12/13/2025
Carol Garlock, lifelong resident of Ovid, passed away at the age of 79 on December 9, 2025.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Smith Family Funeral Homes-Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, at 11:00 A.M. with Mr. Andy Goodrich officiating. Burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid, MI. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Carol was born on January 6, 1946, the daughter of Milo and Doris (Griffith) Robinson at the nursing home that used to be on Main Street in Ovid. In elementary school, she and her brother attended a one room school house, and they were excited when the family moved into town, and had indoor plumbing - it was a cold trek to the outhouse in winter. She met Gary when she was 16, they were engaged while she was still in high school, married three weeks after graduation, and had Deb, one day before their first anniversary. She always said that she and Deb grew up together.
Carol stayed at home caring for her three children, and when they were older, she was a bus driver for Ovid-Elsie Area Schools, so that she could still be home summers and weekends with her family. The family lived off Gary’s income, and all of the money that Carol earned was set aside for family vacations and to provide extra opportunities for her children. Her hard work sent Deb to San Francisco, Jim to China, and Mandi to Australia and Europe with Lions Band and Blue Lake. It also allowed the family to enjoy countless camping trips for decades, especially with the “Cadillac Crew”, the Snowbirds in Florida, or at Hiar’s in Harrison. All three of those groups were mostly the same people, so it worked out well for them to have their Friday night dinners regardless of what state they were in.
In 1979, Carol started serving with the Ovid-Elsie Band Boosters - a role that she would continue to serve, and eventually lead for 16 years. Carol was a Band Mom to her core, and even saw herself in that role in her elderly years when she would see her Band Kids around town or in the nursing home. She and Gary held officer roles for over a decade. She also took on leading the Concession Stands, Smorgasbord Dinners, Sub Sales, and efforts for passing the millage for the town to buy new High School Band Uniforms. Her favorite role was being in charge of all of the logistics for Band Camp and serving as the EMT. Carol was a force to be reckoned with, standing up to camp owners that were not giving her Band Kids what they were promised, and many out-of-town band directors that expected to do their own thing when O-E hosted festivals. During Solo and Ensemble, she often was found in the room when she had a Band Kid whose parents did not come to performances or in the cafeteria helping calm down students that were nervous.
She continued to serve in these roles a year after her youngest graduated so that she could train “the newbies”, and transitioned her efforts to cheering for Jim and Mandi in the Spartan Marching Band. Her dream was for Mandi to walk down the aisle to the Spartan Drumline and could be heard saying “Alexa, play the Michigan State Marching Band” even last year whenever Mandi came home.
Carol and Gary were committed to serving the Ovid Community in an era where women were expected to be behind the scenes. She was one of the first female EMT’s for the Ovid Area Ambulance service, where she also was in charge of the community’s 4th of July celebrations. She also was one of the first females in the Ovid Lions Club as well.
When Carol became a grandma, her conversations quickly shifted from marching band to the interests of her grandchildren. She was always eager to hear about Bible Bee, Debate, Heritage Girls, Robotics and Trail Life. It was a challenge for her to learn the new lingo, but her grandchildren were always on her mind.
Gary and Carol were married for over 61 years, and were able to spend 9 months together at Hazel Findlay before Gary passed away two months ago. While there, they were crowned Prom King and Queen of the Nursing Home and got to be in a float for the Mint Festival Parade. The St Johns High School Marching Band followed their float, and spent she the entire parade waving her arms to the beat as if she was conducting. Once a Band Mom, always a Band Mom.
Carol is survived by her son Jim (Ginny) Garlock of Connecticut, her daughter Mandi (Steve) Wolfgram of Wisconsin, and grandchildren Jessica, Lillianne, Luke and Katrina. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gary, daughter Deb, and brother Dick.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hazel Findlay Nursing Home for their excellent care and compassion and particularly Diana Schueller and Sandy Fossano for their fierce advocacy in caring so deeply for both of our parents and the rest of our family as well. We cannot thank you enough.
Memorials may be made to Ovid-Elsie Band Boosters, 8989 East Colony Road, Elsie, MI 48831. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.
