Carol (Douma) Hoogerhyde

With a gentle spirit and a brave heart, Carol Hoogerhyde entered heaven on August 9, 2018. Carol was 88 years old, the beloved wife of David Hoogerhyde, a cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a dear friend to many.  Carol was a "tough cookie" who possessed an amazing will to live.  After nearly 3 decades of battling and surviving lung cancer, Carol was released from her struggle surrounded by her family.  

Carol Douma was born to parents, George and Katherine, raised in Grand Rapids, graduated from Christian High School, and attended Davenport College.  Her first marriage produced 3 children by the time she was 24 years old.  Carol truly excelled at being a mother and homemaker.  She enjoyed cooking and baking, took pride in her spotless home, and raised her children with love and discipline.

Church and Sunday School with dinner afterwards at "Grandma B's", were weekly events.  In the summer, weekends were spent boating on Spring Lake and Lake Michigan and picnicking on the sandy beaches north of Grand Haven with family and friends.  Those days built strong memories of happy times that Carol's family still shares.  

As a young woman, Carol enjoyed music, loved Elvis and watched American Bandstand.  She stayed in shape by exercising in the living room along with Jack LaLane on the 8 inch black and white TV.  Always stylish and pretty, Carol remained active and young at heart all of her life.  

Several years after her first marriage ended, Carol married David Hoogerhyde, and with the addition of his 2 children, their blended family was formed.  Carol was a good "lefty" golfer and played on leagues at Indian Trails, Saskatoon, and Cascade Hills.  She enjoyed playing bridge and remained in a bridge group with the same members for over 60 years. She and David also golfed together, played bridge, traveled, and enjoyed a good Manhatten  (or two) with a game of Gin Rummy on many Saturday nights.  They built a home they both loved and lived in it for nearly 40 years before moving to Porter Hills in 2011.  Carol was a lifetime member of Central Reformed Church where she had many friends who supported her in prayers and love during her illness. In her healthy years, Carol worked in the church food pantry, volunteered for the Salvation Army for many years and was a member of the Volunteer Board at Porter Hills.  

Carol will be deeply missed by her family and friends.  Those who knew her loved her, and were blessed by her witty sense of humor, her kind heart and her ability to find beauty in the simple things in life.  

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, George and Katherine Douma, her brothers, Sam and Harold, her sister and brother-in- law Ellen and Roger VanAssen, infant granddaughter, Jessica Stovall, and great-grandson, Seth Wells.  Carol leaves behind her husband, David, children: Georgia (Dan) Jones, Catherine (John) Stovall, David (Marcia) DeVos, Doug (Peggy) Hoogerhyde, and MaryKay (Tom) Kolaz.  

Grandchildren: Sarah Brown, Betsy Wells, David Jones, Caitlin Volovlek, Collin DeVos, Jeremy DeVos, Caroline DeVos, Julie Holt, Kristin Rudd, and Chloe Kolaz.  

Carol was also blessed with 8 great grandchildren and 3 more on the way.  

The family is deeply grateful for the loving care and guidance they received from Rev. Roze Meyer Bruins and Faith Hospice, especially Amanda, Sara, and Steve.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8th, in the Dykstra Chapel of Central Reformed Church where the family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Addie's Pantry of Central Reformed Church, The Salvation Army or The Porter Hills Benevolent Fund would be appreciated.  

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