Carolyn A. Cox

     Carolyn A. Cox (Riley/VanRooyen), age 90, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Royal View Assisted Living, Mecosta, MI.
     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI. at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 16, 2024, with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 4-7 P.M. with a Rosary being prayed at 7:00 P.M. Family visitation will also be held on Friday from 10:00 A.M. Friday, until the time of the mass at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. at a later date.
     Carolyn was born in Lansing, Michigan on March 29, 1934, the daughter of Charles M. and Alice F. (Doerr) Beal. She was first married to Leo Riley (deceased) and they had 8 children together. Carolyn then married Joe VanRooyen who had 2 boys; together they raised a blended family of 10 children for 33 years until Joe's passing. Carolyn later married Ed Cox who had a family of 8 children until his passing.Carolyn though a small woman raised her children with a fierce love and protection of them all. She loved baking which she always shared with the entire community. She loved canning, cooking, and homemaking for her family! Her love for family was only outmatched by her love for God and the church. She was a devout catholic which brought her just short of becoming a nun. Life changed her calling from service to God but never changed her love for God and the church, being a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for many years.
     Carolyn had a heart that has no match; she would do for anyone no matter the difficulty of doing so!! She volunteered in the church choir as well as at St. Vincent de Paul for many years. Carolyn loved playing cards and games (Sorry) with anyone that she could collar. Her sisters and she met regularly for game nights. She was not a fan of football but never missed the Michigan State/Michigan game as she considered that another holiday! She loved her Tigers baseball seldom missing a game.
     Carolyn is survived by her children: Terry (Fred) Lane, Richard (Parris) VanRooyen, Maggie (Shawn) Young, Pat (Christine) Riley, Rose (Al) Cook, Joyce Rinckey, Michael (Julie) VanRooyen, Bill Riley, and daughter-in-law Doreen Riley; her step-children: Skip, Don, Vicki, Wayne, Chris, Alice, and Cory. She is also survived by sisters: Phyllis (Tom) Taylor, and Anne Beal; her extended family: Bas and Gerda Warmerdam of the Netherlands; and Gary and Maria VanRooyen. Also surviving her are 35 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, daughter and son-in-law Frances and Eric Mohnke, son Michael Riley, son-in-law Brad Rinckey and siblings: Janet, Robert, Mary and Margie.
     Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul of St. Johns or Hospice of Michigan (Mecosta). Online condolences may be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.