Carol A. Eichstadt

Carol A. Eichstadt

Died March 18, 2016

NORTHPORT - Carol Ann Eichstadt, 64, (aka Mum, Mummy, Ann, Annie, Carolina, Christmas Carol), avid gardener, reluctant cook, excellent listener, dedicated wife, steadfast sister, proud mother, and best friend, died Friday March 18, 2016 at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Carol was born on Jan. 30, 1952 in Northport, graduating from Northport High School in 1970.  She is a descendant on her father's side of George Alfred Barrett Craker, one of the first settlers of Omena.  She was the third of six children and the first daughter born to Calvin (better known as Ted) and Audrey (Rogers) Craker.  Carol's father owned and operated the Craker Boat Yard, where she and her siblings grew up swimming and fishing on Northport Bay.  As a child she enjoyed participating in church Christmas pageants, secretly trespassing in her brothers' fort, occasionally tormenting frogs, and piloting boats slowly until out of her father's sight (after which she'd open the throttle).

She excelled at growing plants, taking interest and pride in starting things from seed, whether it was vegetables for her garden or an avocado plant beginning its life as a pit pierced with toothpicks balancing on the mouth of a glass.  She always carried a pair of garden shears in her purse just in case she spotted a plant she liked and could get a cutting.   Her backyard was an annual adventure in creative landscaping, including an impressive ladder garden, laden with vegetables cascading along the rungs.  It only makes sense that her favorite color was green.

Carol liked birds, straw hats, white wine, wind chimes, HGTV, flossing regularly, starting DIY projects, drinking morning coffee, dabbling in things, and commiserating with humor about the everyday headaches of life.  She was a lifelong knitter, but pooh-poohed her skill, taking a laissez-faire approach:  after she'd learned to knit her first sock, she was in no hurry to complete its mate.    She was a very good cook, but only when the spirit moved her, mostly content to leave that task to her husband.  She had a unique and delightful knack for choosing quirky little gifts but her wrapping efforts left a little to be desired.  She hated squirrels and never stopped trying to thwart their efforts.  Loquaciousness in other people tested her patience.

She was a hard and constant worker.  She took on extra jobs when necessary while single-handedly and proudly raising her daughter.  She was a familiar and welcome face to many in the Northport area through her long employment at two of the town's year-round businesses:  Tom's Food Market and Ace Hardware.  Carol brightened many days with her wry humor and casual, no-nonsense friendliness.  If you had a problem, she would listen and offer a quip, a smile, a sympathetic eye-roll and possibly some unfiltered advice.

The loves of her life were, of course, her family and friends.  She met Darryl Eichstadt at work and married him on April 20, 2002 at Omena Presbyterian Church.  Their favorite hours together were spent on the deck overlooking their eclectic backyard and enjoying cocktails, laughter and conversation.  She maintained many lifelong friendships and was lucky enough to call cousins and a sister her closest friends.  Sundays were special to her.  For many years she looked forward to phone conversations with her daughter on Sunday mornings; more recently there was nothing she loved more than gathering with "the girls" on Sunday afternoons.

Carol is survived by her husband Darryl; her daughter, Joei Wroten; a sister, Ellen Gibson; brothers, Michael (Sandy) Craker and Mark Craker; a niece and several nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Richard Craker; and a sister, Marsha Craker.

A memorial service celebrating Carol's life will be held on April 4th, at 7pm at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay, with family greeting friends one hour prior and after.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Michigan, 10850 E. Traverse Hwy., Traverse City, MI 49686 and/or to the Leelanau Cancer Fund P.O. Box 325, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.

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