Carol Peden

Carol Ann Peden was a loving, devoted wife and mother and a dedicated servant of the community. She treasured her family and their needs exceeded her personal career pursuits. Yet her many talents were put to creative use with her second family. The theatre became a great love of Carol's and her contribution to its vitality in the community was enormous. She truly delighted in the arts, but nothing stole Carol away from her first love, her family. Carol was born March 3, 1937 to Frankie and Vernon Willaford in Moore, Oklahoma. Her genealogy is probably English but we do know that her paternal great grandfather was full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Her father followed the heavy construction trade throughout the US. He worked on most major Atomic Energy Commission facilities and served in supervisory roles on major earthen dam projects in the US and Canada. Big Verns travels provided an adventure trail for his family that was both exciting and challenging. Because her father 's work required travel around the country, Carol grew up attending many schools and meeting students from all walks of life. Her "school trail" followed this sequence: Yakima, Washington; Claremore, Oklahoma; Whitney, Texas; Moses Lake, Washington; Ellis, Kansas; Rio Grande City, Texas; Aiken, South Carolina; and Pierre, South Dakota, where she attended high school. Each new situation became another opportunity for Carol to assert her personality and make friends. Though she was a private person and maintained her own unique sense of independence, she was also popular because of her ability to get along with everyone everywhere she went. Carols high school days were filled with typical teen events, including music and clothing design. She was a percussionist in the Pierre American Legion Scottish Kiltie Marching Band, and she worked at various women's dress shops where she honed her natural skills in fashion apparel. When she graduated from Pierre High School in 1955, she subsequently attended and graduated from South Dakota State University, in Brookings, SD. Little did she know at the time that a blind date would do as much as her schooling to set a course for the future. Carols friends arranged for her to meet Dave Peden, and that blind date was the first of many more. Over the two years they dated, Carol and Dave fell in love and were married in Brookings on June 1, 1957. That date marked the beginning of an odyssey of love, support and teamwork that was wonderful to behold. With Dave pursuing an engineering career that took him to numerous sites across the country, Carol was once again launched into travel mode. Dave and Carol started married life in Brookings, South Dakota; followed by Rockville, Indiana; Fremont, then Modesto, California; Pocatello, Idaho; Charleston, West Virginia; Sacramento, California; and finally Muskegon, Michigan. This span of over 50 years was enriched by the births of their three sons: David B. born in 1958, Mark in 1960 and Drew in 1969. When she became a mom, Carol decided to stay home with the boys, putting family matters ahead of other career choices. Throughout her parenting career, it was apparent that Carols mothering skills were simply outstanding. She focused on her sons and was invested in their lives. When her youngest, Drew, and her husband Dave became part of the 1975 "Oliver" cast in Charleston, Carol jumped into the life of community theatre. She played a "behind the scene" supportive role for many years. However, when the family moved to Muskegon, the scene changed and Carol moved from behind the curtain. Carol played the female lead, Lorraine, in the first ever Muskegon Civic Theatre production "The Man Who Came to Dinner," 1985. She also appeared in "Silver Linings," 1988; ( her favorite role was when she portrayed Tallulah Bankhead); "The Real Inspector Hound, 1989; and "Inherit the Wind, 1991. Carol was also significantly involved in costuming for some 47 productions between 1985 and 2005. She was the MCT "Costume Mistress" for many years, creating hundreds of terrific costumes as the marvelous seamstress she was. During that 15-year period, Carol took a part-time administrative position with Muskegon Civic Theatre that eventually grew to a full-time position. Starting as Administrative Assistant in 1987, she moved to Office Manager in 1988, then Business Manager in 1990 and General Manager in 2000 and Managing Director in 2001. At the same time, she was involved in approximately 76 productions! Needless to say, Carols presence was a constant at every Muskegon Civic Theatre production. She was a master at keeping the shows on budget and could really stretch a dollar. She begged, borrowed, or acquired the needed funding or supplies better than anyone. And although she could be pretty tough at times, everyone knew she had a heart of gold. Her understated, albeit, firm style earned the trust and respect of board members, staff and countless others involved in all aspects of the local theatre world. It is impossible to accurately quantify the contributions she made to the arts in Muskegon. The theatre was a love Carol shared with husband Dave, and the two of them were very involved with Muskegon Civic Theatre. Together they labored to keep the organization going through all the ups and downs associated with local theatre. Dave said of his beloved Carol, She was a Classy Gal who came from modest scrabble beginnings. She had her moments as a thoroughbred and moments as a plow horse. Both on stage and off, Carol and Dave were quite a team. Though the theatre was like Carols "second" family, she maintained her relationship with her own children, and when she became a grandma her life became all the richer. She really enjoyed visits from the grandkids, and she and Dave had the best of times traveling to see them. Carol was truly proud of all the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Carols health became seriously compromised in May 2005. At that time, she embarked on a valiant but ultimately futile battle with cancer. Yet, she refused to give up! It seemed as if each coming theatre production was reason for Carol to hang in there. Carol Ann Pedens final curtain call was Monday, April 28, 2008. She was 71 years old. Her family and friends deeply mourn her passing, but the dynamic spirit of this great lady will be with them for all time. Carols family includes her beloved husband Dave; sons David B. (Sandra) of Chapel Hill, NC, Mark (Susan) of Syracuse, UT and Drew of Chicago, IL; brother J. Blaine (Patricia) Willaford, San Antonio TX; grandchildren Ariana, Jessica and Kevin; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. A service to celebrate Carols life will be held Saturday, May 3. 2008, 1:00 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home with Rev. Donald Mathews and Rabbi Alan Alpert officiating. Friends are invited to meet with the family on Friday, May 2, 2008, 2-4 PM, 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon. Memorials may be made to the Carol A. Peden Performing Arts Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory of Carol or to sign the online guest book.