Traverse City-Carl Michael Alley Jr., 35 of Traverse City, died unexpectedly on May 6, 2020.

Carl was born on January 15, 1985 in Kalkaska, MI to Carl Michael Alley Sr. and Wanda Cantu Carlisle.

Carl graduated from Traverse City High School in 2003.

Carl loved bikes and skateboards. He received his first bike on his 7th birthday and had no need for training wheels. He jumped on and took off. He received his first skateboard the following year and enjoyed that as well as other outdoor fun, like swimming, hiking and snowboarding. He loved working on bikes, building bikes, and collecting bike parts. He got a job at Maclain Cycle in 2013 where he worked part-time during the summers. He was so proud to finally put his love of bikes to good use. He eventually competed twice in the Iceman Cometh bike race here in TC. He also loved disc golfing with his friends.

He loved cats and had several over the years. His "Spunker" was his most beloved. She passed over the Rainbow Bridge in May, 2015. She was his last.
As a teenager, Carl enjoyed fixing breakfast omelettes and double decker pb and j's to fuel his high-energy metabolism. He got his first job working as a cook at Oryana in 2013 and continued to work at different restaurants to hone his cooking skills.

Carl was a member of Narcotics Anonymous and was very involved over the years serving his local NA community and helping his fellow members. He loved his recovery friends and family and they loved him as well.
Carl had a sensitive spirit and huge heart, he felt the pain of living more acutely than some. But he also noticed the beauty in nature and life more readily. He had a love for space and science and had an interest in life's big questions. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and make others laugh. He would throw his head back in a laugh that was absolutely contagious. He could be childishly goofy or deep and serious.
His greatest love was for his daughters. He would pick up his youngest and take her to parks or just hang out in his parents back yard tinkering on bikes while Sarabeth "helped." During the stay home, stay safe order when he couldn't physically visit his daughter, He would call her and read books to her over the phone. His other daughter, Jazlynn, lived in New Hampshire and Carl kept in touch with her through Skype. She stayed with him over several summers also. Her favorite memories of her dad are going to the beach, riding bikes, blueberry picking and the time he pulled her and Sarabeth on a sled up a hill.

Carl was a loving son, father, brother and friend who will be missed terribly by all who knew him.

Carl was preceded in death by his grandfather Jesse Cantu, grandmother Glenda Cantu, Aunt Juanita Renaud and step brother Kristopher Carlisle.
Carl is survived by his mom Wanda (Tim) Carlisle, daughters Jazlynn Corliss and Sarabeth Alley; siblings Anthony Williams, Monica Cantu, Emily Carlisle and step sister Kathryn Carlisle, father Carl Alley Sr. and a daughter that he gave up for adoption.

A benefit dinner to help the family with funeral expenses will be held on May 16, 2020 from 4 to 8 pm at the First Church of the Nazarene. Due to the Corona Virus it will be curb side.

The family is being cared for by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-carl-michael-alley?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Please make a donation if possible. Thank you for the support for the family.