Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. Carleen Kay Markle took the hand of Jesus and was escorted to her heavenly home, reuniting her with the love of her life, Keith, and two of her sons at 11:28 AM, October 25th, 2025, in Traverse City, Michigan.

Carleen was born September 13, 1934, in Lansing, Michigan, where she was raised by her loving parents, Carl and Iva Hedlund. Unbeknownst to her, when she was in the fourth grade, a boy, seven months her junior, moved into her neighborhood, and the beginning of a beautiful love story began. She was smitten right from the start, and a new friendship blossomed. They dated on and off during their teenage years and after they graduated from high school, Keith proposed to her on Christmas Eve, 1952. Her dream of getting married and having children was coming true. Boy, was it EVER!!! They married on June 12th, 1954, and together they raised five children.

Before the kids came along, Carleen worked at a few banks and ended up working for the State of Michigan at the Michigan Office of the Auditor General, in accounts payable. After their first son, Steve, was born, she pursued her dream of being a full-time mother and homemaker.

In 1968, Keith's job required them to move to the West side of the state, and they bought a home in Jenison. Those were busy years for Carleen and Keith. They raised their children in a Christian home and became members of the Georgetown United Methodist Church, where they were very active and made many friends. Attending all of their children's school, sporting, and musical activities kept them running, and they never missed a beat! Carleen also worked many years for Meijer in Jenison as the kids got older. It was her mission to make sure every birthday, holiday, and family camping trip was extra special and memorable.

After retirement, Keith and Carleen moved to Northern Michigan and had their dream home built on Davis Lake in Traverse City. They transferred their church membership to Asbury United Methodist Church, where they made many new friends with whom they enjoyed playing cards and sharing meals. Carleen was active in the church women's groups and helped to deliver holy communion to the elderly and ill who couldn't attend services.

Carleen is preceded in death by her husband, Keith, her sons Jeff and Scott, her parents Carl and Iva, her sister, Joan, and brother-in-law Dick, her in-laws Howard and Crystal, sister-in-law Kathryn, and her daughter-in-law, Judy. She is survived by her children Steve (Laurie), Jim, Joanie (Jeff), brother in law Marv (LaFae), her beloved grandchildren Ryan (Ashley), Sean (Kelsey), Trey (Kaymi), Matt (Sara), Zack (Ashely), Shawnah (Rob), Casey, Jamey, Jeromy and her great-grandchildren Cayden, Emerson, Gavin, Chloe, Ryley, Sutton, Brody, Jaycob, Lily, Ari and Mabel, in addition to many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City on Saturday, November 8, at 11:00 AM. Contributions can be made in Carleen's name to the American Cancer Society, Samaritans Purse, or the charity of your choice.