Mary "Grandma" C. Carr

Mary Carr, affectionally know as 'Grandma', 92, of Manhattan passed away Thursday, January 30th, 2014 Mary was born in Clearwater, FL on May 7, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Melvin and Lily Clark. After working 4p-Midnight every night during her school years, in order to afford to graduate from high school, she was a “Rosie the Riveter during WWII. After the war she had many jobs (sometimes two or three at a time) in order to raise her two daughters, Evelyn and Bonnie. She worked as a cook, waitress, presser in the local cleaners in Olathe, KS and many more that her daughter cannot remember. Then in 1962 she met and married Everett Carr who preceded her in death. Her new children then included Kenneth, Dean, Hazel Carr and Eunice Dugan. In 1964 her daughter, Evelyn, passed away and Kenneth and Mary raised her four children, Jeff Miller, Sue (Miller) Griffin, Mary and Martha (Oney) Griffee. During this time Mary worked at the local school helping to cook, at the Pottawatomie County jail, had her cook the meals for the prisoners, many who wrote her thank you notes for the wonderful food she prepared for them and the kindness she showed. She laundered the local football teams’ uniforms and worked for the local funeral home. Then in Manhattan, she worked for Scheus Caf, Mr. Kirby and at the Maverick Steer Steak house (in the American Legion), where she was known as “Grandma” by customers as well as workers. Her final position was at KSU, Department of Housing and Dining, where she worked for 23 years retiring at age 84. In her later life she became a Jehovah Witness and found peace within their faith Mary did not want us to “start trying to name everyone” because there were so many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She did not want to forget anyone since she loved them all she just wanted us to tell them she loved them and they knew who they were! Mary was preceded in death by her parents, 6 siblings and a daughter Evelyn Carr, and a granddaughter Mary Hall. Family request donations to Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research - KSU 1 Chalmers Hall Manhattan, KS 66506. At Mary’s request there will only be a visitation, NOT a funeral. She wished everyone to have a “final” cup of coffee with her if they wished on Feb. 7, 2014 at 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan.