Carmen V. Fenner

All who knew Carmen V. Fenner would agree that she was the heartbeat of wherever she was. Her zest for life was contagious, and her love for those around her was easy to see. A more devoted wife and mother would be hard to find, and there was nothing that made her heart swell with pride more than it did to witness her family tree blossom to include numerous branches of loved ones whom she adored. Life was not without times of great trial for Carmen, but she faced whatever came her way with a quiet strength and a graceful courage that were such an inspiration. A blessing to everyone she met, she will be forever missed. The year 1918 is often remembered as the year that WWI came to a close. With the success of America and our allies, we were recognized as a world leader for the first time, and we were poised for greatness. We did not disappoint as the Roaring Twenties were filled with great innovation that brought us things like radios, more affordable cars mass produced on assembly lines, and motion pictures in both color and sound. It was also in 1918 that Harold and Ellen (Hagstrom) Mavis were pleased to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Carmen V. on December 11, 1918, in Muskegon, Michigan. She was the oldest of three children, and was raised in the family home in North Muskegon alongside her younger sister, Barbara, and her younger brother, Jack. For the most part, Carmen was a young girl of her generation. Her father worked at a small shop in Muskegon while her mother was a busy homemaker. Carmen enjoyed things like fishing with her father, ice skating, taking the bus to downtown Muskegon on Saturdays to see the movies with the boys from Jackson Hill. Among her closest friends were Catherine Benjamin, Polly Moran, and Eleanor Sweet. As a student, Carmen attended North Muskegon Schools where she was on the girls basketball team as a high school student. She was well known for holding a type of raffle at any kind of party when she gave away small gift from her gift stash that was stored under her bed. Carmen went on to graduate from high school in 1936. Later in life, she took some classes at Muskegon Community College when she was 57. New and exciting changes were in store for Carmen when she met the young man of her dreams. They met when she snuck out of her house with her girlfriend, Polly, who was meeting her boyfriend who had taken his friend, Myron Fenner, along. They began dating, and it wasnt long before the couple was deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Carmen and Myron were married. Together they welcomed three children including Myron Jr., in 1940, Mari in 1942, and Ron in 1954. Carmen and Myron raised their family in Laketon Township. She was a loving and attentive mother whose primary focus was on her family. Carmen enjoyed traveling with her husband including on hunting trips as well as to Florida. Later in life she did some traveling with her daughter, Mari, and daughter-in-law, Carole, took the grandchildren on vacations, and also loved taking her great-grandchildren to Mackinac Island for a mini vacation. Carmen also liked going to her fathers cabin in Tustin, Michigan. She became her husbands Girl Friday for his business, Fenner Truck & Crane. Wanting to carry on the tradition that she established during her younger years, Carmen established the family tradition of a gift lottery when they got together. When she wasnt tending to the needs of her family, Carmen was all about having fun, and she was successful at everything she tried her hand at. She enjoyed bowling, gardening, sipping wine on her deck with friends, and playing cards. In fact, Carmen was known for her poker parties with friends on her deck, too. Her poker friends were some of her closest friends as an adult, and she was also very close to Tom Davis and Bunny. Carmens dog, Soda, and her cat, Tommy, were special companions and like additional members of her family. If there was one thing that she was known for, it was her contagious zest for life. When coupled with her adventurous spirit and witty sense of humor, she was at her best. Carmen will be forever remembered for singing her favorite song, Havanagila. Who could forget the time she drove a golf cart up a fairly steep hill but ended up rolling all the way back down since the cart didnt have enough power to make it to the top! Thankfully, she was not hurt. In fact, Carmen lived her life guided by the following motto, Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, but rather skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and shouting Wow! What a ride! Thank you, Lord!!! Generous, fun-loving, and vibrant, Carmen V. Fenner was a blessing to everyone she met. She was never one to worry about the things of this world, rather, her focus was on living fully while having as much fun as she possibly could along the way. Carmen maintained her sense of humor until the very end, and she was so much fun to be around. Her devotion to her family was easy to see, and it was with her family by her side that she found her greatest joy. Carmen will never be forgotten. Carmen V. Fenner died on Friday, July 24, 2015. Carmens family includes her grandchildren, Sherri (Rod) Castenholz, Carla (Craig) Meloche and Joe Fenner; 9 great grandchildren; 15 great great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Carole Fenner; and sister-in-law, Charlene Mavis. Carmen was preceded in death by her 3 children, Myron Jr., Mari Ellen and Ron Paul; sister, Barbara Raddatz and brother, Jack Mavis Sr. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2015, 2:00 p.m. and visitation one hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon, 1469 Peck St., with Bob Johnson officiating. Interment in Laketon Township Cemetery. MEMORIAL: Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Funeral Home- Muskegon