Carol Ann Greer  of Blue Springs, Missouri died with her family at her side on Monday, September 6, 2021 after recently being diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia.  Although having been fully vaccinated, she had underlying health issues which contributed to her immune systems weakened ability to defeat this virus.

Carol Ann Ward was born to John and Theresa (Mulvey) Ward on April 9, 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island.  She grew up the only girl among two brothers, John and Bobby Ward.  During her adolescent years she and her friends stayed active by walking all over Providence.  She spent a lot of time on "The Hill" and enjoyed eating italian food.  She loved school and often had perfect attendance.  Carol attended and graduated from Central High in Providence, Rhode Island.  After high school she worked as a clerk at the Providence Public Library. She and her friends loved to go dancing and at one of those dances she met the love of her life, Robert Valentine Greer, "Bob." Bob was a sailor in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island.  He would frequently drive to Providence to see Carol.  They married on July 18, 1959 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence.  They were blessed with their first daughter, Debbie, while living in Providence. After Bob completed his tour with the U.S. Navy they moved to New York City.  While living in the city Carol and Bob were blessed with the addition of two more daughters, Lori and Carol.  She loved taking the three girls for walks around the city in their baby carriage.  Always putting her family first, they moved to Yorktown Heights, NY when their oldest daughter, Debbie, was going to start kindergarten.  Carol and Bob were blessed with two more daughters, Barbara and Brenda, while living in Yorktown Heights.  Five years later Carol and her family moved to Mahopac, NY after Bob built a new home for their family.   

Carol loved working and helping her family.  She was employed at Reader's Digest in Peekskill, NY, as a keypunch operator.  It was here where she made lifelong friends.  There was a group of five women who, between them, had a total of 25 children.  They would all carpool to work together.  On the way home from work on Friday evenings, these ladies would stop by the local pizza place and each mom would pick up a large pizza that they would then take home for their families to enjoy. Every Saturday at midnight Carol would watch All-Star wrestling with her mother and family.  While in New York she started a cleaning service which allowed her more flexibility to spend time with her family, which was her #1 priority.  Many weekends and holidays were spent with her large extended family in Rhode Island, New Jersey (then Florida), and New York.  She was a true and loyal friend and formed lasting relationships with the Kurth's, Hanhart's, Nooney's, Walker's, LaRosa's, and many other families.      

Carol and her family moved to Kansas City in the summer of 1978.  After settling into their new lives she began working at the Blue Springs School District in cafeteria services as a lunch lady.  She enjoyed interacting with the kids.  She also worked as a clerk with the IRS in Kansas City.  After her first grandchild was born she decided to stay home and care for him.  This led to Carol taking care of all her grandchildren, along with other children, many of whom still kept in touch with her.  There are so many memories her family cherishes.  These include trips to New York City to watch the Rockettes, trips to the beach, several family cruises, trips she took with her grandchildren including Emily's trip to Washington, DC, trips to see family in Florida, New York and Rhode Island, her 50th class reunion trip, visiting Graceland, spring break trips with Lori to Rhode Island and Boston, attending Grandparent's Day to celebrate all her grandchildren, supporting her daughters at their softball games, volleyball meets, swim meets, cheer events, music concerts, and anything they participated in. She was able to see and support her grandchildren throughout their lives at their football, basketball and baseball games, cross country and track meets, volleyball, wrestling and soccer matches, swim meets, karate competitions, BMX races, Golden Regiment performances, and attended many plays and a Miss Missouri competition.  Anytime she could celebrate or support her family, she was there, cheering everyone on.  She was looking forward to celebrating her great-grandchildren as they grew up.       

Carol was a loyal friend and cherished these relationships over the years.  She and Bob enjoyed their season tickets to the New Theatre with friends Pat and Eddie Reed and her daughter Barbara. She traveled locally with her friends from the "Y" in Blue Springs.  They enjoyed water aerobics, meeting for coffee, and celebrating their birthdays at a local restaurant each month.   

Carol was a caregiver to Bob for many years.  She took exceptional care of him after Bob received the gift of life through a bilateral lung transplant in October, 2001.  For six years Carol took care of Bob until his death in 2007.  With time on her hands, Carol realized her love of traveling the world with family and friends.  She toured Europe with her daughter, Carol, visiting eight countries.  She also met Pope John Paul at an outdoor mass at the Vatican, where he blessed her crucifix.  As a lifelong, devout Catholic, this was a cherished memory. Carol also made wonderful memories when her granddaughter, Heather, escorted her on a trip to Europe.  She took many cruises with family and friends visiting Hawaii, Alaska, many of the Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico, Grenada, South America,  Europe, Italy, the Mediterranean, and Spain.  

Carol enjoyed spending time with her daughters.  She attended concerts including Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, and Garth Brooks, among others.  She  saw Jerry Seinfeld, speaker Barbara Bush, attended a campaign rally for George Bush and was a Donald Trump supporter.   Her daughter, Brenda, took her to meet the cast of Days of Our Lives-what a memory for her!  She loved a strawberry daquiri.      

Carol spent free time watching her soap operas, British comedies, and reruns of 80's sit-coms.  She always had her computer on her lap and looked forward to seeing the updates from friends and family on facebook.  Much of the last 6 months were spent helping take care of her daughter, Debbie, who was living with ALS.  Her passing devastated Carol and the entire family.  She was especially close to her brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Claudette Ward, of Rhode Island, whom have been helping her cope with the recent loss.       

Carol received wonderful medical care and advice from Dr. Powers and also Dr. Mozayen at Sarah Cannnon Cancer Center.  We are especially grateful for the care provided by her nurse, Madison, at Centerpoint Medical Center while she was being treated for COVID pneumonia.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, John & Theresa Ward, mother and father-in-law Thomas & Florence Greer,  brothers John Ward and Robert LaChance, husband, Robert Valentine Greer, daughter, Debbie Gordon, sisters and brothers-in-law Albert Greer, William Greer, Mike and Eileen Springman, Donald Greer, Janet Abbate, Annette  Ward; nephews Donnie Greer and Mike Springman; and son-in-law, Donald Eipp. 

Carol leaves behind her brother, Bob and sister-in-law, Caludette Ward, son-in-law Larry Gordon and grandson, Bobby Gordon of Independence, MO; her four daughters; Lori Crutcher and family of Blue Springs, MO (husband Alan; son Travis Crutcher, daughter-in-law Shauna Crutcher, and grandson Daxton Crutcher, daughter Heather Sadich and son-in-law, Ryan Sadich) Carol Marshall and family of Lee’s Summit, MO (husband Allen, son Kyle Marshall, daughter-in-law, Saska Bazalgette Marshall, and granddaughters Scarlett & Melania Marshall; daughter Kara Manning, son-in-law Ryan Manning, and granddaughters Hazel & Josie Manning); Barbara Hubbard and family of Blue Springs, MO (husband Paul, sons Jacob Hubbard, Calum Hubbard, and Aiden Hubbard) and Brenda Brittingham and family of Pleasant Hill, MO (husband Brian Brittingham, son Tyler Brittingham and his two daughters, Brooklyn & Sadie Mae Brittingham, his significant other, Courtney and her son, Kalder; daughter Emily Brittingham and grandson Spencer Brittingham); brother-in-law Bill Abbate and sister-in-law Marion Greer.  Carol has a large extended family of nieces and nephews, extended family members, and close friends that will miss her, including Phil and Shirley Crutcher, who have loved Carol since their children met and married.  Carol was the Godmother to her niece, Eileen Springman Lynch. 

A mass will take place on Friday, October 1st at 10 AM at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Blue Springs with a burial to take place at noon at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Higginsville, MO where Carol will rest eternally with her husband, Bob.  Later that day, our family invites you to attend a Celebration of Life at the Elks Lodge in Blue Springs from 5 PM to 8 PM for her family and friends.  Please join us in the larger, lower level event space to celebrate the life of our mom, Carol Ann Greer.      

In lieu of flowers our family know that our mom, who was a cancer survivor of both Multiple Myeloma and Breast cancer, would appreciate contributions be made to the Jake Cavanaugh Foundation or to Sarah’s Soldiers (a foundation for Sarah Nauser Olsen, fighting ALS and advocating for a cure and for others with ALS), or the Blue Springs Elks Lodge (or Elkettes).