Carol R. Willoughby

GREENVILLE, IL – Carol Rowena (Scribner) Willoughby, who loved being Mom, Grammy and “The Great” to all her loved ones, departed her loving family and friends on January 4, 2021 while at Greenville Nursing and Rehab Center, at the age of 74.  There will be no public services and a private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.  She will be inurned in Roselawn Cemetery with other family members.  Memorial gifts honoring her life can be made to Camp New Hope or to Moultrie County Beacon and may be mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL  61920. 

Carol was born February 17, 1946 to Horace and Eula (Wright) Scribner at their family home in Charleston, Illinois.  She is survived by her four loving children, Janelle Willoughby Winans, Deanna Willoughby (Tony) Steiner, Kenneth Michael Willoughby and Brandon Michael Willoughby; five grandchildren, Dustin (Chelsea) Lindahl, Derik Lindahl, Quinton (MiRanda) Lindahl, Jon-Michael (Amber) Winans, and Kendra Willoughby; 8 (soon to be 9) great-grandchildren, two sisters, Liz Moses of Charleston and Lee Ann (Avery) Curry of Hazel Dell, Illinois; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their families; and so many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael Eugene Willoughby; a grandson, Devin Lee Winans; and a sister, Linda (Scribner) Richardson.

Carol married her longtime childhood sweetheart, Michael “Mick” Willoughby on August 2, 1964.  During their loving 40-year marriage, they welcomed Janelle, Dee Dee and Kenny, and as she liked to remind us, God saving the best for last, Brandon (BranMan).  There was laughter, music, playing, and an abundance of love in the Willoughby home.  There was always an open-door policy to all friends and family at Carol’s house.  As the children grew, grandchildren arrived, and there were water fights, witches wearing pasta strainers for hats, and superheroes climbing the walls to save the princess.  Moving back to Charleston, and closer to family brought many trips to Camp New Hope with BranMan, volunteering in the Special Olympics, helping to plan Proms, and providing many bags of popcorn for Bran’s special friends at school.

Carol possessed an ever-present laugh and smile that was infectious and everyone who met her wanted to be in her presence.  She had a way of making you feel extra-special and everything just seemed to be made better when she smiled “that smile”.  She was an avid reader, and enjoyed needlework, fishing, walking in the woods while hunting mushrooms, and just enjoying the outdoors.  She also enjoyed traveling, hibernating in Florida for the winter, and riding the motorcycle.  Carol was a diehard Chicago Cubs fan who always wore her Cubs gear proudly and relished in watching the Cubs bring home the World Series Championship in 2016.  She loved her family unconditionally and wholeheartedly and if she knew you - you were family.  As a Mother to Janelle, Deanna, Kenneth, and Brandon, she was their rock, their hero and their best friend.  Her laughter and smile will be missed but her love will forever remain with her children, grandchildren and other family and friends.

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