughter Ashley and son Matt; sister-in-law Jean Corbitt and her husband Mark; the Yaya sisters; and enlisted sons Jared Goff and Dan Campbell, who have unfinished business for Caro and Lions fans everywhere.

A memorial service will be held in Caro's honor on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Watermark County Club, 1600 Galbraith Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. There will be a visitation beginning at 11 a.m., with the service and reception beginning at noon.

In lieu of flowers, a donation via https://www.alma.edu/giving/ to the Caro and Kurt Mabbitt Endowed Scholarship at Alma College is appreciated.