Carol E. Gratz, 86, of Dowagiac, passed away, Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Muskingum University Columbariam in New Concord, Ohio. Memorial contributions in Carol’s name may be made to Parkinson’s Disease Research, Southwestern Michigan College or Silver Creek United Methodist Church in Dowagiac. Those wishing to sign Carol’s Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com.

Carol was born December 25, 1935 in Wadsworth, Ohio to John & Mary Frances (Lyle) Arter. She graduated from Flushing High School, Class of 1953 and from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts, where she met the love of her life, Charlie, during their freshman week, which started a journey of faith, love and family. Carol was a member of the Kianu Sorority and participated in many of the drama and theatrical plays at the College. On August 24, 1957, she married Charles “Charlie” Gratz in Flushing, Ohio. Carol devoted her life to caring for her family. As the girls got older and after moving to Dowagiac, Carol served as the business manager for the family business in Dowagiac-Gratz Chevrolet, from 1976 until retirement in December 1990. She and Charlie served as senior high youth leaders at their Church beginning in Cincinnati and continuing after their move to Dowagiac and made numerous work camp trips with the youth over 16 years. She was a member of Silver Creek Methodist Church and the SMC Running Club. Carol loved being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and always had a listening ear. In her free time, she enjoyed knitting sox & baby blankets for the family and baking blackberry pies. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.