Carol Anne McGraw Obituary (1946 - 2014)

Carol Anne McGraw, 67, of Bloomington, formerly of Roanoke and Normal, passed away at 8:21 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at her home.Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2014 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bloomington, with Rev. R. Anthony Lee officiating. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. She will be laid to rest next to her son, David, at 2 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2014 at Olio Township Cemetery, Eureka.In lieu of flowers, Carol requested donations to support Juvenile Diabetes, the Childrens Hospital, your childs school and teachers, or your favorite local library.Carol was born August 1, 1946 in Champaign, to Chester and Lola Mahannah Myers. She spent time growing up in Colorado Springs, CO before returning to Champaign. She graduated from Champaign High School and earned a Bachelors Degree from Illinois State University in 1968, double-majoring in Physical Handicap and Elementary Education.She married Rick McGraw of Bloomington on August 17, 1968 in Champaign. Carol taught at Decatur Elementary and Bloomington High School before becoming a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. She returned to teaching in Special and Elementary Education. For the last 23 years of her career, Carol was a Kindergarten teacher at Glenn Elementary School in Normal.During her retirement, Carol enjoyed exploring the Midwest with Rick, celebrating their grandkids many activities and working in her gardens. She was an avid reader and was a member of the Eureka Library Book Club. She enjoyed daily walks. Her creativity found outlets in knitting, sewing, cooking, baking, playing the piano, being out in nature and producing newsletters for the family. She maintained lifelong correspondence with cherished friends.Carol loved hosting grand holiday celebrations for her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing board games, card games and putting together jigsaw puzzles. Above all, Carol had a passion for teaching and learning new things. Her generous, quiet nature, quick smile, friendship and sense of fun will be greatly missed.Surviving are her husband, Rick; sons Greg (Dianne) McGraw of Normal and Steve (Christy) McGraw of Springfield; and a daughter Julie (Karl) Zimmermann of East Peoria. She has five grandchildren, Katie, Sam, Luke, Doug and Tom. Also surviving are her brother Mike Myers of Rantoul; and brother-in-law, Fred Strater of Rantoul.Carol had many nieces and nephews. She loved being a member of the extended McGraw family: Jack (Sherry) McGraw of The Villages, FL, Linda (Frank) Fillipponi of Normal, Jeff (Joanne) McGraw of Bloomington and Mike McGraw of Sanford, NC.She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, David; and a sister, Becky Strater. Carol found comfort in her faith, family and friends.