Carrie Mae (Haun) Grindley

Carrie M. Grindley, 89 of Oakwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at her home, surrounded by many of those that loved her.

   Carrie leaves behind five children: Randy (Julie) Grindley from LeAnder, TX; Sherri (Douglas) Easley of Oakwood, IL; Cindy (Rickey) Taylor of Danville, IL; Susan Moore of Danville, IL; and Jenny (Stacey) Decker of Danville. She was blessed with fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren- each of whom were always given a cookie for each hand and a Root Beer for the rides home.

   Carrie loved reading and writing poetry. She often lulled her family to sleep at night with the sounds of her clicking fingers on the typewriter, typing away into the later hours on one of her poems that she was well known for writing. She published several well-known pieces of poetry as well as won many awards. Carrie wrote one about herself “The Magpie Sings” as growing up her nickname was “little magpie” as she was chatty and loved to talk.  That followed her as she grew up. Carrie even went so far as to write a biography of her life growing up called “Suppertime! The House of Haun” several years later complete with pictures, quotes, and specific people.

   Besides her poetry, she was known for her love of flower gardening and could most definitely be called Master Gardner. With her green thumb she could get anything to grow. Her love of gardening was reflected in her yard with her love of Irises and her Black-eyed Susans. She loved cherubs and angels and has numerous statues outside in her garden and yard.  Carrie was well known as that “woman who was always out in her yard” and could even be mistaken for one of her statues, as she spent so much time out there. She even had people stop and take pictures with them.  

   Another of Carrie’s favorite past times was going antiquing- yard sales and flea markets, which she enjoyed with her husband Ron for over sixty-three years until his death in 2019. She loved and cherished each gift that she received and was well known for her labeling of each item and trinket, with the giver name on the bottom.

   One of Carrie’s favorite memories was her famous “gravy icing” that all of them loved and have memories of that “mom who did it” look when she found one or two of their finger streaks in the icing of a freshly baked cake. The lucky child was the one who would find the walnut shell chip from the freshly cracked nuts she was well known for. When berry season came around, the anticipation of eating one of her freshly picked berry pies with the delicate crust had all of the family wanting more. It wasn’t summer until one of her raspberry pies were on the table. A close second favorite was her Christmas Pecan Pies that too had that amazing crust.

      History was her favorite subject and she was well versed on anything Abe Lincoln and the Civil War Era.

   Carrie was one of four children born to Ray and Vivian Haun. She leaves behind one sister: Betty Williams of Danville. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister: Delores “Tootie” Quick, a brother: Donald Haun, an infant grandson, and her beloved husband of 63 years: Ronald Eugene Grindley.

   Carrie will be missed by all that were blessed to know her. The inheritance she left behind were the values, the love, the faith, and the memories that Mom and Dad left behind. "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you," Isaiah Chapter 66, Verse 13. Messages and memories may be left on our website at www.KrugerCoanPape.com, or on the Kruger Funeral Home Facebook page.

   Graveside services will be at 1:30pm on Monday, January 30th at Oak Hill Cemetery off of Shang Ri La Road in Oakwood.

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